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Aircraft Carrier History Trivia Quiz

A quiz about the aircraft carrier from its beginnings to the present.

A multiple-choice quiz by bowsoljah. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
bowsoljah

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
57,924

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1972

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the name of the first U.S. aircraft carrier? Hint

USS Enterprise

USS Lexington

USS Langley

USS Hornet

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Question 2 of 10

2. The first U.S. aircraft carrier: what was the name of the ship before it was converted into an aircraft carrier? Hint

Argus

Jupiter

Mercury

Poseidon

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Question 3 of 10

3. For landing a plane on a carrier who developed the landing equipment? Hint

Curtis and Ely

McDonnell-Douglas

Wright Brothers

Vought

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which was the first battle that showed that aircraft could inflict serious damage to the heaviest armored warships either at sea, or anchored in a bay or harbor? Hint

Pearl Harbor

Battle of Taranto

Battle of Midway

Leyte Gulf

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which was the first naval battle at sea where neither force ever saw the other, no surface action occurred, only carrier based aircraft were used by both sides? Hint

Pearl Harbor

Guadalcanal

Midway

Battle of the Coral Sea

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the name of the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier?

Answer: (One Word (name only) Star Trek)

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Question 7 of 10

7. What country invented the steam catapult? Hint

United States

Britain

France

Japan

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Question 8 of 10

8. On US carriers what is the duty of those wearing red shirts? Hint

air director

crew chief

munitions handler

fire fighter

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these is a slang term for the set of lights at the stern of the ship that directs pilots when they land on the carrier? Hint

Baseball

Meatball

Softball

Bowling ball

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is the name of the structure that sits in the center of the flight deck and off to the side that has the control tower and bridge in it? Hint

home base

captain's hut

the middle

the island

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the name of the first U.S. aircraft carrier?

Answer: USS Langley

Converted from a Cyclops-class fleet collier. Since it was not as fast as the ships in the fleet the Langley could not conduct operations at sea. But it was invaluable for the information gained and experience in handling aircraft at sea.

2. The first U.S. aircraft carrier: what was the name of the ship before it was converted into an aircraft carrier?

Answer: Jupiter

Built at Mare Island Navy Yard.

3. For landing a plane on a carrier who developed the landing equipment?

Answer: Curtis and Ely

They used strands of rope with the ends tied to sandbags stretched across the flight deck. They used 22 ropes for each attempted landing. They had a hook attached to the tail of the aircraft to grab one of the ropes and eventually slow the plane down. Although the technology used today has changed greatly, the basic concept is still the same today as it was back in 1910.

4. Which was the first battle that showed that aircraft could inflict serious damage to the heaviest armored warships either at sea, or anchored in a bay or harbor?

Answer: Battle of Taranto

In November of 1940 more than a full year before Pearl Harbor the British attacked the Italian Navy at the Gulf of Taranto. Using only aircraft from the HMS Illustrious and a few from the HMS Eagle, the British sent two attack waves using old Swordfish planes. They sank the Italian battleship Littorio and severely damaged two other battleships.

5. Which was the first naval battle at sea where neither force ever saw the other, no surface action occurred, only carrier based aircraft were used by both sides?

Answer: Battle of the Coral Sea

Battle between the US and Japan in May 1942. The Americans lost one carrier and a destroyer. While the Japanese lost one light carrier and had two others damaged. Neither of the two fleets ever sighted the other, only their naval aviators.

6. What was the name of the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier?

Answer: Enterprise

The keel was laid in February 1958 and took 3 years and 9 months to complete. The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) had a top speed of 33knots, although during sea trials speeds up to 35knots were reached.

7. What country invented the steam catapult?

Answer: Britain

Built by Britain who then graciously shared that technology with the United States. The workings of the catapult is still today classified equipment.

8. On US carriers what is the duty of those wearing red shirts?

Answer: munitions handler

Crew chief-brown, fire fighter-silver, air director-yellow.

9. Which of these is a slang term for the set of lights at the stern of the ship that directs pilots when they land on the carrier?

Answer: Meatball

The slang term is Meatball but the actual name is the Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System. It tells pilots whether they are too high or too low in their landing approach, and whether they are too far left or right.

10. What is the name of the structure that sits in the center of the flight deck and off to the side that has the control tower and bridge in it?

Answer: the island

A common thing on all modern aircraft carriers today,although during World War II there were Japanese carriers that did not have one.

Source: Author bowsoljah

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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