On January 18, 1911, Eli Chambers landed his plane on the deck of the armored cruiser Pennsylvania. Few could have imagined then that this seemingly useless experiment marked the birth of naval aviation and a new class of ships that radically changed the strategy and tactics of naval warfare. Here is the history of aircraft carriers from the moment of their appearance to the present day. The author examines in detail the main design features of all types of these ships and the most significant battles and military conflicts in which aircraft carriers took part. The appendices provide tactical and technical data for all types of aircraft-carrying ships. This book will undoubtedly be of interest to specialists and all fans of military history.