It is often believed that due to their vast size, aircraft carriers are sitting ducks in today's world of modern weapons, but in reality they are very hard to sink.Let’s understand why!
The hull (outer body) of aircraft carriers is made of extremely strong steel plates. Additional reinforced plating protects the ship against damage from enemy fire.
The watertight compartments prevent sinking from damage. If one compartment is damaged, watertight doors can be closed to prevent flooding and keep the ship stable.
Aircraft carriers are equipped with advanced damage control equipment which can be used to mitigate the effects of damage and keep the ship afloat
Aircraft carriers have redundant systems in place to ensure that they can continue operating even if one system fails.
Aircraft carriers are equipped with a variety of weapons & defensive systems like guns, missiles, aircraft, radars, etc. to protect themselves from enemy attacks
Aircraft carriers often move as a part of carrier strike groups which includes destroyers, cruisers, submarines, etc which act as a protection layer for the carrier.
Aircraft carriers are usually huge, with displacement of hundreds of thousands of tons. This makes them more resistant to sinking due to their size and mass.
The crew of an aircraft carrier is highly trained in damage control and emergency procedures, hence they can quickly react to any kind of emergency onboard.
Credit: US Navy
Aircraft carriers are equipped with advanced navigation and communication systems, allowing them to intercept the enemies from a long range.