ASW carrier

An ASW carrier (Anti-Submarine Warfare carrier) is a type of small aircraft carrier whose primary role is to hunt and destroy submarines. This type of ship came into existence during the Cold War as an development of the escort carriers used in the ASW role in the North Atlantic during World War II.

The three ships of the Invincible class, were originally designed for the ASW role. Following the Falklands War, however, the role of these ships was reconsidered, and they were used as conventional, albeit light, fleet aircraft carriers, in the power projection role.