Aircraft Carrier. Although an aircraft carrier has just one purpose -- to act a mobile base for military aircraft -- its enormously complicated operation makes it a beehive of frenzied order. It is big enough to house throe or four thousand man, a hundred planes, and tons of essential accessories, long enough to launch and receive the most modern of high-performance aircraft, and fast enough to maneuver and to compensate sate for the insufficient thrust of catapults. Its size makes it vulnerable, so it must be protected by armament, a tight net of radar, and a cover of smaller ship. May 17, 1952. (Photo by United States Information Centre).