Aircraft carriers surged into prominence during World War II - mainly in the Pacific, where the US and Japan fought history's greatest carrier battles, like the Coral Sea and Midway. Since then, although there have been no engagements between carrier groups, carriers have played an important role in world events, serving as distant launching pads for attacks on targets around the globe. From the first improvised wooden platforms to today's nuclear-powered super carriers, Hearn explores how combat experiences have driven the development and use of carriers in the world's navies.