Key Points and Summary – USS Nimitz (CVN-68), namesake of the Nimitz-class and the world’s oldest active carrier, has served since 1975—from the Gulf of Sidra to Desert Storm and against ISIS.
-While the Ford-class is meant to replace Nimitz-class flattops, only USS Gerald R. Ford is operational and follow-on ships face delays, leaving a near-term capability gap.
An E/A-18G Growler, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, taxis on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), while underway in the Indian Ocean, July 24, 2025. The USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWA CSG) is conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. George Washington is the U.S. Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas Quezada)
-Given global tensions and the Navy’s need for deck space, author Christian D. Orr argues retiring Nimitz now would be premature.
-With proven combat history, robust capacity, and continued relevance as newer carriers lag, Nimitz remains a crucial hedge until John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) and others join the fleet.
Is It Time to Retire the USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier?
Admiral Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) is one of the most venerated names in the annals of United States Navy history, and rightfully so. Serving WWII as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet (CinCPac), and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, commanding Allied air, land, and sea forces, he was thus responsible for smashing American naval victories over the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Philippine Sea (AKA “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”), and the Battle of Leyte Gulf (to name just a few examples).
After World War II ended, ADM Nimitz served a two-year stint as the tenth Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), finally retiring on December 15, 1947, with the rank of Fleet Admiral (five stars), thus becoming the last living U.S. Navy officer to hold that rank.
It is therefore fitting that ADM Nimitz would have an entire class of warships named in his honor.
Not just any type of warship class, mind you, but a class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers—supercarriers no less. National Security Journal now focuses on the lead ship of the class, the appropriately named USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) Initial History
CVN-68 was built by Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in Newport News, Virginia on March 31, 1967. It was laid down on June 22, 1968, launched on May 13, 1972, and commissioned on May 3, 1975. The warship’s motto is “Teamwork, a Tradition”.
USS Nimitz stands out as the only ship of her class whose official name is just the surname (as opposed to the full name) of the person it is named for.
U.S. Navy Lt. Andrew Bentley signals an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34, to launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Nov. 30, 2023. Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG 9), is conducting integrated training exercises in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adina Phebus)
USS Nimitz Technical Specifications and Vital Stats
-Displacement: Approx. 100,000 tons fully laden
-Overall Hull Length: 332.8 meters (1,092 ft)
-Beam Width: 76.8 meters (252 ft)
-Draught: 11.3 meters (37 ft)
-Primary Propulsion: 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors generating 260,000 shp (194 MW); 4 x steam turbines; 4 shafts / 4 propellers
-Max Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ mph; 56+ km/h)
-Range: Unlimited distance (thanks to that nuclear power factor); 20-25 years endurance
-Crew Complement: 3,500 commissioned officers and enlisted seamen in the ship’s company; 2,480 in the air wing
-Aircraft Carrying Capacity: 90 fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets
-Armament: 2-3 x Mk.29 launcher for 8 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow SAM missiles or 8 RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM); 2 x Mk.49 missile launching system for 21 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM); 3-4 x Mk.15 Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System (CIWS); Bushmaster Mk-38 M242 25mm (1-inch) autocannon systems
Operational History in Brief
“Uncle Chester” was first “blooded” in combat during the Gulf of Sidra Incident of August 19, 1981, whereupon two Grumman F-14 Tomcats of Nimitz’s VF-41 shot down two of then-Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s Sukhoi Su-22 Fitters. To name just a few of her subsequent engagements:
-Deploying to the North Arabian Sea on October 29, 1988, in support of Operation Earnest Will, the reflagging of Kuwaiti oil tankers to protect them from the ravages of the Iranian Navy.
-The Persian Gulf War AKA Operation Desert Storm, January 17 to February 28, 1991; all five ships of the class actively serving at the time participated in the multinational coalition’s ultimately successful campaign to evict then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces from the tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait.
-Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), June 2017; fighting against the Islamic State/ISIS/ISIL/Da’esh terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, USS Nimitz’s F/A-18 Super Hornets played a vital role in the Battle of Tal Afar, providing precision close air support (CAS) for advancing Iraqi soldiers.
“Old Salt” also gained a bit of movie stardom when she took part in the shooting of the 1980 sci-fi/action-adventure film “The Final Countdown” (starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen), whose storyline was specifically set aboard the Nimitz.
The USS Nimitz is not only the oldest US aircraft carrier in service, but also the oldest serving aircraft carrier in the world. The vessel’s official website currently lists Captain Joseph J. Furco as the skipper, Captain Justin P. Eckhoff as the Executive Officer (XO), and Command Master Chief Jose L. Peña as the ship’s senior enlisted sailor.
The Way Forward for the Nimitz: Is It Time to Finally Retire Her Yet?
In a word, “No!” (At least not in this former military officer’s opinion, anyway.) The US Armed Forces are replete with examples of weapons systems that are seemingly obsolescent but still needed due to either shortages or production delays afflicting more advanced weapons.
For example, despite 5th-generation stealth fighter jets like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II being America’s top-of-the-line fighters, the US Air Force and Navy still haven’t cashiered the 4th Generation and 4.5 Generation F-15 Eagle (just look at the F-15EX Eagle II variant), F-16 Fighting Falcon (AKA the “Viper”), and F/A-18 Super Hornet; these non-stealth warbirds still serve a very useful purpose.
Now, let’s apply the same point of argument to the Nimitz class in general and CVN-68 in particular. The class as a whole is supposed to be phased out by the ultra-Gucci Gerald R. Ford-class supercarriers. All well and good in theory. In practice, however, only one of the 10 Ford-class flattops has gone operational yet—that being USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)—as the remainder of the Fords are facing various delays and cost overruns. The next ship in the Ford class, USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), the specifically designated one-for-one replacement for USS Nimitz, is not slated for commissioning until 2027.
Ergo, in the event World War III were to break out against either Russia and/or China in the interim, Nimitz and her sister ships will still be needed to answer the call to duty faithfully.
About the Author: Christian D. Orr, Defense Expert
Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He is also the author of the newly published book “Five Decades of a Fabulous Firearm: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Beretta 92 Pistol Series.”
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