【Epoch Times News October 13, 2024】 The aircraft carrier “Nimitz” (CVN-68) is the first ship of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, representing a crucial era in the history of the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in 1975, this carrier introduced breakthrough technologies such as nuclear propulsion, greatly extending the range and operational capability of aircraft carriers.
Throughout its service, the “Nimitz” aircraft carrier (CVN-68) played a key role in major conflicts like Operation Desert Storm and the global war on terror. As the Navy transitions to the latest Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, the “Nimitz” is set to retire in 2026.
So far, U.S. Navy carriers have been present in any conflict around the world. In the current Middle East turmoil, the U.S. Navy’s “Roosevelt” and “Lincoln” along with their carrier strike groups are stationed near the Gulf of Oman. This marks the second deployment of two carriers in the region in six months. Last October, the U.S. deployed the “Gerald R. Ford” and “Dwight D. Eisenhower” carriers in the area.
The U.S. has also deployed dual-carrier or tri-carrier strike groups in the Indo-Pacific to deter China.
The dominance of the U.S. Navy in terms of strength is greatly owed to the Nimitz-class carriers represented by the “Nimitz.” These carriers hold a significant place in the history of the U.S. Navy, not only showcasing the Navy’s power post-World War II but also representing the pinnacle of U.S. Navy engineering and innovation before the rise of the Ford-class carriers, establishing unparalleled maritime power for the U.S.
The carrier is named after Admiral Chester Nimitz, one of the most legendary figures in the U.S. Navy. During World War II, he led naval forces in island-hopping campaigns against the Japanese Empire, notably emphasizing the use of aircraft carriers as the main force.
Introduced in the 1970s, the Nimitz-class carriers have had 10 out of the Navy’s 11 carriers belonging to this class. While these carriers are gradually being replaced by the new Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, they are expected to continue their service in the Navy for a period.
In 1968, the “Nimitz” was launched under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, signaling a transformation in U.S. carrier technology. Its groundbreaking technologies, especially the nuclear propulsion, allowed U.S. carriers to become standard in nuclear power use, while China’s three carriers are still conventionally powered.
The nuclear capabilities have significantly extended the range and endurance of the “Nimitz,” enabling the Navy to deploy carriers globally with the necessary supplies to conduct operations.
The concept behind the “Nimitz” and its sister ships was to provide the U.S. Navy with massive power projection capabilities during the Cold War. These new vessels ensured the Navy could deploy record numbers of sorties and withstand potential heavy blows from the Soviet Navy at that time.
For instance, the “Nimitz” aircraft carrier is 1,092 feet long, displaces nearly 100,000 tons, and can accommodate up to 90 aircraft, including bombers, fighters, helicopters, and support aircraft. The U.S. carrier fleet is one of the largest in the world, equipped with advanced catapults and arresting gear for rapid aircraft launch and recovery.
Regarding offensive capabilities, the “Nimitz” is equipped with air defense missiles and machine guns. However, everything is geared towards the carrier’s primary mission: deploying air power at sea. The “Nimitz” is further equipped with decoy systems and point-defense systems, undergoing significant upgrades over time, including radar systems and other missile defense systems.
After the victory in World War II, the U.S. faced challenges from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. However, the U.S. Navy stood as the dominant force on the high seas. The “Nimitz” and its sister ships solidified the U.S. Navy’s supremacy.
Commissioned in 1975, the “Nimitz” played a crucial role in numerous global combat and humanitarian rescue operations of the U.S. Navy from the Middle East to the Western Pacific. Aside from Operation Desert Shield and subsequent conflicts, it was redeployed to assist in the global war on terror post the 9/11 attacks.
Amid increasing tensions with China and the escalating turmoil in the Indo-Pacific, the “Nimitz” took part in freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. Prior to this, the carrier completed a historic 340-day deployment from April 2020 to February 2021.
The longevity of the “Nimitz” enables it to adapt to every new technological design and development the Navy has undergone since the 1970s. Initially carrying the legendary F-14 “Tomcat” fighter jets, it currently operates with both the F/A-18 “Super Hornets” and the F-35C “Lightning II” fifth-gen fighters.
The Navy has noted an increasing demand for carrier strike groups to address global crises like the current tensions in the Red Sea and the Taiwan Strait, leading to the delayed retirement of the “Nimitz” and “Eisenhower.”
Now, the U.S. Navy plans to decommission the “Nimitz” in 2026. Unlike the “Nimitz,” the “Eisenhower” carrier will continue its service until the end of the century.
Although the “Nimitz” aircraft carrier symbolizes the U.S. nuclear strike capability, the new supercarrier “Gerald R. Ford” will continue this tradition.
The Navy’s shipbuilding plan released last year indicated that “nuclear-powered aircraft carriers will remain the most survivable and versatile carriers in the world, providing long-range, sustained maritime control, power projection, organic sensing, and flexible options within various conflict ranges.”
After spending over six months at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for improvements and maintenance, the “Nimitz” set sail in June 2024. The Navy announced that during its port stay, the carrier’s flight deck and aircraft elevators underwent updates, and combat systems and berthing capabilities received modernization upgrades.
As per the original plan, the latest Ford-class carrier “John F. Kennedy” will replace the “Nimitz” in 2025, deploying in the Pacific Fleet. Currently, two other Gerald R. Ford-class carriers – “Enterprise” and “Doris Miller” – are under construction.
The “Gerald R. Ford” (CVN-78) is widely regarded as the most advanced aircraft carrier, being the largest warship globally, with extraordinary dimensions: 1,092 feet in length, flight deck width of 256 feet, and a height of 250 feet.
Following the Israeli-Hamas conflict that began in October 2023, this carrier was deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.