Nimitzclass

The Nimitz class is a class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the United States Navy. Named after Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the design emerged in the 1960s to replace earlier Kitty Hawk-class carriers and form the backbone of American power projection at sea. The lead ship, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), was laid down in 1968, commissioned in 1975, and established the class pattern later ships followed. The class comprises ten ships: Nimitz (CVN-68), Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), Carl Vinson (CVN-70), Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), George Washington (CVN-73), John C. Stennis (CVN-74), Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), and George H. W. Bush (CVN-77).

The Nimitz class is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, providing propulsion and power for the ship’s systems, enabling long endurance at sea. Its design includes a full-length flight deck, two catapults for launching aircraft, a large hangar, and island superstructure. The ships displace roughly 100,000 long tons and can reach speeds around 30 knots; the crew numbers run into the thousands.

Each carrier operates as the centerpiece of a carrier strike group, carrying an air wing of around 60 aircraft, including fighters, attack planes, early warning aircraft, and helicopters. It supports power projection, sea control, and rapid response operations worldwide.

Since entering service, the class has undergone periodic upgrades to sensors, weapons, and deck equipment. They remain in active service as of the 2020s, while the newer Ford class—led by CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford—begins to replace them; production of Nimitz-class ships has ended.