Crossword Genius

Televise cunning US chef's big vessel (8,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aircraft carrier

'televise cunning us' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'chef's big vessel' is the wordplay.
'chef's big' becomes 'aircraft' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'vessel' becomes 'carrier' (carrier is a kind of vessel).
'aircraft'+'carrier'='AIRCRAFT-CARRIER'

(Other definitions for aircraft carrier that I've seen before include "ship" , "warship" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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