Design is conventional, with the island superstructure held at starboard. The angled flight deck runs from stern to port and four steam catapults are operated from the angled deck (2) and the straight deck (2). Four hangar elevators service the flight deck with one located port, one starboard abaft of the island and two on the starboard side forward of the island superstructure. Defensive armament consists of 2 x Sea Rolling Airframe Missile launchers and 2 x Mk 29 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launchers. Her offensive air arm is made up of 90 aircraft of various makes and types.
Being a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Nimitz is powered by 2 x Westinghouse brand A4W reactors which, in turn, power quadruple steam turbines and 4 x shafts at 260,000 shaft horsepower. The vessel can achieve top speeds just over 30 knots and, due to the nature of the nuclear reactors, has essentially unlimited range. Her complement consists of 3,200 sailors and up to 2,480 members of the air group.
The Nimitz was first ordered in 1967 and laid down the following year by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, USA. She was launched in 1972 and officially commissioned in 1975.
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| The USS Nimitz - named after US Navy Pacific Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz - was the first vessel in her Nimitz-class when launched in the early 1970's and she has developed a storied career through her decades of service. Initially designated as CVAN-68 but redesignated in 1975 to CVN-68, the USS Nimitz still remains one of the largest ocean-going warships ever constructed and represents one of the most powerful offensive weapons in the world. |
Being a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Nimitz is powered by 2 x Westinghouse brand A4W reactors which, in turn, power quadruple steam turbines and 4 x shafts at 260,000 shaft horsepower. The vessel can achieve top speeds just over 30 knots and, due to the nature of the nuclear reactors, has essentially unlimited range. Her complement consists of 3,200 sailors and up to 2,480 members of the air group.
The Nimitz was first ordered in 1967 and laid down the following year by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, USA. She was launched in 1972 and officially commissioned in 1975.
