Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
Overview
The Nimitz-class is a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the U.S. Navy. Named for World War II Pacific fleet commander Chester W. Nimitz, the lead ship of this class, USS Nimitz, was commissioned in 1975.
Design and Construction
The Nimitz-class carriers have a length of 1,092 feet (333 m) and a full-load displacement of about 100,000–104,000 tons. They were designed to be improvements on previous U.S. aircraft carriers, in particular the Enterprise and Forrestal-class supercarriers.
The construction process of the Nimitz-class carriers involves several stages. The first step is the cutting of steel, followed by the construction of individual sections, known as "superlifts". Each superlift may weigh up to 900 tons. The superlifts are then positioned and welded together to form the complete ship.
Propulsion
The Nimitz-class carriers are powered by two nuclear reactors that drive four shafts. These reactors are the Westinghouse A4W type, and they provide a total power output of around 260,000 shaft horsepower (190 MW). This allows the carriers to reach speeds of over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).
Aircraft and Armament
The flight deck of a Nimitz-class carrier is 333 meters long and 76.8 meters wide. It can accommodate a wide variety of aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet, F-14 Tomcat, and E-2 Hawkeye. The carriers also have facilities for the storage and maintenance of these aircraft.
In terms of armament, the Nimitz-class carriers are equipped with a variety of defensive weapons systems. These include the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile system, the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile system, and the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System.
Service History
The Nimitz-class carriers have been involved in numerous conflicts and operations since their introduction. These include the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. They have also been used for humanitarian missions, such as disaster relief in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Future
The Nimitz-class carriers are expected to be replaced by the new Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. The first of these, USS Gerald R. Ford, was commissioned in 2017.