Why is the superstructure of an aircraft carrier on the starboard side?

Answer 1

Probably the only reason is that the standard aircraft traffic pattern is a left-hand pattern (all turns in the traffic pattern are made to the left). Putting the superstructure on the right puts the "tower" outboard of the pattern, allowing flight operations to be viewed from one side.

AnswerCould it possibly go back to the Viking longboats with the steering-board (starboard) on the right and an unobstructed view of the port on the left. Of course, since the pilot is in the superstructure, it can't interfer with his view on either side. AnswerApparently when designing Britain's first purpose built carrier Hermes the designers took into account the fact that rotary engines of the time rotated clockwise (when looking from the pilots seat). The resulting yaw from the rotating propeller pulled the aircraft left when taking off. They therefore made sure there were no obstructions in the way so they placed the island to the right (ie starboard). AnswerIn addition to the reasons offered above, the current reason is tradition. There were several port-side island aircraft carriers built during right before or during WW2 (almost all of them Japanese). No particular effectiveness has been found for a starboard-side island vice a port-side one in actual use, so the current placement of the island really boils down to convention.