DStrakDEFENCE AND STRATEGIC KNOWLEDGE
Arsenal/Aircraft carrier/USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Loading 3D model0%Downloading 3D asset · 0%USS Nimitz (CVN-68) GLB model
Loading real model
Auto rotating · Drag or swipe to rotate · Pinch or scroll to zoom
United States · Active

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

Lead ship of the legendary Nimitz class, whose supercarriers have formed the backbone of U.S. naval aviation for decades.

Introduced1975
Speed30+ knots
RangeEffectively unlimited by propulsion
Crew4,500+ deployment complement
Platform profile

Technical overview

Manufacturer
Newport News Shipbuilding
Primary role
Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Dimensions
333 m length · 77 m flight-deck width
Operators
United States Navy
Variants
Nimitz class · CVN-68
Operational status
Active
Complete platform dossier

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) details

Identity

Full name
USS Nimitz (CVN-68)
Navy
United States Navy
Class
Nimitz class
Type
Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Namesake
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
Commissioned
3 May 1975
Status
Active
Hull number
CVN-68
Builder
Newport News Shipbuilding

Operational roles

  • Carrier air-power projection
  • Fleet air defence
  • Maritime strike
  • Command and control
  • Forward presence

Ship and class

CVN-68
USS Nimitz, lead ship of the class
Nimitz class
Ten-ship U.S. nuclear-powered carrier class

Performance

Length
Approximately 333 m
Flight-deck width
Approximately 77 m
Full-load displacement
100,000+ tons
Maximum speed
30+ knots
Propulsion range
Effectively unlimited

Propulsion

  • 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors
  • 4 × steam turbines
  • 4 × propeller shafts

Endurance and design

  • Nuclear propulsion provides effectively unlimited range
  • Angled flight deck supports simultaneous launch and recovery
  • Endurance is limited by stores, aviation fuel, ammunition and maintenance

Flight-deck systems

  • 4 × steam catapults
  • Angled flight deck
  • Conventional arresting gear for carrier aircraft recovery

Defensive systems

Missiles
Sea Sparrow / ESSM and Rolling Airframe Missile
Close-in defence
Phalanx CIWS
Electronic defence
Electronic countermeasures

Embarked air wing

Typical capacity
Approximately 60+ aircraft, depending on assigned air wing
Fixed-wing aircraft
F/A-18E/F, EA-18G, E-2D and CMV-22B
Rotary-wing aircraft
MH-60R/S helicopters

Strengths

  • Combat-proven supercarrier design
  • Large and flexible carrier air wing
  • Nuclear endurance
  • Decades of operational experience
  • Backbone of U.S. naval aviation

Limitations

  • Large complement exceeding 4,500 on deployment
  • Maintenance-intensive steam-catapult architecture
  • High operating and lifecycle costs

Operators and customers

United States Navy

Interesting facts

  1. Lead ship of the legendary Nimitz class.
  2. One of the world’s most recognizable supercarriers.
  3. Nimitz-class ships have operated across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and other regions.