Which aircraft was the first attack aircraft used on a carrier?

The Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter is recognized as the first attack aircraft utilized on an aircraft carrier. Developed during World War I, this British biplane was innovative in its design and capabilities, allowing for effective ground attack missions as well as reconnaissance and naval operations. It was pivotal in demonstrating the potential of carrier-based operations, paving the way for future developments in naval aviation.

Other aircraft listed, such as the F/A-18 Hornet, T-6 Texan, and F4F Wildcat, were important in their own right and contributed significantly to naval and attack aviation, but they followed the pioneering contributions of the Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter in terms of carrier use. The F/A-18 Hornet is more modern and serves as a multirole fighter, while the T-6 Texan was primarily a trainer aircraft, and the F4F Wildcat was important in World War II naval conflicts but did not hold the designation of the first attack aircraft on a carrier. Thus, the Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter stands out as the correct answer in this historical context.