I was emailing with a friend (and no my having a friend is not the joke), and he asked if I had ever heard of any navy having a side paddle wheel aircraft carrier. After stopping laughing, I said that was ridiculous! He then said look up the USS Wolverine and the USS Sable. USS Wolverine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wolverine_(IX-64) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sable_(IX-81) https://www.google.com/search?q=uss+sable+uss+wolverine&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS366&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_qxyUf-uMYKxiwKsqoDgAQ&ved=0CEoQsAQ&biw=1078&bih=598
I realize it would work better for the pulp era, but this still appeals to the inner Steampunk in me.