USS Nimitz (CVN 68): Ship profile

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) has answered her country's call many times in response to regional and international crises. In doing so, the aircraft carrier has secured a prominent place in history, just like her namesake, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

USS Nimitz (CVN 68): GUAM (April 20, 2008) The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) arrives in Guam for a four-day port visit. Nimitz was operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Steven Maksinchuk (Released)

The keel of USS Nimitz was laid on June 22, 1968 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Va. It was destined to become the largest warship ever. The ship was commissioned May 3, 1975, at Pier 12, Naval Station Norfolk, Va. by the Honorable Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States. Principal guests included: the Honorable James R. Schlesinger, Secretary of Defense; the Honorable J. William Middendorf, II, Secretary of the Navy; Admiral James L. Holloway, III, Chief of Naval Operations and Mrs. James T. Nimitz-Lay, Ship's Sponsor.

Speaking to a crowd of over 20,000, the President said in his remarks: "Wherever the United States Ship Nimitz shows her flag, she will be seen as we see her now - a solid symbol of United States strength; United States resolve. Made in America and manned by Americans. Whether her mission is one of defense, diplomacy or humanity, Nimitz will command awe and admiration from some, caution and circumspection from others and respect from all."

Today's crew stands ready, as did the commissioning crew, to answer their nation's call and take their place in America's maritime heritage.

USS Nimitz Facts

* Nimitz reaches over 18 stories high from the keel to the top of the mast.
* The Hangar Bay extends for most of the ship's length. It is used for major repair and shelters the aircraft not needed for that day's flight schedule.
* Four distilling units enable Nimitz engineers to make over 400,000 gallons of fresh water a day, for use by the propulsion plants, catapults and crew.
* Nimitz' Food Services Department provides 18,000-20,000 meals a day.
* Nimitz can stock at least 70 days of refrigerated and dry storage goods.
* Literally tons of wash are done every day by Nimitz' laundry, dry cleaning and tailoring services personnel.
* Nimitz' one barber shop trims over 1,500 heads each week.
* The Post Office processes more than one million pounds of mail each year.
* The ship has a fully-equipped dental facility, staffed by five dentists.
* The Medical Department is manned by six doctors, including a general surgeon, who provide everything from surgery to hydro-therapy. The ship also features a 53-bed hospital ward, a three bed ICU, and acts as the hospital ship for the entire Nimitz battle group.
* Nimitz' three chaplains conduct daily religious services in an interdenominational chapel.
* Nuclear power allows the ship to store 50 percent more ammunition and almost twice as much aviation fuel as the largest conventional carrier.

Carrier Air Wing 11

Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN is currently comprised of seven squadrons. Naval Air Station Lemoore is home to the Tophatters of VFA-14 with 12 F/A-18 E Super Hornets and the Black Aces of VFA-41 with 12 F/A-18F Super Hornets. The Sunliners of VFA-81, flying 10 F/A-18C Hornets are stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The Red Devils of VMFA-232, flying 10 F/A-18C strike fighters, are stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. Stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, are the Black Ravens of VAQ-135 with four EA-6B electronic-attack aircraft. Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, is home to the Wallbangers of VAW-117 and its four E-2C airborne early-warning aircraft. Naval Air Station North Island, California is home to the Screamin’ Indians of HS-6 with four SH-60 F and 3 HH-60 H helicopters and the Rawhides of VRC-30 (Detachment 3) with two C-2A cargo planes.

USS Nimitz (CVN 68): PACIFIC OCEAN (April 15, 2008) The flight deck director motions an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Wallbangers" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117 onto a catapult before launching from the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz was operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Wagner (Released)

Dimensions and Specifications

Propulsion system: Two nuclear power plants
Main Engines: Four
Speed: 30+ Knots
Propellers: Four
Blades on each Propeller: Five
Aircraft elevators: Four
Catapults: Four
Arresting gear cables: Four
Overall length: 1,092 feet
Overall width: 252 feet
Beam at waterline: 134 feet
Area of flight deck: About 4.5 acres
Full load displacement: About 95,000 tons
Accommodations: About 6,000 persons

Ship's History

1970's
Nimitz' first deployment began July 7, 1976 when she departed Norfolk for the Mediterranean. Included in the task force were the nuclear-powered cruisers USS South Carolina and USS California. The deployment marked the first time in 10 years that nuclear-powered ships had deployed to the Mediterranean. In November 1976, Nimitz was awarded the coveted Battle "E" from Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet, for being the most efficient and foremost aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Fleet. The ship returned to Norfolk Feb. 7, 1977 after a seven-month deployment.

Nimitz again sailed toward the Mediterranean Sea Dec. 1, 1977. Following a peaceful deployment, the ship returned home to Norfolk July 20, 1978. During Nimitz' third cruise to the Mediterranean beginning Sept. 10, 1979, it was dispatched to strengthen the U.S. Naval presence in the crucial Indian Ocean area as tensions heightened over Iran's taking of 52 American diplomats hostage. Four months later, Operation "Evening Light" was launched from Nimitz in an attempt to rescue the hostages. The rescue was aborted in the Iranian Desert when the number of operational helicopters fell below the minimum needed to transport the attack force and hostages out of Iran. During its deployment, the ship operated 144 continuous days at sea. Nimitz' homecoming on May 26, 1980 was, at the time, the largest given to any carrier battle group returning to the United States since the end of World War II. The ship's crew was greeted by President and Mrs. Carter, members of Congress, military leaders and thousands of families and friends.

1980's
On May 15, 1981, USS Nimitz departed Norfolk for the final phases of her workup schedule for an upcoming Mediterranean Cruise. On the night of May 25, an EA-6B Prowler crash-landed on the flight deck, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others. The carrier returned to port to repair damaged catapults and returned to sea less than 48 hours later to complete its training schedule. On August 18 and 19, 1981 during its fourth deployment, Nimitz and USS Forrestal conducted an open ocean missile exercise in the Gulf of Sidra near what Libyan leader Khadafi called the "Line of Death." On the morning of August 19, two Nimitz aircraft from VF-41 were fired upon by Libyan pilots. The Nimitz pilots returned fire and shot both Libyan aircraft from the sky. Newspapers across the country rallied around the incident against terrorist-backing Libya with front-page headlines reading "U.S. 2 - Libya 0."

On June 14, 1985, two Lebanese Shiite Muslim gunmen hijacked TWA Flight 847, carrying 153 passengers and crew, including many Americans. In response, Nimitz was ordered to steam at flank speed to the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Lebanon, where it remained until August. After another extended deployment, Nimitz left the Mediterranean on May 21, 1987. It crossed the Atlantic Ocean, rounded the rough waters of Cape Horn, South America, and sailed for the first time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean enroute to its new homeport, Bremerton, Wash. Nimitz arrived there July 2, 1987.

In September, 1988, the ship operated off the South Korean coast to provide security for the Olympic Games in Seoul. On Oct. 29, 1988 Nimitz began operating in the North Arabian Sea where it participated in Operation "Earnest Will." This operation called for U.S. Navy ships to protect shipping lanes and escort U.S. registered (re-flagged) Kuwaiti tankers.

1990's
On Feb. 25, 1991, USS Nimitz departed Bremerton for the Western Pacific and eventually the Arabian Gulf, where it relieved USS Ranger, during Operation Desert Storm. The ship returned to Bremerton Aug. 24, 1991. Nimitz again deployed Feb. 1, 1993 to the Arabian Gulf, relieving USS Kitty Hawk to take its place as part of Operation Southern Watch. The ship returned after a mishap-free deployment in August, 1993.

In November, 1995, Nimitz commenced her deployment to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf, and to the waters off Taiwan, where once again the presence of carrier forces at sea positively influenced events ashore, calming a volatile standoff between mainland China and Taiwan.

On September 1, 1997, Nimitz set out on her latest deployment, an around-the-world cruise that would see the great carrier return to her East Coast roots and begin a multi-year overhaul in the Newport News shipyard where she was built.

The around-the-world deployment promised to be an exciting experience with scheduled port visits ranging from the Far East to the Mediterranean Sea; however, Nimitz was ordered into the Arabian Gulf to support Operation Southern Watch and various United Nation initiatives. Answering each challenge, Nimitz served on station in the Arabian Gulf throughout the holidays and returned to a celebrated and long anticipated homecoming on March 1, 1998.

Nimitz returned to Hampton Roads on March 1, 1998 and on May 26, 1998 began her mid-life refueling overhaul that has enabled her to be able to provide the United States with another quarter century of service.

2000's - Present
On June 25, 2001, USS Nimitz departed Newport News Shipbuilding for a temporary berth at Naval Base Norfolk, Va.

On September 21, 2001 the carrier departed Norfolk, Va., and conducted an inter-fleet transfer to her new homeport of San Diego. Nimitz arrived in San Diego on November 13, 2001. Nimitz began a four-month Post-Shakedown Availability (PSA) at Naval Air Station, North Island in January 2002.

Nimitz ended her pier-side availability on May 7, 2002 and conducted Sea Trials, a first step in preparations for her next overseas deployment. As the lead ship in its class, Nimitz was the first to conduct a refueling complex overhaul, which required the ship to return to its birthplace of Newport News, Va., for three years in 1998.

Nimitz began TSTA I on Aug 13. TSTA I marked the first phase in a 16-week evaluation period of Nimitz crewmembers, as they were evaluated on their damage control knowledge and their ability to apply that knowledge to real life scenarios aboard the ship. In September 2002 Nimitz completed TSTA II/III and FEP.

The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Battle Group got underway from San Diego Jan. 10 to begin a compressed three-week training exercise. By taking advantage of several efficiencies in the training pipeline, Commander, 3rd Fleet (C3F) was able to combine two normally separate training evolutions into one three-week exercise, expediting the battle group’s availability for deployment. The first two weeks focused on a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and the last week concentrated on a Joint Task Force Training Exercise (JTFEX). This exercise was the culmination of nine months of training and preparation.

Nimitz departed San Diego, Calif., Mar. 3, 2003 on her first western pacific (WESTPAC) deployment since 1997.

Nimitz arrived in the 5th fleet area of responsibility in April and provided air support for ground troops in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This deployment marks the first time the carrier has deployed to the U.S. Central Command region since 1997.

The Nimitz made a port call at Jebel Ali on May 08, 2003 and departed on 13 May 2003.

On July 3, 2003 the Nimitz made another port call at Jebel Ali and stayed until July 09, 2003 after which it continued to conduct operations in support of Iraqi Freedom.
Throughout much of August and into early September the Nimitz transited back and forth from the North Arabian Sea into the Persian Gulf. On or about September 6 the Nimitz began heading east, entering the Indian Ocean on September 8, 2003. On September 11 she was in the Andaman Sea and made a port call at Singapore on September 12.

After conducting operations in the Indian Ocean and the Andaman Sea throughout the rest of September into October the Nimitz made one final port call at Singapore on October 08, 2003, departing that port on or about October 13. On October 14, 2003 the Nimitz was in the South China Sea, and on October 20 she enterred the Pacific Ocean.
On October 23, 2003 the Navy announced that the Nimitz CSG would return to San Diego on November 5, 2003, following a highly successful eight-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and combat support ship USS Bridge (AOE 10) made a brief port call in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Oct. 27, before getting underway for their final leg home Oct. 31. The first ship from the Nimitz CSG to return home was the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser, USS Chosin (CG 65), arriving Naval Station Peal Harbor Nov. 2.

As Nimitz approached the Southern California coast, Nov. 4, Carrier Air Wing 11 squadrons made homecomings, as they conducted a “fly off” of more than 70 aircraft from the aircraft carrier. The aircrews and aircraft flew into the following four homeports: Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.; Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.; Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu, Calif.; Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The following day, Nov. 5, Nimitz pulled into San Diego Bay and moored at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

During the ship’s deployment, Nimitz flew more than 6,500 missions in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, this was the first deployment of the F/A-18F Super Hornet (two-seat version) and E-2C Hawkeye 2000. Nimitz was also the first aircraft carrier to deploy with two Super Hornet squadrons. This was Nimitz's first deployment since their major overhaul in 1997 and its first since relocating to San Diego in 2001.

On May 7, 2005, NIMITZ and Carrier Strike Group 11 assets deployed on a six-month Western Pacific/Arabian Gulf deployment. On station in the Arabian Gulf and operating as Task Forces 50, 152 and 58, the NIMITZ Strike Group supported Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from July 14 to Sept. 24. These operations helped set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complemented the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. While in the Fifth Fleet area of operations, NIMITZ and its embarked air wing, CVW-11, launched more than 4,500 sorties totaling more than 11,000 flight hours. More than 1,100 sorties and 6,000 flight hours were flown in direct support of troops on the ground in Iraq. Ships from the NIMITZ Strike Group also conducted 286 queries, 410 approaches and 14 boardings of foreign vessels in support of Fifth Fleet Maritime Security Operations. Shortly after leaving the Gulf, the strike group participated in MALABAR 2005, the seventh annual bi-lateral exercise between the U.S. and Indian navies. For the first time in the history of the exercise, a U.S. carrier operated together with the Indian carrier INS Viraat (R 22). During the deployment, the NIMITZ Strike Group made a number of port visits throughout the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf including stops in Hawaii, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Bahrain, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. NIMITZ also made her first-ever stops in Guam and Fremantle, Australia.

Nimitz deployed again April 2, 2007 after a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) period, finishing in record time and under budget.

The 2007 Wetern Pacific/Arabian Gulf deployment featured several port visits that included Hawaii, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Chennai, India. Nimitz was the first American aircraft carrier to visit India and that visit strengthened diplomatic relations between the United States and India and paved the way for future port visits.

NIMITZ also participated in the Malabar and Valiant Shield exercises. The 2007 Valiant Shield exercise was the largest in Naval history.

USS Nimitz (CVN 68): PACIFIC OCEAN (March 6, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) steams in formation during Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008, a joint exercise involving forces from the United States and the Republic of Korea. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joseph Pol Sebastian Gocong (Released)

After completing the six-month deployment, NIMITZ returned to San Diego Sept. 30, 2007 and quickly began a Carrier Incremental Availability (CIA) followed by Sustainment Exercises (SUSTAINEX) to maintain qualifications and readiness for the 2008 deployment which began Jan. 24, 2007.

NIMITZ continues to be an award-winning ship setting the standard for warships throughout the Navy. As Commanding Officer Capt. Michael Manazir said on the day he took command, “I will run to catch up with the pace you’ve set.”

As the lead ship of the world’s most powerful and capable class of warships, NIMITZ stands ready to serve as our nation’s finest instrument of peace, power projection and platform for diplomacy.

Additional images from the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Photo Gallery:

Source: US Navy