Navy with a single class of nuclear-
powered aircraft carriers. With an
overall length of 1,092ft (332.84m), a
beam of 134ft (40.84m) and full-load
displacement of 92,000 to 106,000 tons,
the 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are
the largest warships in the world, each
designed for an approximately 50-year
service life with one mid-life refueling.
Five of the vessels — comprising the
USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Dwight D.
Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Carl Vinson
(CVN 70), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN
71) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN
72) — have gone through the RCOHprocess. The USS George Washington
(CVN 73)’s mid-life RCOH began in
August 2017.
The ships were constructed between
1968 and 2009 by Newport News
Shipbuilding Company in Newport
News, Virginia. Each is powered by two
A4W nuclear reactors. Steam produced
by the reactors drives four turbines that
provide 280,000shp to the ship’s four
propellers, enabling the vessel to reach
maximum speeds in excess of 30kt. The
ight deck is 252ft (76.81m) wide and is
equipped with four elevators and four
steam-powered catapults.The navy’s newest aircraft carrier joined
the eet when the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN
78), was placed in commission on July 22,- The ship is the rst of a new class
of aircraft carriers and will make its initial
deployment in 2022.
USS Nimitz (CVN 68)
The lead ship of its class is named in honor
of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. The
keel for the US Navy’s second nuclear-
powered carrier was laid on June 22, 1968
and it was launched on May 13, 1972.
Commissioned on May 3, 1975, the ship’s
RCOH was completed in 2001. Nimitz
has been home-ported in Coronado,
California, since March 2012. The agship
for Carrier Strike Group 11 (CSG-11) will
remain in service until replaced by the
future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). The
carrier has been undergoing a dry dock
planned incremental availability (DPIA)
period at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
in Washington since March 2018.USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
(CVN 69)
The keel of the carrier, which was named
to honor America’s 34th president and
General of the Army, was laid on AugustAbove: An
F/A-18F Super
Hornet of VFA-94
‘Mighty Shrikes’
launches from the
aircraft carrier
USS Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN
71). US Navy/
MCS3C Alex
Corona
http://www.combataircraft.net // October 2018 35