USS Nimitz entering Pearl Harbor May 18, 2005

[JChlupsa]

Heres one I took walking out to my car after work today. The HIANG F-15s approach turn for final is right over my office.

[169indy]

Vitals
USA, CVN Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Built 1968, Displacment 72,798 tons,light and 90,944 loaded, Length 1,092 ft overall, Beam 134 ft, draught 37 ft, Propultion 4 shaft nuclear A4W/A1GT pressurized-water-cooled nuclear reactors, 4 geared steam turbines !260,000shp!, 30+ knots,
Weapons: 3ea 20mm Phalanx CIWS (close in weapons system)and 3 ea Basic Point Defense Missle System (NATO Sea Sparrow Launchers)
Aircraft: 24 F-14A Tomcat, 24 A-7E Corsair or F/A-18 Hornets, 10 A-6E Intruder, 4 KA-6D Intruder, 4 E-2C Hawkeye, 4 EA-6B Prowler, 10 S-3A Viking,& 6 SH-3H Sea King
Sensors: Radars SPS48 3D Airsearch, SPS-43A Air Search, SPS-10F Surface Search, SPS-67(V) and others
Complement: 3,300 plus 3,000 air wing That a lot of folks.

She was Just recently Refueled and overhauled on the right coast (Norfolk). Then the Stratijic Carrier reshuffle of Home ports, Nimitz used to be home ported at Bremerton, now San Diego. She is a very demanding Ship. I have spent lots of OVERTIME money on Camaro parts during her 10+ year stationed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Very Pic and Her pulling into Pearl is Very special

Liberty Call Liberty Call, All Ashore

[Rick H]

[ QUOTE ]
Thats cool. I remember visiting Pearl Harbor like it was yesterday. My dad is here for a visit right now and I just showed him this. He was on the USS Coral Sea and just was telling me how they were once parked right beside the first Neuclear Carrier built the USS Forristal and had to look UP to see the deck on that ship from the deck on his.. Said that mother was Big.. Said the USS Nimitz made the Coral Sea look like a tug boat.



[/ QUOTE ]

The USS Forrestal CV-59 was not nuclear powered. She had conventional power and was the lead ship in her class.
The first nuclear powered carrier was the USS Enterprise CVN-65.

I had the honor of deploying with the USS Nimitz when I was stationed aboard the USS Antietam in the late 80's. She is a monster when you are refueling along side her. Our ship was 567 feet long and the Nimitz dwarfed us.

I do know a thing or two about Naval ships seeing I spent 20 years in the Navy, retiring in 1995.

Have a safe Navy day.

Rick H.