USS Nimitz (CVN-68) off the coast of San Diego in July 2009
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History | |
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United States | |
Name: | USS Nimitz |
Namesake: | FADM Chester W. Nimitz, USN |
Ordered: | 31 March 1967 |
Builder: | Newport News Shipbuilding |
Cost: | $1.0 billion (1975 dollars) |
Laid down: | 22 June 1968 |
Launched: | 13 May 1972 |
Commissioned: | 3 May 1975 |
Reclassified: | CVN-68 |
Homeport: | Naval Base Kitsap |
Motto: | Teamwork, a Tradition |
Nickname(s): | "Old Salt" |
Status: | in active service |
Badge: | |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Nimitz-class aircraft carrier |
Displacement: | 100,020 tonnes (110,250 short tons) |
Length: |
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Beam: |
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Draft: |
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Propulsion: |
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Speed: | 31.5 knots (58.3 km/h) |
Range: | Unlimited distance; 20–25 years |
Complement: |
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Sensors and processing systems: |
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Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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Armament: |
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Armor: | Unknown |
Aircraft carried: | 90 fixed wing and helicopters |
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a supercarrier of the United States Navy, and the lead ship of her class. One of the largest warships in the world, she was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN-68 but was redesignated CVN 68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on 30 June 1975 as part of the fleet realignment.
The ship was named for World War II Pacific fleet commander Chester W. Nimitz, who was the Navy’s third fleet admiral. Nimitz had her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk until 1987, when she was relocated to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. Following her Refueling and Complex Overhaul in 2001, her homeport was changed to NAS North Island in San Diego, California. The home port of Nimitz was again moved to Naval Station Everett in 2012.
In January 2015 Nimitz changed homeport from Naval Station Everett to Naval Base Kitsap.
With the inactivation of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in 2012, Nimitz is now the oldest American carrier in active service.
Nimitz was authorized by Congress in fiscal year 1967 and Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. in Newport News, Virginia was awarded the $106.5 million (equivalent to $764.95 million today). The keel was laid down 22 June 1968. It was christened on 13 May 1972 by Catherine Nimitz Lay, the daughter of the late Admiral Nimitz. Nimitz was delivered to the Navy in 1975, and was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk on 3 May 1975 by President Gerald Ford.