21 photos that show just how imposing US aircraft carriers are

US Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Pete Lee/Released

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) departs San Francisco

Aircraft carrier are the cornerstone of America's naval capabilities. They're able to project air power anywhere in the world, without having to depend on local bases.

And they are truly massive.

Spanning 1,092 feet long (three times the length of a football field), Nimitz-class warships like the USS George H.W. Bush are the largest aircraft carriers.

See below for a selection of pictures showing how massive America's aircraft carriers are: