Could an American aircraft carrier survive a tsunami?

At sea, no problem, a tsunami is just a large and probably fast-moving swell. It is not a rogue wave. In port it would be subject to the same sort of damage as other large metal objects struck by a tsunami. The wave may or may not be high enough to go across the flight deck. read more

If the same aircraft carrier was moored in a port that got hit by a tsunami, it could well be wrecked, especially if hit side on by the wave. depending on where the port was in relation to the Earthquake, the carrier would make best possible speed to be well out to sea before the waves arrive. read more

In place of the aircraft carrier, an American naval hospital ship, the Mercy, arrived off Aceh on Friday, American officials said. The ship, which has about 1,000 hospital beds, headed for Aceh from San Diego soon after the tsunami struck. read more