Really big ships

War History Online has an article about some big boats:

Ships have ruled the seas long before aircraft were created and, even though technology has developed other methods of warfare, a country’s navy continues to be an important element of any military force. The navy protects the waters in the vicinity of a country and help to support other military arms, including aircraft carriers, vehicle and tank cruisers, and supply ships.
Throughout history, the bigger the ship, the better, according to military chiefs, so when the British Navy launched the HMS Dreadnaught over a hundred years ago, military commanders around the world scrabbled to develop ships of the same scale.
Today, hundred-thousand-ton aircraft carriers have become the norm, but here are some of the world’s biggest warships:

 

Brazil (Clemenceau Class, modified)
Made out of the French Clemenceau class aircraft carrier, the Brazilian Navy bought it in 2000 for twelve million dollars. It was renamed the São Paulo and underwent extensive renovations. The ship can now carry forty aircraft.

China (Admiral Kuznetsov Class)
Acquired from Russia, the PLAN Liaoning is a modified Admiral Kuznetsov and was China’s first aircraft carrier. China had announced that it was to be used for private purposes as a casino, but this was a cover story, revealed when the Chinese Navy commissioned the vessel in 2012 and renamed it the Liaoning. It is armed defensively and can carry around thirty aircraft . It is mainly used for training.

France (Charles de Gaulle Class)
The first French nuclear powered ship, and the only one operational outside of the US Navy, the Charles de Gaulle was launched in 2001 for around four billion dollars. It can hold forty aircraft and sail for more than twenty years before it needs to be refueled. It has suffered problems with construction and maintenance, but once fixed the carrier has taken part in missions all over the world, including Afghanistan. 

India (Kiev Class, modified)
One of two aircraft carriers in the Indian Navy, the INS Vikramaditya began life as a Soviet ship in the 1980s. The Indian Navy purchased the ship for two billion dollars in a deal with Russia, which offered to make renovations for the Indians before it handed the ship over. It was transformed into a full aircraft carrier and commissioned in 2013, capable of carrying three dozen aircraft.

 

Japanese (Izumo Class)
Only one of its kind has ever been built, though Japan intends to build another. It is a helicopter carrier and is capable of hunting down enemy submarines. It carries a maximum of fourteen helicopters along with four hundred soldiers and vehicles. It cost around a billion dollars. It is armed with only defensive weaponry, due to the Japanese constitution created after World War Two.

Russia (Kirov Class)
A nuclear powered battle-cruiser made for offensive operations, there were four Kirovs built during the 1980s, said to be worth around two billion dollars each. Only one remains operational, as the other three are undergoing renovation.

 

Russia (Admiral Kuznetsov Class)
A heavy aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov is also fitted with both offensive and defensive weaponry such as anti-ship and anti-submarine missiles. There is only one Admiral Kuznetsov remaining, as the others were sold to China. Built in 1990, it is the only full aircraft carrier in the Russian Navy, holding around 30 aircraft.

 

United States (Wasp Class)
Eight Wasp Class ships were built specifically to support ground troops fighting in hostile territory. Costing just under a billion dollars each, they held over a thousand crew and could carry almost two thousand Marines as well as vehicles and helicopters.

United States (America Class)
An amphibious assault ship, the USS America was the first to be built for around three billion dollars. They were built bigger than the Wasp Class so that they could take bigger aircraft onboard.

United States (Nimitz Class)
At over a thousand feet long, the Nimitz aircraft carriers are the world’s biggest warships. Costing around five billion dollars each, they are also the most expensive. Ten of the hundred-thousand-ton carriers can hold up to ninety aircraft and are fitted with anti-aircraft guns and missiles. They are expected to serve for fifty years. However, the United States is already developing the Gerald R. Ford Class, which will be even bigger and is expected to cost around twelve billion dollars.

Rico says that toys for big boys cost big bucks...