USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Class overview
Name:	Nimitz class aircraft carrier
Builders:	Newport News Shipbuilding Company
Operators:	United States Navy
Preceded by:	Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier Enterprise class aircraft carrier
Succeeded by:	Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier
In commission:	May 3, 1975
Completed:	10/10
Active:	USS Nimitz USS Dwight D. Eisenhower USS Carl Vinson USS Theodore Roosevelt USS Abraham Lincoln USS George Washington USS John C. Stennis USS Harry S. Truman USS Ronald Reagan USS George H. W. Bush
General characteristics
Displacement:	Approximately 101,000 long tons (103,000 t) full load
Length:	Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m) Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)
Beam:	Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m) Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)
Draft:	Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m) Limit: 41 ft (12.5 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW)
Speed:	30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)
Range:	Essentially unlimited distance; 20 years
Complement:	Ship's company: 3,200 Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar AN/SPN-41 landing aid radars 4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 4 × Mk 95 radars
Electronic warfare and decoys:	SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures
Armament:	16–24 × Sea Sparrow or NATO Sea Sparrow missiles 3 or 4 × Phalanx CIWSs or RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles
Armor:	Classified
Aircraft carried:	90 fixed wing and helicopters

The Nimitz-class supercarriers, a line of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy, are the largest capital ships in the world, and are considered to be a hallmark in the superpower status of the United States of America.^[1] These aircraft carriers are numbered with consecutive hull numbers starting with CVN-68. The letters CVN denote the type of ship: "CV" is the hull classification symbol for aircraft carriers, and "N" indicates nuclear-powered propulsion. The number after the CVN means that this is the 68th "CV", or large aircraft carrier.

Nimitz (CVN-68), the lead ship of the class, was commissioned on May 3, 1975. George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth and last of the class, was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company, and entered naval service on January 10, 2009. The George H.W. Bush is the first transition ship to the new Gerald R. Ford class, the first ship of which began construction in 2007 and will incorporate new technologies including a new multi-function radar system, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), volume search radars, an open architecture information network, and a significantly reduced crew requirement. To lower costs, some new technologies were also incorporated into the Ronald Reagan, the previous carrier to the George H.W. Bush.

Due to construction differences between the first three ships (Nimitz, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Carl Vinson) and the latter seven (from Theodore Roosevelt on), the latter ships are sometimes erroneously called Theodore Roosevelt-class aircraft carriers, though the U.S. Navy considers them all to be in one class.^[2] As the older Nimitz carriers come in for Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), they are upgraded to the standards of the latest ships.^[3] The Nimitz was the first ship of the class to undergo her initial refueling, during a 33-month RCOH at the Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia, in 1998. The Dwight D. Eisenhower was next, completing its RCOH in 2005. The Carl Vinson began its RCOH in late 2005, and completed its post-overhaul sea trials in July 2009.^[3] The Vinson is currently undergoing the RCOH Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Newport News. The fourth of the class, the Theodore Roosevelt entered drydock in August, 2009 to begin its RCOH.

By tonnage, the Nimitz-class warships are the largest aircraft carriers built so far, holding the world record for displacement of any naval war vessel. Nimitz Class Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers have a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m.

Contents 1 General characteristics 2 Ships in class 2.1 USS Nimitz (CVN-68) 2.2 USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) 2.3 USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) 2.4 USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) 2.5 USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) 2.6 USS George Washington (CVN-73) 2.7 USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) 2.8 USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) 2.9 USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) 2.10 USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] General characteristics

• Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Company, in Newport News, Virginia
• Power Plant: Two A4W nuclear reactors with four shafts
• Length: 332.8 m (1,092 ft) overall
• Flight Deck Width: 76.8–78.4 m (251 ft 10 in–257 ft 3 in)
• Beam: 41 m (135 ft)
• Displacement: 98,235–104,112 tons full load
• Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
• Aircraft: 85 (current wings are closer to 64, including 48 tactical and 16 support aircraft)
  • Aircraft currently in operation on Nimitz class carriers include: F/A-18C/D Hornet / F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, EA-6B Prowler, E-2 Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound, SH/HH-60 Seahawk, and T-45 Goshawk (non-combat aircraft, used only for training missions) for many missions including self defense/interception, land attack/close-air support, electronic warfare, maritime strike and air crew training.
• Cost: about US$4.5 billion each
• Range: Capable of continuously operating for 20 years without refueling
• Average Annual Operating Cost: US$160 million
• Service Life: 50+ years
• Crew: Ship's Company: 3,200; Air Wing: 2,480
• Armament:
  • NATO RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launchers: three or four (depending on the modification)
  • 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts: Three on the Nimitz and the Dwight D. Eisenhower and four on the Carl Vinson and later ships of the class, except for the Theodore Roosevelt and the George Washington which have three. (The USS Ronald Reagan has none, having been armed with the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile system during construction.)
  • Rolling Airframe Missile: Two on the Nimitz, the George Washington, and the Ronald Reagan. These will be installed on the other ships as they return for RCOH.
• Date First Deployed: May 3, 1975 (the Nimitz)

Due to a design flaw, ships of this class have inherent lists to starboard when under combat loads that exceed the capability of their list control systems.^[4]

[edit] Ships in class

The United States Navy lists the following ships in the Nimitz class:^[2]

[edit] USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: June 22, 1968
• Launched: May 13, 1972 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: May 3, 1975 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California
• Modifications: Service Life Extension Program
• Operations: Operation Evening Light, Gulf of Sidra, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Victories: 2 Libyan aircraft in 1981

[edit] USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: August 15, 1970
• Launched: October 11, 1975 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: October 18, 1977 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at the Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia
• Modifications: Service Life Extension Program
• Operations: Operation Eagle Claw, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Uphold Democracy, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Deny Flight

[edit] USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: October 11, 1975
• Launched: March 15, 1980 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: March 13, 1982 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at the Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia (RCOH completed on July 11, 2009)
• Operations: Operation Southern Watch, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Fox, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom

[edit] USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: October 31, 1981
• Launched: October 27, 1984 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: October 25, 1986 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia (Set to undergo RCOH beginning Summer 2009)
• Operations: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Deny Flight, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Deliberate Force, Operation Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom

[edit] USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: November 3, 1984
• Launched: February 13, 1988 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: November 11, 1989 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Naval Station Everett in Everett, Washington
• Operations: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Fiery Vigil, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Unified Assistance

[edit] USS George Washington (CVN-73)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: August 25, 1986
• Launched: July 21, 1990 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: July 4, 1992 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Yokosuka Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan
• Operations: Operation Decisive Endeavor, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Vigilant Resolve

[edit] USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: March 13, 1991
• Launched: November 11, 1993 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: December 9, 1995 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington
• Operations: Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle

[edit] USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: November 29, 1993
• Launched: September 7, 1996 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: July 25, 1998 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia
• Operations: Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Hurricane Katrina relief

[edit] USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: February 12, 1998
• Launched: March 4, 2001 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: July 12, 2003 (List)
• Status: In active service, based at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California

[edit] USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)

• Builders:  United States (Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Newport News, Virginia)
• Laid down: September 6, 2003
• Launched: October 9, 2006 (List)
• Operator:  United States Navy
• Commissioned: January 10, 2009 (List)
• Status: Pending post delivery maintenance before commencing training for operational deployment in 2010.

[edit] See also

• List of aircraft carriers
• List of naval ship classes in service
• Supercarrier

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Nimitz Class project page on Naval-technology.com
• GlobalSecurity article on Nimitz Class carriers
• Naval Vessel Register page for USS Nimitz

v • d • e Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Nimitz subclass Nimitz · Dwight D. Eisenhower · Carl Vinson Theodore Roosevelt subclass Theodore Roosevelt · Abraham Lincoln · George Washington · John C. Stennis · Harry S. Truman Ronald Reagan subclass Ronald Reagan · George H.W. Bush Preceded by: USS Enterprise · Followed by: Gerald R. Ford class List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy

v • d • e Aircraft carrier classes in service Admiral Kuznetsov • Cavour • Centaur (Hermes subclass) / Viraat • Chakri Naruebet • Charles de Gaulle • Enterprise • Giuseppe Garibaldi • Invincible • Nimitz • Principe de Asturias • Clemenceau / São Paulo