USS Langley

USS Langley (CV-1) was the United States Navy’s first aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1922. Originally a converted collier (a coal transport ship), it was transformed into a ship capable of carrying and launching airplanes. This marked the beginning of naval aviation’s importance, allowing aircraft to extend a fleet’s reach and reconnaissance abilities. The Langley served primarily as a training and experimental platform, helping develop carrier tactics and technology. It played a key role in the evolution of naval warfare, demonstrating the strategic value of aircraft carriers—vessels that would become central to modern naval supremacy.