A large vessel that serves as a base for smaller craft, such as submarines, seaplanes, or torpedo boats. Common in military and naval contexts.
A submarine tender supplies and maintains submarines.
This aircraft carrier functions as a mother ship for its aircraft.
submarine carrier; submarine tender
aircraft carrier
seaplane carrier; seaplane tender
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and military contexts.
Compound of 母 (mother) and 艦 (warship). The term likely originated in naval contexts to describe a ship that acts as a base for smaller vessels.