How the US Navy tried — and failed — to sink carrier USS America for weeks

The US Navy controversially blasted ex-aircraft carrier America in a 2005 exercise to examine its ability to sustain damage. PH2 Bungle/National Archives Catalog

• The US Navy's carrier fleet is known for its impressive firepower and resilience in battle.
• The fleet's durability is attributed partly to the sacrifice of its predecessor, USS America.

The US Navy's supercarrier fleet is famed for its offensive power, massive size, and versatility in battle.

US aircraft carriers led their strike groups to the front lines of global conflicts and are frequently used to intimidate US adversaries.

In June, Nimitz-class carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower left the Middle East after spending months fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Earlier this year, USS Gerald R. Ford returned to its homeport after the Pentagon sent the first-in-class supercarrier and its strike group to the coastal waters of Israel after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

The durability of America's current carrier fleet is due in part to the sacrifice of one of its predecessors: USS America.