Today marks the 37th birthday of the commissioning of USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Share your USS Nimitz birthday wishes with the Tumblr tag “HappyBirthdayNimitz” and Twitter hashtag #HappyBirthdayNimitz and let’s see how many great messages we can send to the sailors aboard the ship!

Today marks the 37th birthday of the commissioning of USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

Share your USS Nimitz birthday wishes with the Tumblr tag “HappyBirthdayNimitz” and Twitter hashtag #HappyBirthdayNimitz and let’s see how many great messages we can send to the sailors aboard the ship!

May 03, 2012


USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Fun Facts

As the lead ship in the Nimitz-class of aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68) has the unique distinction of not being named after an elected official. In fact, USS Nimitz only uses the surname of her namesake, Chester W. Nimitz, unlike all other carriers in her class.

To help celebrate her birthday, here are some fun facts about the ship:

Nickname: Old Salt

Motto: Teamwork, a tradition

Badge:

 

Displacement: 100,000 long tons

Length: 1,092 feet

Height: Over 18 stories high from the keel to the top of the mast

Commissioned: May 3, 1975, at Pier 12, Naval Station Norfolk, VA. by the Honorable Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States

May 03, 2012


Wherever the United States Ship Nimitz shows her flag, she will be seen as we see her now - a solid symbol of United States strength; United States resolve. Made in America and manned by Americans. Whether her mission is one of defense, diplomacy or humanity, Nimitz will command awe and admiration from some, caution and circumspection from others and respect from all.
 - President Gerald R. Ford at the commissioning of USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
May 03, 2012


Best in Class

Forty years after the first Nimitz-class carrier, the first of a new class is being built in the docks of Newport News Shipbuilding: Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The ship features new technology that will save the Navy money.

The new design brings many performance improvements, including:

  • 25 percent increase in sortie generation rate
  • 2.5 times electrical generation capacity over the Nimitz-class
  • Manpower reduction of 500 billets
  • The new carrier class was redesigned from the keel to the mast of the island house. 

Among the improvements:

  • New reactor and propulsion plants
  • Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), an improvement over steam catapult system
  • New island
  • All electric ship
  • Major space rearrangement
  • Flight deck extensions
  • Advanced arresting gear
May 07, 2012


Life aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is more complex and busy than many of us realize. It takes a lot of hard work from the sailors aboard USS Enterprise to keep things runnings up to the U.S. Navy’s high standards.

May 11, 2012


USS George Washington’s sea trials

USS George Washington (CVN 73) departed Japan and sailed into open waters Friday to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship’s next patrol. The trials are a certification process that ensures the ship, its equipment and crew are prepared for extended periods at sea.


Sailors prepare smoke canisters on the fantail of USS George Washington (CVN 73) for use as targets during a weapons familiarization drill.
 


Being instructed on how how to signal the USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) using a signal board while aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).
 


Preparing to shoot a mooring line to the USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) evolution.


Blowing the whistle to signal his Sailors to begin line-handling as USS George Washington (CVN 73) pulls alongside the USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199). 


Sailors moving to retrieve ammunition during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the Military Sealift’s Command’s dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6).


Sailors stand by to move weapons during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) 


Directing an SH-60F Seahawk aboard aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).


Getting some direction during the RAS.During the RAS, George Washington took on 1.9 million gallons of JP-5 fuel.

Conducting a test of a .50-caliber machine gun off the fantail during a weapons familiarization drill.


Moving ammunition during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) evolution aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73). During the RAS, George Washington took on approximately 3.7 million pounds of ammunition.

(Source: facebook.com)

May 14, 2012


If you build it, they will come… aboard an aircraft carrier

Back in the ‘40’s USS Yorktown (CV 10) played a vital role in the Pacific Theatre of Operations in WWII earning 11 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. Nearly ten years later she earned another 5 battle stars serving in Vietnam.

On June 18th, the decommissioned Yorktown will add another chapter to the history books as she will host the first-round of the South Atlantic League All-Star Game home run derby aboard her deck.

(Source: deadspin.com)

May 16, 2012


Aloha USS Vinson!

On Tuesday, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrived for a scheduled stop at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii while in transition to her homeport in San Diego following a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle areas.

(Source: navy.mil)

May 17, 2012


Watch This: This Is How the Navy Is Building Their New Nuclear Supercarrier Class(via @Gizmodo)

“This is the Gerald R. Ford aircraft supercarrier. She will be the lead ship of the new class that will eventually replace the Nimitz-class supercarriers.”



Click here to read the rest of the article.

May 21, 2012