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The '''''Nimitz''-class''' [[supercarrier]]s, a line of ten [[Nuclear reactor technology|nuclear-powered]] [[aircraft carriers]] [[modern US Navy carrier air operations|in service with]] the [[United States Navy]], are the largest [[capital ship]]s in the world, and are considered to be a hallmark of the [[superpower]] status of the [[United States of America]].<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/cv-why.asp "Why the carriers?"]. Official United States Navy website. Accessed 7 March 2007.</ref> These aircraft carriers are numbered with consecutive hull numbers starting with CVN-68.<ref group=Note>The letters ''CVN'' denote the type of ship: "CV" is the [[hull classification symbol]] for aircraft carriers, and "N" indicates [[nuclear-power]]ed propulsion. The number after the ''CVN'' means that this is the 68th "CV", or large aircraft carrier.</ref>
The '''''Nimitz''-class''' [[supercarrier]]s, a line of ten [[Nuclear reactor technology|nuclear-powered]] [[aircraft carriers]] [[modern US Navy carrier air operations|in service with]] the [[United States Navy]], are the largest [[capital ship]]s in the world, and are considered to be a hallmark of the [[superpower]] status of the [[United States of America]].<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/cv-why.asp "Why the carriers?"]. Official United States Navy website. Accessed 7 March 2007.</ref> These aircraft carriers are numbered with consecutive hull numbers starting with CVN-68.<ref group=Note>The letters ''CVN'' denote the type of ship: "CV" is the [[hull classification symbol]] for aircraft carriers, and "N" indicates [[nuclear-power]]ed propulsion. The number after the ''CVN'' means that this is the 68th "CV", or large aircraft carrier.</ref>


All ten ships were constructed by [[Northrop Grumman Newport News|Newport News Shipbuilding Company]]. {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|2}} (CVN-68), the [[lead ship]] of the class, was commissioned on May 3, 1975, while {{USS|George H. W. Bush|CVN-77|2}} (CVN-77), the tenth and last of the class, entered naval service on January 10, 2009. The ''George H.W. Bush'' is the first transition ship to the new [[Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier|''Gerald R. Ford'' class]], the first ship of which began construction in 2007 and will incorporate new technologies including a new [[AESA|multi-function radar system]], [[Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System]] (EMALS), volume search [[radar]]s, an open architecture [[information network]], and a significantly reduced crew requirement. To lower costs, some new technologies were also incorporated into the {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|2}}, the previous carrier to the ''George H.W. Bush''.
All ten ships were constructed by [[Northrop Grumman Newport News|Newport News Shipbuilding Company]]. {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|2}} (CVN-68), the [[lead ship]] of the class, was commissioned on May 3, 1975, while {{USS|George H. W. Bush|CVN-77|2}} (CVN-77), the tenth and last of the class, entered naval service on January 10, 2009.


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 102,000 tons, and a flight deck length of {{convert|1092|ft|m|abbr=on}}.
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 102,000 tons, and a flight deck length of {{convert|1092|ft|m|abbr=on}}.
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==Design and construction==
==Design and construction==
The ten ''Nimitz'' class aircraft carriers were constructed between 1968 and 2006 at [[Northrop Grumman Newport News|Newport News Shipbuilding Company]], in [[Newport News, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/active/fleet_02.htm |title=Ship Class: CVN 68 |author= |date=2004 |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2009-12-18}}</ref> They were ordered to supplement the aircraft carriers of the [[Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier|''Kitty Hawk'' class]] and [[Enterprise class aircraft carrier|''Enterprise'' class]], in order to increase the size and dominance of the US Navy.<ref name="CVN 21"/> Although the ships were initially categorized as attack carriers, the ''Carl Vinson'' was also constructed with [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine capabilities]], which have since been fitted to the other ships of the class. As a result, the ships are now able to participate in a wider range of missions.<ref name="Cold war ship"/> In total, the cost of construction for each ship was around $4.5 billion each.<ref name="CVN 21">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/navycvn21.htm |title=Navy CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress |author=Ronald O'Rourke |date=2005 |work= |publisher=US Department of the Navy |accessdate=2009-12-18}}</ref>
The ten ''Nimitz'' class aircraft carriers were constructed between 1968 and 2006 at [[Northrop Grumman Newport News|Newport News Shipbuilding Company]], in [[Newport News, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/active/fleet_02.htm |title=Ship Class: CVN 68 |author= |date=2004 |work= |publisher= |accessdate=2009-12-18}}</ref> They were ordered to supplement the aircraft carriers of the [[Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier|''Kitty Hawk'' class]] and [[Enterprise class aircraft carrier|''Enterprise'' class]], in order to increase the size and dominance of the US Navy.<ref name="CVN 21"/> Although the ships were initially categorized as attack carriers, the ''Carl Vinson'' was also constructed with [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine capabilities]], which have since been fitted to the other ships of the class. As a result, the ships are now able to participate in a wider range of missions.<ref name="Cold war ship"/> In total, the cost of construction for each ship was around $4.5 billion each.<ref name="CVN 21">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/navycvn21.htm |title=Navy CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress |author=Ronald O'Rourke |date=2005 |work= |publisher=US Department of the Navy |accessdate=2009-12-18}}</ref>

⚫
The design of the final seven ships (from {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|2}}) is slightly different to that of the earlier ships, although the US Navy nevertheless regards them as a single class.<ref name='USNavy-List of Aircraft Carriers'/> As the older ''Nimitz'' carriers come in for [[Refueling and Complex Overhaul]] (RCOH), they are upgraded to the standards of the latest ships, as well as refueling their nuclear power plants.<ref name='NorthropGrumman-Refueling and Complex Overhaul'>{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Refueling and Complex Overhaul|work=|publisher=Northrop Grumman Corporation|date=no date|url=http://www.nn.northropgrumman.com/capabilities/rco.html|doi=|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref><ref name="CVN Specifications"/>


===Design===
===Design===
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The carriers were constructed, like most modern ships, by welding together pre-assembled "blocks", containing the ship's plumbing and electrical supplies, and which can weigh up to 800 tons. These are assembled in the dry-dock before the ship is fully fitted out. The ''Nimitz'' class ships also have [[bulbous bow]]s in order to improve fuel efficiency by reducing [[hydrodynamic drag]].<ref name="How carriers work"/>
The carriers were constructed, like most modern ships, by welding together pre-assembled "blocks", containing the ship's plumbing and electrical supplies, and which can weigh up to 800 tons. These are assembled in the dry-dock before the ship is fully fitted out. The ''Nimitz'' class ships also have [[bulbous bow]]s in order to improve fuel efficiency by reducing [[hydrodynamic drag]].<ref name="How carriers work"/>

===Differences within the class===
⚫
The design of the final seven ships (from {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|2}}) is slightly different to that of the earlier ships, although the US Navy nevertheless regards them as a single class.<ref name='USNavy-List of Aircraft Carriers'/> As the older ''Nimitz'' carriers come in for [[Refueling and Complex Overhaul]] (RCOH), they are upgraded to the standards of the latest ships, as well as refueling their nuclear power plants.<ref name='NorthropGrumman-Refueling and Complex Overhaul'>{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Refueling and Complex Overhaul|work=|publisher=Northrop Grumman Corporation|date=no date|url=http://www.nn.northropgrumman.com/capabilities/rco.html|doi=|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref><ref name="CVN Specifications"/> The final ship [[USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)|''George H.W. Bush'']] was designed as a 'transition ship' to the ''Nimitz'' class replacement, the ''[[Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier|Gerald R. Ford class]]''. ''George H.W. Bush'' incorporates new technologies including improved propeller and bulbous bow designs, a reduced [[RADAR]] signature and electronic and environmental upgrades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nn.northropgrumman.com/bush/design_enhancements.html|title=Design Enhancements|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref><ref>[http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=165151 Northrop Grumman Press Release, May 11, 2009]</ref> As a result, the ship's cost was noticeably higher than that of the other ''Nimitz'' class ships at US$6.2&nbsp; billion.<ref>[http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_bush_1218dec18,0,7589451.story/ "Ready or not, Navy to get carrier"] ''Googlesightseeing.com''{{Dead link|date=December 2009}}</ref> To lower costs, some new technologies were also incorporated into the {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|2}}, the previous carrier.


===Aircraft carried===
===Aircraft carried===
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{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Aircraft Carriers - CV, CVN|work=Fact File|publisher=United States Navy|date=October 12, 2007|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=200&ct=4|format=|doi=|accessdate=2009-01-10 }}</ref>
{{cite web|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Aircraft Carriers - CV, CVN|work=Fact File|publisher=United States Navy|date=October 12, 2007|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=200&ct=4|format=|doi=|accessdate=2009-01-10 }}</ref>
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===''Nimitz''===
===''Nimitz''===
{{Main|USS Nimitz (CVN-68)}}
{{Main|USS Nimitz (CVN-68)}}
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USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' was laid down on November 3, 1984 and was launched on February 13, 1988. The ship was commissioned on November 11, 1989. The first deployment ''Abraham Lincoln'' was involved in was in support of [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]] in 1991. During this time, however, the ship was diverted to the Indian Ocean to participate alongside 22 other ships in [[Operation Fiery Vigil]], evacuating civilians following the eruption of [[Mt. Pinatubo]] on [[Luzon Island]] in the [[Philippines]]. In June 1993, the ship deployed across the Pacific to Hong Kong and the Arabian Gulf to participate in [[Operation Southern Watch]] in [[Iraq]]. Later that year, in October, ''Abraham Lincoln'' deployed to [[Somalia]] to assist U.N. humanitarian operations, spending four weeks flying patrols over the area surrounding [[Mogadishu]] while supporting US troops during [[War in Somalia (1992–1993)|Operation Restore Hope]]. In 1994 [[Lieutenant|Lt.]] [[Kara Hultgreen]], the first female [[F-14 Tomcat]] pilot, was killed in a training accident while attempting to land on board. The ship participared in [[Operation Vigilant Sentinel]] in 1995 before spending a year in dry-dock while undergoing a major refit. Another refit (Planned Incremental Availability) took place in 2001 at [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]]. The carrier has more recently participated in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in [[Afghanistan]] in 2002, and provided assistance in 2005 in [[Indonesia]] in [[Operation Unified Assistance]] after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|December 2004 tsunami]].
USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' was laid down on November 3, 1984 and was launched on February 13, 1988. The ship was commissioned on November 11, 1989. The first deployment ''Abraham Lincoln'' was involved in was in support of [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]] in 1991. During this time, however, the ship was diverted to the Indian Ocean to participate alongside 22 other ships in [[Operation Fiery Vigil]], evacuating civilians following the eruption of [[Mt. Pinatubo]] on [[Luzon Island]] in the [[Philippines]]. In June 1993, the ship deployed across the Pacific to Hong Kong and the Arabian Gulf to participate in [[Operation Southern Watch]] in [[Iraq]]. Later that year, in October, ''Abraham Lincoln'' deployed to [[Somalia]] to assist U.N. humanitarian operations, spending four weeks flying patrols over the area surrounding [[Mogadishu]] while supporting US troops during [[War in Somalia (1992–1993)|Operation Restore Hope]]. In 1994 [[Lieutenant|Lt.]] [[Kara Hultgreen]], the first female [[F-14 Tomcat]] pilot, was killed in a training accident while attempting to land on board. The ship participared in [[Operation Vigilant Sentinel]] in 1995 before spending a year in dry-dock while undergoing a major refit. Another refit (Planned Incremental Availability) took place in 2001 at [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]]. The carrier has more recently participated in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in [[Afghanistan]] in 2002, and provided assistance in 2005 in [[Indonesia]] in [[Operation Unified Assistance]] after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|December 2004 tsunami]].
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn72history.htm |title=USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN: CVN 72 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=uscarriers.net |accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/batgru-72.htm |title=Abraham Lincoln Strike Group |author= |date= |work= |publisher=globalsecurity.org |accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/aircraft_carriers/uss_abraham_lincoln_cvn_72_page_2.htm |title=USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Maritime Quest |accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref> In 2006, the ship underwent another refit at [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28368 |title=Deck Department Gives Abe “That New Ship Look" |author= |date=3/17/2007 |work= |publisher=US Navy |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref> and based, as of 2009, in the West Pacific at [[Naval Station Everett]] in [[Everett, Washington]].
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn72history.htm |title=USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN: CVN 72 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=uscarriers.net |accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/batgru-72.htm |title=Abraham Lincoln Strike Group |author= |date= |work= |publisher=globalsecurity.org |accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/aircraft_carriers/uss_abraham_lincoln_cvn_72_page_2.htm |title=USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Maritime Quest |accessdate=2009-12-26}}</ref> In 2006, the ship underwent another refit at [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28368 |title=Deck Department Gives Abe “That New Ship Look" |author= |date=3/17/2007 |work= |publisher=US Navy |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref> and based, as of 2009, in the West Pacific at [[Naval Station Everett]] in [[Everett, Washington]].

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{{Main|USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)}}
{{Main|USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)}}
The final ship of the class, USS ''George H.W. Bush'' was laid down on September 6, 2003. The ship was launched on October 9, 2006 and was commissioned on January 10, 2009. The final cost of construction was reported to have been US$6.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479087,00.html |title=Aircraft Carrier Named the USS George H.W. Bush Commissioned |author= |date=January 10, 2009 |work= |publisher=Fox News |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref> As of 2009, the ship is undergoing post shakedown availability (PSA) involving maintainence and training before she enters fully operational service in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=167577 |title=Northrop Grumman Awarded PSA Contract for USS George H. W. Bush |author= |date=June 18, 2009 |work= |publisher=Northop Grumman |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref>
The final ship of the class, USS ''George H.W. Bush'' was laid down on September 6, 2003. The ship was launched on October 9, 2006 and was commissioned on January 10, 2009. The final cost of construction was reported to have been US$6.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479087,00.html |title=Aircraft Carrier Named the USS George H.W. Bush Commissioned |author= |date=January 10, 2009 |work= |publisher=Fox News |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref> As of 2009, the ship is undergoing post shakedown availability (PSA) involving maintainence and training before she enters fully operational service in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=167577 |title=Northrop Grumman Awarded PSA Contract for USS George H. W. Bush |author= |date=June 18, 2009 |work= |publisher=Northop Grumman |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref>

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==Future==
==Future==
The ships were designed to have a fifty-year service life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=250&ct=4 |title=Aircraft Carriers – CVN 21 Program |author= |date=6 November 2009 |work= |publisher=US Navy |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref> The US Navy is building a new class of supercarriers named the ''[[Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier|Gerald R. Ford class]]'', the first of which is expected to enter service in 2015, replacing the [[USS Enterprise (CVN-65)|USS ''Enterprise'']]. Additional supercarriers, mainly the ten expected ''Gerald R. Ford class'' will slowly replace the ''Nimitz'' class ships as they reach the end of their service life.<ref>{{cite news|title=Next aircraft carrier named Gerald R. Ford|date=1/3/07|url=http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2007/01/03/ap3296796.html|publisher=Forbes}}{{dead link}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_24_239/ai_n29459545/ |title=CVN-77 Delivery Moved To December, Newport News On Track For January Commissioning |author= |date=2006 |work= |publisher= CBS Interactive Inc |accessdate=2009-12-23}}</ref>
The ships were designed to have a fifty-year service life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=250&ct=4 |title=Aircraft Carriers – CVN 21 Program |author= |date=6 November 2009 |work= |publisher=US Navy |accessdate=2009-12-19}}</ref> The US Navy is building a new class of supercarriers named the ''[[Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier|Gerald R. Ford class]]'', the first of which is expected to enter service in 2015, replacing the [[USS Enterprise (CVN-65)|USS ''Enterprise'']]. Additional supercarriers, mainly the ten expected ''Gerald R. Ford class'' will slowly replace the ''Nimitz'' class ships as they reach the end of their service life.<ref>{{cite news|title=Next aircraft carrier named Gerald R. Ford|date=1/3/07|url=http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2007/01/03/ap3296796.html|publisher=Forbes}}{{dead link}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_24_239/ai_n29459545/ |title=CVN-77 Delivery Moved To December, Newport News On Track For January Commissioning |author= |date=2006 |work= |publisher= CBS Interactive Inc |accessdate=2009-12-23}}</ref> The new ''Gerald R. Ford'' class will incorporate new technologies including a new [[AESA|multi-function radar system]], [[Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System]] (EMALS), volume search [[radar]]s, an open architecture [[information network]], and a significantly reduced crew requirement.{{citation needed}}


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 23:25, 26 December 2009

USS Nimitz (CVN-68), lead ship of her class of supercarriers.
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Class overview
NameNimitz class aircraft carrier
BuildersNewport News Shipbuilding Company
Operators United States Navy
Preceded bylist error: <br /> list (help)
Error: {{sclass}} invalid format code: 6. Should be 0–5, or blank (help)
Error: {{sclass}} invalid format code: 6. Should be 0–5, or blank (help)
Succeeded byError: {{sclass}} invalid format code: 6. Should be 0–5, or blank (help)
In commissionMay 3, 1975
Planned10
Completed10
Activelist error: <br /> list (help)
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
DisplacementTemplate:Nimitz class aircraft carrier displacement
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 feet (11.3 m)
  • Limit: 41 feet (12.5 m)
Propulsion
Speed30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)[4]
RangeUnlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement
  • Ship's company: 3,532
  • Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
ArmorUnknown
Aircraft carried85-90 fixed wing and helicopters[3][4]

The Nimitz-class supercarriers, a line of ten 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 of the superpower status of the United States of America.[5] These aircraft carriers are numbered with consecutive hull numbers starting with CVN-68.[Note 1]

All ten ships were constructed by Newport News Shipbuilding Company. Nimitz (CVN-68), the lead ship of the class, was commissioned on May 3, 1975, while George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth and last of the class, entered naval service on January 10, 2009.

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 102,000 tons, and a flight deck length of 1,092 ft (333 m).

Design and construction

The ten Nimitz class aircraft carriers were constructed between 1968 and 2006 at Newport News Shipbuilding Company, in Newport News, Virginia.[6] They were ordered to supplement the aircraft carriers of the Kitty Hawk class and Enterprise class, in order to increase the size and dominance of the US Navy.[7] Although the ships were initially categorized as attack carriers, the Carl Vinson was also constructed with anti-submarine capabilities, which have since been fitted to the other ships of the class. As a result, the ships are now able to participate in a wider range of missions.[8] In total, the cost of construction for each ship was around $4.5 billion each.[7]

Design

All ten Nimitz class aircraft carriers have an overall length of 1,092 ft (333 m) and a maximum displacement of 98,235–104,112 tons full load. They have a beam at the waterline of 135 ft (41 m) and the maximum width of their flight decks is 251 ft 10 in (76.76 m) to 257 ft 3 in (78.41 m). The ships' companies can number up to 3,200, as well as an air wing of 2,480.[9] 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.[10][11]

All ships of the class are powered by two A4W nuclear reactors with four propeller shafts, which can produce a maximum speed of over 30 knots (56 km/h) and maximum power of 260,000 bhp.[4] As a result of the use of nuclear power, the ships are capable of operating continuously for over 20 years without refueling, and are predicted to have a service life of over 50 years.[12]

The ships were designed to be improvements on previous US aircraft carriers, in particular Enterprise and Forrestal class supercarriers, by using a more modern design. In addition, the two reactors on Nimitz class carriers take up less space than those on the Enterprise, which uses eight, meaning there is more interior space. This, along with a more generally improved design, means that Nimitz class carriers can carry 90 percent more aviation fuel and 50 percent more ordnance when compared to the Forrestal class carriers. The US Navy has also stated that the carriers could withstand three times the damage sustained by the Essex class inflicted by Japanese air attacks during World War 2.[4] The hangars on the ships are divided into three fire bays by thick steel doors that are designed to restrict the spread of fire. This addition has been present on US aircraft carriers since World War 2, after the fires caused by Kamikaze attacks.[13]

The carriers were constructed, like most modern ships, by welding together pre-assembled "blocks", containing the ship's plumbing and electrical supplies, and which can weigh up to 800 tons. These are assembled in the dry-dock before the ship is fully fitted out. The Nimitz class ships also have bulbous bows in order to improve fuel efficiency by reducing hydrodynamic drag.[12]

Differences within the class

The design of the final seven ships (from Theodore Roosevelt) is slightly different to that of the earlier ships, although the US Navy nevertheless regards them as a single class.[14] As the older Nimitz carriers come in for Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), they are upgraded to the standards of the latest ships, as well as refueling their nuclear power plants.[15][10] The final ship George H.W. Bush was designed as a 'transition ship' to the Nimitz class replacement, the Gerald R. Ford class. George H.W. Bush incorporates new technologies including improved propeller and bulbous bow designs, a reduced RADAR signature and electronic and environmental upgrades.[16][17] As a result, the ship's cost was noticeably higher than that of the other Nimitz class ships at US$6.2  billion.[18] To lower costs, some new technologies were also incorporated into the Ronald Reagan, the previous carrier.

Aircraft carried

The maximum number of aircraft the carriers can accommodate is 85-90, although current numbers 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, S-3 Viking, 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. The ships have four aircraft elevators to transfer aircraft between the hangars and the flight deck.[3][13]

USS Harry S. Truman alongside oiler USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189)

Armament

In addition to the aircraft carried onboard, the ships also carry either three or four NATO RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile launchers, designed for defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles. They also carry either three or four 20 mm Phalanx CIWS missile defense cannons. The Ronald Reagan has none, having been armed with the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile system during construction, two of which have also been installed on the Nimitz, George Washington, and the Ronald Reagan. These will be installed on the other ships as they return for Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH).[4][10]

Official USN sideview linedrawing

Service history

The Nimitz class carriers carry weapons and aircraft which allow the ships to fulfill varied roles, meaning they can be used for a wider spectrum of missions.[19] Since Nimitz first deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean on July 7, 1976, ships of the class have been involved in operations across the world. Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1979 to aid Operation Eagle Claw and many of the ships have participated in several other deployments to the same area since that time. In the early 1990s, Nimitz, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carl Vinson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. All active ships were engaged to some degree in Operation Southern Watch throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and most have also participated more recently in Operation Iraqi Freedom and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.[19][20]

In order to bring the older ships up to the more modern standards of the newer ones, as well as to refuel their nuclear power plants, they undergo a Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH). 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 RCOH in 2005. The Carl Vinson was involved in the process between 2005 and the completion of its post-overhaul sea trials in July 2009.[15] The fourth of the class, the Theodore Roosevelt entered drydock in August, 2009 to begin its RCOH.[10]

Ships

The United States Navy lists the following ships in the Nimitz class:[14]

Nimitz

Main article: USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

The USS Nimitz was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding Company, in Newport News, Virginia, on June 22, 1968. The ship was launched on May 13, 1972 and commissioned on May 3, 1975 by then president Gerald Ford.[9] One of the first deployments the ship was involved in was the launching of Operation Eagle Claw in 1979 after the ship had deployed to the Indian Ocean in response to the taking of hostages in The US embassy in Tehran. On 26 May 1981, an EA-6B Prowler crashed on the flight deck, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others.[8][21] After forensic testing of the flight crew, it was found that several of them had tested positive for marijuana. This event provoked the introduction of the mandatory drug testing of all service personnel.[22] In August 1981, during a deployment in the Gulf of Sidra, near Libya, the ship was involved in the shooting down of two Libyan aircraft by two US F-14 Tomcats in what became known as the Gulf of Sidra incident. In the early 1990s, the ship was deployed to the Persian Gulf twice: in 1991 in relief of USS Ranger as part of Operation Desert Storm, and in 1993 as part of Operation Southern Watch.[23] The ship began a Refuel Complex Overhaul (RCOH) on 2 March 1998, which lasted three years, until 25 June 2001.[24] After this, the ship relocated to her current homeport of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California.[25] The ship again returned to the Persian Gulf in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.[23]

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Main article: USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was laid down on August 15, 1970 and was launched on October 11, 1975. After her commissioning on October 18, 1977, the ship was initially deployed as part of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.[26] After her first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, she deployed to the Indian Ocean to relieve Nimitz in Operation Eagle Claw after the Iran hostage crisis.[27][28] In 1987, after a two-year overhaul, Eisenhower conducted sustained operations in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm until November 1993. In 1994, the carrier was deployed to assist in Haiti in Operation Uphold Democracy and, later in the same year, the beginning of a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Deny Flight.[27] She underwent an RCOH between 2001 and 2005. More recently, in 2009, the ship supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.[29] The ship remains in commission and is based, as of 2009, at the Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia.[30]

Carl Vinson

Main article: USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)

USS Carl Vinson was laid down on October 11, 1975 and was launched on March 15, 1980. The ship was commissioned on March 13, 1982, and in 1983, she began an eight month deployment which would relocate her to her homeport of Naval Air Station Alameda in California.[31] After several deployments to the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific and the Bering Sea, the ship departed for the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch in February 1994, carrying Carrier Air Wing Eight. The ship participated in Operation Desert Strike in 1996. On December 19, 1998, she launched air strikes in support of Operation Desert Fox, as well as providing continued support for Operation Southern Watch in southern Iraq.[32][33] In July 1999 the ship began an 11-month Drydocked Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, costing over $230 million in repairs and upgrades.[34] After returning to service, Carl Vinson sailed from Bremerton, Washington, bound for the Persian Gulf to support Operation Southern Watch in July 2001. This changed abruptly in response to the 11 September 2001 attacks, and the ship changed course to travel towards the North Arabian Sea, where on 7 October 2001, she launched the first airstrikes in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[35] In 2004, while on a seven month deployment, the ship provided support for Operation Iraqi Freedom[34] Carl Vinson underwent RCOH between 2005 and 2009.[31] She is stationed until 2010 at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, but it was announced in 2009 that the ship would be based at NAS North Island in San Diego as the flagship of the newly established Carrier Strike Group 1 as of 2010.[36]

Theodore Roosevelt

Main article: USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)

USS Theodore Roosevelt was laid down on October 31, 1981, was launched on October 27, 1984 and was commissioned on October 25, 1986. The ship's first deployment was between December 1988 and June 1989, which involved patrolling the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Eight embarked. In 1990 and 1991, the ship participated in Operation Desert Shield in the Persian Gulf, before supporting Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq. In 1993, she was deployed to Iraq later that year in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Sharp Guard, and also enforced the air restrictions over Bosnia in support of Operation Deny Flight. The ship later supported Operation Deliberate Force. After continued support of Operation Southern Watch throughout the 1990s, the ship entered the Newport News Shipbuilding yard for a one-year Extended Drydock and Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) in July 1997. In 1999, the carrier was called to the Ionian Sea to support Operation Allied Force alongside other NATO militaries. In 2001, after the September 11th attacks, Theodore Roosevelt began a deployment to the North Arabian Sea with Carrier Air Wing One embarked, which would involve the launching of the initial strikes of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in October that year. In 2003, while deployed in the same area, the ship also participated, alongside USS Harry S. Truman, in the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.[37][38] Theodore Roosevelt is based as of 2009 at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia and began RCOH in August 2009. The price for the ship's RCOH is reported to be US$ 2.4 billion.[39]

Abraham Lincoln

Main article: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)

USS Abraham Lincoln was laid down on November 3, 1984 and was launched on February 13, 1988. The ship was commissioned on November 11, 1989. The first deployment Abraham Lincoln was involved in was in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. During this time, however, the ship was diverted to the Indian Ocean to participate alongside 22 other ships in Operation Fiery Vigil, evacuating civilians following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo on Luzon Island in the Philippines. In June 1993, the ship deployed across the Pacific to Hong Kong and the Arabian Gulf to participate in Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. Later that year, in October, Abraham Lincoln deployed to Somalia to assist U.N. humanitarian operations, spending four weeks flying patrols over the area surrounding Mogadishu while supporting US troops during Operation Restore Hope. In 1994 Lt. Kara Hultgreen, the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, was killed in a training accident while attempting to land on board. The ship participared in Operation Vigilant Sentinel in 1995 before spending a year in dry-dock while undergoing a major refit. Another refit (Planned Incremental Availability) took place in 2001 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The carrier has more recently participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2002, and provided assistance in 2005 in Indonesia in Operation Unified Assistance after the December 2004 tsunami. [40][41][42] In 2006, the ship underwent another refit at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.[43] and based, as of 2009, in the West Pacific at Naval Station Everett in Everett, Washington.

George Washington

Main article: USS George Washington (CVN-73)

The USS George Washington was laid down on August 25, 1986 and was launched on July 21, 1990. The ship was commissioned on July 4, 1992. In 1996, during her second deployment, the ship played a peacekeeping role in Operation Decisive Endeavor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and later participated in Operation Southern Watch in southern Iraqb . In June 2001, the ship and her battle group set out for the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf, where she flew sorties over southern Iraq, again in support of Operation Southern Watch. During this deployment, international naval exercises were conducted, as well as Maritime Interception Operations enforcing UN imposed sanctions on Iraq. In 2002, the ship supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In February 2004, the George Washington Carrier Strike Group deployed again to the Persian Gulf and in April, her F/A-18 Hornets participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve. In 2005, the ship began a major refit titled Docked Planned Incremental Availability.[44][45][46] In May 2008, while being transferred to her current homeport at Yokosuka Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan, the ship suffered a serious fire which cost $70 million in repairs.[19][47]

John C. Stennis

Main article: USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)

USS John C. Stennis was laid down on March 13, 1991 and was launched on November 11, 1993. She was commissioned on December 9, 1995. In February 1998 with Carrier Air Wing Seven embarked, Stennis began her maiden deployment to the Persian Gulf. The ship relieved George Washington in conducting Operation Southern Watch missions. In December 2001, her battle group arrived in the Arabian Sea, to begin a four month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the carrier participated in Operation Noble Eagle off the U.S. West Coast. She remains in active service and is beased at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington.[48]

Harry S. Truman

Main article: USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)

USS Harry S. Truman was laid down on November 29, 1993 and was launched on September 7, 1996. The ship was commissioned on 25 July 1998. Her Maiden deployment of began in November 2000. The carrier's air wing flew 869 combat sorties in support of Operation Southern Watch, including a strike on Iraqi integrated air defense system sites on Feb. 16, 2001, in a sanctioned response to Iraqi surface-to-air missile fire against United Nations Security Council coalition forces.[49] She underwent Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 2001 and 2003, between which she operated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during a long deployment through the Mediterranean in which her airwing aircraft flew nearly 1,300 combat sorties. The ship also provided aid after Hurricane Katrina.[50] Truman underwent a dry-docked planned incremental availability (DPIA) refit throughout 2006 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.[51] She remains in service, based at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia.[52]

Ronald Reagan

Main article: USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)

USS Ronald Reagan was laid down on February 12, 1998 and was launched on March 4, 2001. After her commissioning on July 12, 2003, the ship departed her homeport of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California on Jan. 4, 2006 on her maiden deployment to conduct naval operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf.[19][53] The Reagan Carrier Strike Group performed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the Philippines in June 2008 after Typhoon Fengshen, which killed hundreds from the central island regions and the main island of Luzon.[54]

George H.W. Bush

Main article: USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)

The final ship of the class, USS George H.W. Bush was laid down on September 6, 2003. The ship was launched on October 9, 2006 and was commissioned on January 10, 2009. The final cost of construction was reported to have been US$6.2 billion.[55] As of 2009, the ship is undergoing post shakedown availability (PSA) involving maintainence and training before she enters fully operational service in 2010.[56]

Future

The ships were designed to have a fifty-year service life.[57] The US Navy is building a new class of supercarriers named the Gerald R. Ford class, the first of which is expected to enter service in 2015, replacing the USS Enterprise. Additional supercarriers, mainly the ten expected Gerald R. Ford class will slowly replace the Nimitz class ships as they reach the end of their service life.[58][59] The new Gerald R. Ford class 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.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 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.

References

  1. ^ Kuperman, Alan; von Hippel, Frank (10 April 2020). "US Study of Reactor and Fuel Types to Enable Naval Reactors to Shift from HEU Fuel". International Panel on Fissile Materials. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  2. ^ Hanlon, Brendan Patrick (19 May 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (MSc). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Nimitz Class Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers: Specifications". naval-technology.com. Net Resources International. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  4. ^ a b c d e Gibbons, Tony (2001). The Encyclopedia of Ships. London, United Kingdom: Amber Books. p. 444. ISBN 978-1-905704-43-9. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Cite error: The named reference "ship encyclopedia" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Why the carriers?". Official United States Navy website. Accessed 7 March 2007.
  6. ^ "Ship Class: CVN 68". 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  7. ^ a b Ronald O'Rourke (2005). "Navy CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress". US Department of the Navy. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  8. ^ a b "Cold War Ship - Nimitz class". Royal Air Force Museum. 2008. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  9. ^ a b "USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) MULTI-PURPOSE AIRCRAFT CARRIER". US Naval Vessel Register. 2004. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  10. ^ a b c d "Aircraft Carriers - CVN". US Navy. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  11. ^ A Solution to the Inherent List on Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers
  12. ^ a b Tom Harris. ""How Aircraft Carriers Work"". How Stuff Works. Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  13. ^ a b Robert L. Darwin, Howard L. Bowman, Mary Hunstad, William B. Leach and Frederick W. Williams. January 2005 "Aircraft Carrier Flight and Hangar Deck Fire Protection: History and Current Status" p10
  14. ^ a b "Aircraft Carriers - CV, CVN". Fact File. United States Navy. October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-10. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Refueling and Complex Overhaul". Northrop Grumman Corporation. no date. Retrieved 2008-04-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ "Design Enhancements". Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  17. ^ Northrop Grumman Press Release, May 11, 2009
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  20. ^ Frederic Logghe. "Nimitz Class". MaritimeDigital Archive Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  21. ^ Anderson, Kurt (8 June 1981). "Night of Flaming Terror". TIME in partnership with CNN. Time.com. Retrieved 2 October 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Ackerman, D. L. (1991). A history of drug testing. In R. H. Coombs & L. J. West (Eds.), Drug testing: Issues and options (pp. 3-21). Oxford: Oxford University Press,
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  24. ^ "CVN-68 Nimitz-class Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  25. ^ "Naval Air Station North Island". US Navy. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  26. ^ "USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) MULTI-PURPOSE AIRCRAFT CARRIER". US Naval Vessel Register. 2001. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  27. ^ a b "USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)". MesotheliomaNews.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  28. ^ "Dwight D. Eisenhower". uscarrierhistory.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  29. ^ "USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Returns from Deployment". US Navy. 7/30/2009. Retrieved 2009-12-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "Dwight D. Eisenhower". US Navy. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  31. ^ a b "USS Carl Vinson". US Navy. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
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  44. ^ "USS George Washington (CVN 73)". navysite.de. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  45. ^ "USS GEORGE WASHINGTON: CVN 73". uscarriers.net. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
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  54. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, US ship coming to help retrieve victims of sea tragedy
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