During the 1920s, several navies started ordering and building aircraft carriers that were specifically designed as such. This allowed the design to be specialized to their future role and resulted in superior ships. During World War II, these ships became the backbone of the carrier forces of the United States, British, and Japanese navies, known as fleet carriers.
The aircraft carrier was used extensively in World War II, and several types were created as a result. Escort aircraft carriers, such as USS Bogue, were built only during World War II. Although some were purpose-built, most were converted from merchant ships as a stop-gap measure to provide air support for convoys and amphibious invasions. Light aircraft carriers built by the US, such as USS Independence, represented a larger, more "militarized" version of the escort carrier concept. Although the light carriers usually carried the same size air groups as escort carriers, they had the advantage of higher speed since they had been converted from cruisers under construction. The UK 1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier served the Royal Navy during the war and was the hull design chosen for nearly all aircraft carrier equipped navies after the war through the 1980's.
List of Aircraft Carrier in World War I - II:
| Aircraft Carrier | Picture | Spesifications | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixmude | France | 1945 | ||
| Majestic class | UK | 1945 | ||
| Midway | US | 1945 | ||
| Commencement Bay class escort carrier | US | 1945 | ||
| Shinano | Japan | 1944 | ||
| Kaiyo | Japan | 1943 | ||
| Taiho | Japan | 1943 | ||
| Unryu | Japan | 1943 | ||
| Dédalo | Spain | 1943 | ||
| Unicorn | UK | 1943 | ||
| Colossus class | UK | 1943 | ||
| Independence class | US | 1943 | ||
| Sable | US | 1943 | ||
| Implacable class | UK | 1942 | ||
| Essex | US | 1942 | ||
| Wolverine | US | 1942 | ||
| Bogue class escort carrier | US | 1942 | ||
| Sangamon class escort carrier | US | 1942 | ||
| Casablanca class escort carrier | US | 1942 | ||
| Avenger class escort carrier | US | 1941 | ||
| Indomitable | UK | 1940 | ||
| Wasp | US | 1940 | ||
| Long Island class escort carrier | US | 1940 | ||
| Shokaku | Japan | 1939 | ||
| Hiyo | Japan | 1939 | ||
| Mizuho | Japan | 1939 | ||
| Illustrator class | UK | 1939 | ||
| Ark Royal | UK | 1938 | ||
| Yorktown | US | 1937 | ||
| Chitose | Japan | 1936 | ||
| Zuiho | Japan | 1935 | ||
| Ranger | US | 1934 | ||
| Ryuho | Japan | 1933 | ||
| Commandant Teste | France | 1932 | ||
| Ryujo | Japan | 1931 | ||
| Bearn | France | 1927 | ||
| Lexington | US | 1927 | ||
| Akagi | Japan | 1925 | ||
| Hermes | UK | 1923 | ||
| Langley | US | 1922 | ||
| Hosho | Japan | 1921 | ||
| Kaga | Japan | 1921 | ||
| Vindictive | UK | 1918 | ||
| Eagle | UK | 1918 | ||
| Argus | UK | 1916 | ||
| Furious | UK | 1916 | ||
| Glorious class | UK | 1916 | ||
| Hermes | UK | 1898 | ||
| La Foudre | France | 1895 |
