USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) off the coast of San Diego in July 2009
History
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:	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:	2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors 4 × steam turbines 4 × shafts 260,000 shp (194 MW)
Speed:	31.5 knots (58.3 km/h)
Range:	Unlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement:	Ship's company: 3,200 Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar AN/SPN-41 landing aid radars 4 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems 4 × Mk 95 radars
Electronic warfare & decoys:	SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures
Armament:	2 × Sea Sparrow 2 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile 2 × PHALANX CIWS (Close-In Weapons System) Gatling guns 4 x MK 2 automated .50 cal turrets 10 x .50 cal turret emplacements
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.