In January 2015, Nimitz changed home port from Everett back to Naval Base Kitsap.[6] With the inactivation of USSEnterprise in 2012 and decommissioning in 2017, Nimitz is now the oldest U.S. aircraft carrier in service, and the oldest serving aircraft carrier in the world.
Construction
Catherine Nimitz Lay christens Nimitz on 13 May 1972
Nimitz on her first deployment in 1976 alongside nuclear-powered cruisers California and South CarolinaNimitz (right) alongside HMSArk Royal at Norfolk Naval Station in August 1978
A second uneventful Mediterranean cruise was conducted from 1 December 1977, to 20 July 1978. The third deployment began on 10 September 1979, to the Mediterranean. The ship moved to the Indian Ocean in response to the Iran hostage crisis in which the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, was overtaken and 52 hostages were held. Prior to this trip, the ship took part in the shooting of the 1980 film The Final Countdown, whose story was specifically set aboard the Nimitz. After four months on station, Operation Evening Light was launched from Nimitz's decks in an attempt to rescue the U.S. Embassy staff. The mission was aborted after a helicopter crashed at a refueling point in the Iranian desert. The ship returned home 26 May 1980, having spent 144 days at sea.
1980s
On 26 May 1981, a Marine CorpsEA-6B Prowler assigned to Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) crashed on the flight deck, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others.[8] The Prowler was fuel-critical after a "bolter" (missed approach), and its crash and the subsequent fire and explosions destroyed or damaged nineteen other aircraft.[9][10] Autopsies showed later that the pilot had had six times the normal level of the stimulant brompheniramine in his blood.[11] Despite having no connection to the accident, the media focused on the autopsy results of several members of the Nimitz's enlisted flight deck crew who were killed, who tested positive for marijuana. In an article by Robert Reinhold in the 17 June 1981, edition of The New York Times, it was reported that "Experts at the National Institute on Drug Abuse say that it would probably be impossible to establish conclusively that any of the Nimitz crew had been smoking marijuana on the night of the crash because the test does not directly detect the component of marijuana smoke that acts on the brain. Because the metabolites may persist in the blood for many days, the test may detect marijuana that was used many days earlier long after the effects have worn off".[12] As a result, President Ronald Reagan instituted a "Zero Tolerance" drug policy across all of the U.S. armed services, which started the mandatory drug testing of all U.S. military personnel.[13]
Wreck of an EA-6B Prowler after it crashed during a night landing, 1981
Nimitz deployed again to the Mediterranean on 3 August 1981. The ship, in company with USSForrestal, conducted a Freedom of Navigation exercise in international waters in the Gulf of Sidra near Libya on 18 and 19 August 1981. On the morning of 19 August 1981, two Grumman F-14 Tomcats of VF-41 were engaged by two Libyan Su-22s, resulting in the two Libyan aircraft being shot down in what became known as the Gulf of Sidra incident.
Nimitz's fourth deployment, from 10 November 1982, to 20 May 1983, was to the Caribbean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Nimitz deployed for a fifth time on 8 March 1985. On 14 June 1985, two Lebanese gunmen hijacked TWA Flight 847, which carried 153 passengers and crew and included Americans. In response, Nimitz was deployed to the coast of Lebanon, where the ship remained until August 1985. The embarked Airwing 8 flew continuous sorties for 67 days, bombing several sites in Beirut including the runways of Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport. The ship returned to Norfolk on 4 October 1985.
Nimitz, again with CVW-8 embarked, departed Norfolk for the sixth and final Mediterranean deployment on 30 December 1986. After four months and numerous Mediterranean port visits, the carrier crossed the equator en route to Rio de Janeiro. From Rio de Janeiro, she proceeded south around Cape Horn and into the Pacific Ocean. After a brief stop in San Diego, to offload the East Coast air wing, Nimitz arrived at her new home port of Bremerton, Washington, on 2 July 1987.
Nimitz deployed to the Western Pacific with Carrier Air Wing 9 embarked on 2 September 1988. During the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Nimitz provided security off the coast of South Korea, then in October, operated in the North Arabian Sea participating in Operation Earnest Will, the protection of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers. On 30 November 1988, while in the Arabian Sea, a 20mm cannon accidentally fired during maintenance, striking a KA-6 Intruder. The ensuing fire spread to six other aircraft, and two sailors were killed. Nimitz returned to Bremerton on 2 March 1989.
1990s
On 25 February 1991, Nimitz departed Bremerton for the Persian Gulf in relief of USSRanger in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm, returning to Bremerton on 24 August 1991. Nimitz again deployed to the Persian Gulf on 1 February 1993, in support of Operation Southern Watch, returning on 1 August 1993.
On 27 November 1995, Nimitz deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9). In March 1996, the ship patrolled the waters off Taiwan amid missile tests conducted by the Chinese in the area, becoming the first American warship to pass through the Taiwan Strait since 1976. Nimitz also cruised the Persian Gulf in support of Southern Watch prior to returning from deployment on 20 May 1996.
Between 14 and 24 July 1997, Nimitz participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 97-2 (JTFEX 97–2) off the coast of southern California, which also served as a "Revolution in Strike Warfare" demonstration. The latter event was designed to demonstrate the capability of an aircraft carrier and an embarked air wing to project carrier-based airpower into littoral warfare.[7] On 20 July 1997, Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Nine began a high-intensity strike campaign. When flight operations were completed four days later, Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Nine had carried out 771 strike sorties while dropping 1,337 bombs on target. Carrier Air Wing Nine flew 975 fixed-wing sorties during this four-day surge operation. Almost 80 percent of the sorties flown were strike sorties, with strike support accounting for another 10 percent. F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters flew nearly 80 percent of the strike sorties. Of the 771 strike sorties, 727 were loaded with ordnance, while 44 were electronic support by EA-6B Prowlers. During this four-day period, only a portion of the medium-range interdiction strikes required tanking support. KC-135 and KC-130 tanker aircraft provided most of this support. S-3 Vikings conducted recovery tanking and supplied more than one-third of the fuel passed to Carrier Air Wing Nine aircraft during this surge operation.[14][15] This surge had been preceded by a 16-hour preparation after undergoing four days that had generated about 700 fixed-winged sorties.[15][16] A following study by the Center for Naval Analyses determined that Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Nine could have maintained this high-sortie operational tempo for another twelve to twenty-four hours before requiring equipment maintenance, rest for the crews while ordnance and aviation fuel stocks to be replenished.[17]
On 1 September 1997, Nimitz began an around the world cruise, again supporting Southern Watch, which ended in Newport News, Virginia on 2 March 1998. She next spent the next three years undergoing a nuclear Refueling and Complex Overhaul that ended on 25 June 2001.
2000s
Monitor showing data about NimitzLt. Cmdr. David Bynum, a Navy chaplain aboard Nimitz, passes out happy face sponge balls to the students of CSI High School for the Deaf in Chennai, India during a community relations visit in July 2007
On 21 September 2001,[18] after sea trials in the Virginia Capes, Nimitz began to transit around South America to the new home port of NAS North Island in San Diego, California, arriving there on 13 November 2001. Aircraft from Carrier Air Reserve Wing 20 were embarked for the transit. From January to May 2002, a four-month post-shakedown maintenance availability was completed at North Island; during this time Advanced combat direction system was installed.
Nimitz, again with CVW-11 embarked, deployed to the Persian Gulf on 7 May 2005, returning on 8 November 2005.[23] This deployment marked three decades of service, and was depicted in the Emmy award-winning 2008 PBS documentary series Carrier.[24] In June 2006, Nimitz was awarded the 2005 Battle "E".[25]
The carrier departed North Island for her thirteenth deployment on 2 April 2007, to the Arabian Sea, relieving USSDwight D. Eisenhower in support of OIF.[26] The carrier anchored off Chennai, India on 2 July 2007, as part of efforts to expand bilateral defense cooperation between India and the United States.[27] Sailors participated in community work in Chennai prior to departing, on 5 July 2007, along with the destroyer USSPinckney towards the Persian Gulf, and then returned to North Island on 30 September 2007.[28]
On 24 January 2008, Nimitz deployed to the Pacific for a "surge"-deployment.[29] On 9 February 2008, two Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bombers overflew the carrier in the Western Pacific.[30] Four F/A-18C Hornets were launched when the bombers were 500 miles (800km) away from the US ships, and intercepted the bombers 50 miles (80km) south of Nimitz. Two F/A-18s trailed one of the bombers, which twice flew over the deck of the carrier at an altitude of 2,000 feet (610m), while the other two F/A-18s trailed another Tu-95 circling about 50 miles (80km) away from the carrier. Reportedly, there was no radio communication between the American and Russian aircraft. According to the Department of Defense, one of the two aircraft was said to have flown above Nimitz at an altitude of 2,000 feet (610m). On the same day, Russian aircraft entered Japanese airspace, which caused the Japanese to raise protest to the Russian ambassador in Tokyo.[31]
Again, on 5 March 2008, a Russian bomber came within 3 to 5 nautical miles (6 to 9km) and flew 2,000 feet (610m) above Nimitz, and the battle group. Two F/A-18 fighters intercepted the Russian aircraft and escorted it out of the area.[30]
Nimitz was awarded the Navy Battle "E" for battle efficiency for 2007 along with the Ney award for food service excellence, and returned to her home port of San Diego on 3 June 2008.
The Nimitz Strike Group, including CVW-11, departed the States for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment on 31 July 2009,[32] and began to fly combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 21 September.[33]
In January 2010, while in the Persian Gulf, the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for back-to-back deployments in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. The award was presented by Admiral Gary Roughead in a ceremony on the ship on 6 January 2010.[34]
Nimitz visited Hong Kong for five days in February 2010 to allow the crew to rest and visit the city. The visit occurred despite China previously preventing a visit by the carrier USSKitty Hawk.[35][36]
On 9 December 2010, the Navy formally announced that Everett, Washington was to be the new home port for Nimitz.[37] This move was expected to save the Navy $100 million.[38] On 9 March 2012, Nimitz arrived at her new homeport of Naval Station Everett after spending nearly a week at sea conducting post overhaul sea trials.[39]
In March 2012, Nimitz arrived at the new home port of Naval Station Everett in Washington state after more than a year of maintenance work in Bremerton, replacing sister carrier, Abraham Lincoln.[40] On 3 August 2012, Nimitz departed from Pearl Harbor after a two-day port call, arriving at NAS North Island on 9 August 2012, to begin Fleet Replacement Squadron carrier qualifications.[18] On 6 October 2012, a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft from squadron VMM-165 landed and refueled on board Nimitz. This operation was part of an evaluation of the feasibility of the MV-22 as a potential replacement for the C-2 Greyhoundcarrier onboard delivery (COD) cargo transport aircraft.[41][42]
The BBC reported that Nimitz was located in the Persian Gulf, ready to contribute to an operation against Syria when President Obama ordered a military strike. Two days later it was reported that the carrier task group had been re-routed westwards across the Arabian Sea.[43][44]
It was reported that Nimitz, after eight months at sea, transited the Suez Canal on 20 October 2013, into the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, where the Navy intended to keep her for a few weeks conducting joint training with allied nations before returning home.[45][46]Nimitz returned to Everett on 16 December 2013.[47]
In late 2014, following the completion of work up qualifications, Nimitz participated in her first deployment, a two-week multi-national fleet exercise involving the Third Fleet, as well as ships from the Royal Canadian Navy and JMSDF.[48] Following the conclusion of the exercise, on 3 November the first F-35C Lightning II to land on an aircraft carrier recovered aboard Nimitz to begin a two-week Development Testing I deployment. This saw a pair of aircraft from VX-23 undertaking carrier operations of launch, recovery and handling aboard ship in both day and night conditions.[49][50] The initial deployment was completed on 14 November 2014.[51] In 2015, Nimitz transferred to Bremerton to undergo a 16-month maintenance cycle.[52]
On 1 June 2017, Nimitz left Naval Base Kitsap for her next scheduled deployment.[53] This deployment was against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Her F/A-18s played an important role in the Battle of Tal Afar, providing precision air support for advancing Iraqi soldiers.[54]
In April 2020, the coronavirus was reported to have spread to Nimitz when the first case was reported on 7 April.[56][57] One sailor had received a positive result the previous week after exhibiting symptoms, and was subsequently placed in isolation and removed from the ship.[56] Another crew member also tested positive, but was reported to have not been working on the ship.[57] On 27 April, Nimitz completed a 27-day quarantine and began COMPTUEX training.[58]
On 5 July 2020, the ship was deployed in the South China Sea along with USSRonald Reagan. On 31 December, acting Secretary of DefenseChris Miller ordered Nimitz to return directly to her home port following a nearly ten-month deployment in the Fifth Fleet area of operation.[59] The carrier was at the time supporting the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Somalia along with USSMakin Island and her amphibious ready group.[60] On 3 January 2021, in an abrupt reversal, acting Defense Secretary Miller ordered Nimitz to redeploy due to "Recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other U.S. government officials."[61]
Nimitz logged her 350,000th arrested landing on 22 April 2023.[65]
Planned retirement
The Nimitz-class carriers have a lifespan of approximately 50 years. Estimates on decommissioning for Nimitz herself were updated in April 2022, with the Navy Press Corps indicating that, “USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is planned to be removed from the battle force in fiscal year (FY) 2025, when the ship's Terminal Off-load Program begins, with inactivation scheduled to begin in 2027.”[66]
Overhauls
October 1975 to December 1975 – Post Shakedown Availability
May 1977 to July 1977 – Selected Restricted Availability
October 1978 to January 1979 – Selected Restricted Availability
October 1980 to January 1981 – Selected Restricted Availability
April 1982 to June 1982 – Selected Restricted Availability – waist catapult bridle catcher removed.
June 1983 to July 1984 – Complex Overhaul – forward port sponson added; 3 Mk-25 BPDMs replaced with 2 Mk-29; 3 CIWS added; SPS-49 search radar replaces SPS-43.
November 1985 to March 1986 – Selected Restricted Availability – forward port sponson changed/enlarged.
August 1987 to February 1988 – Selected Restricted Availability
August 1989 to March 1990 – Selected Restricted Availability
October 1991 to May 1992 – Selected Restricted Availability
December 1993 to January 1995 – Selected Restricted Availability – port bow catapult bridle catcher removed.
June 1996 to January 1997 – Selected Restricted Availability
May 1998 to June 2001 – Refueling and Complex Overhaul – starboard bow catapult bridle catcher removed; top two levels of the island replaced; new antenna mast; new radar tower; RAM replaced CIWS at forward port sponson; RAM added to aft starboard sponson; 2 CIWS at island/stern removed.
February 2004 to August 2004 – Planned Incremental Availability – catwalk grating was replaced and flight deck resurfaced.
March 2006 to September 2006 – Planned Incremental Availability
July 2008 to January 2009 – Planned Incremental Availability
November 2010 to March 2012 – Planned Incremental Availability – 2 CIWS added to forward starboard sponson enlargement/new port stern sponson.
January 2015 to October 2016 – Planned Incremental Availability
March 2018 to (approximately) May 2019 – Docked Planned Incremental Availability
The Final Countdown, a 1980 alternate history science fiction film about a contemporary aircraft carrier that travels through time to the day before the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, was set and filmed on board the real-life USS Nimitz.[67]
Nimitz is the focus of The Big Aircraft Carrier in Little Mammoth Media's BIG Adventure Series. In it, they talk how the navy ship works for children including a complete tour of the carrier, how the sailors and pilots work and even all the training they undertake.[68]
The PBS series Carrier followed the May–November 2005 deployment of Nimitz to the Persian Gulf, documenting the life and shipboard routines of the crew over 10 episodes.
The Nimitz class is a class of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the United States Navy. The lead ship of the class is named after World War II United States Pacific Fleet commander Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who was the last living U.S. Navy officer to hold the rank. With an overall length of 1,092 ft (333 m) and a full-load displacement of over 100,000 long tons (100,000 t), the Nimitz-class ships were the largest warships built and in service until USS Gerald R. Ford entered the fleet in 2017.
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is the United States Navy's third Nimitz-class supercarrier. She is named for Carl Vinson (1883–1981), a congressman from Georgia, in recognition of his contributions to the U.S. Navy. The ship was launched during Vinson's lifetime in 1980, undertook her maiden voyage in 1983, and underwent refueling and overhaul between 2005 and 2009.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is the fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy. She is the third Navy ship to have been named after the former President Abraham Lincoln. Her home port is NAS North Island, San Diego, California; she is a member of the United States Pacific Fleet. She is administratively responsible to Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific, and operationally serves as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3 and host to Carrier Air Wing Nine. She was returned to the fleet on 12 May 2017, marking the successful completion of her Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) carried out at Newport News Shipyard. As of 10 August 2024, USS Abraham Lincoln and her strike group are being deployed to the Middle East as part of the U.S. response to the escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel.
Carrier Strike Group 9 is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Commander Carrier Strike Group 9 is responsible for unit-level training, integrated training, and material readiness for the ships and aviation squadrons assigned to the group. The group reports to Commander, U.S. Third Fleet, which also supervises its pre-deployment training and certification that includes Composite Unit Training Exercises.
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is the fourth Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered, aircraft carrier in the United States Navy. She is named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States and a proponent of naval power. She is the fourth ship named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, three bearing his full name and a fourth with just his last name. Another three U.S. Navy ships have "Roosevelt" in their names in honor of members of the Roosevelt family. This carrier's radio call sign is "Rough Rider", the nickname of President Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish–American War. She was launched in 1984, and saw her first action during the Gulf War in 1991. As of August, 2024, she is deployed with Carrier Air Wing 11 and Carrier Strike Group 9, which includes the Ticonderoga-class cruiserUSS Lake Erie (CG-70), and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer'sUSS John S. McCain (DDG-56), USS Halsey (DDG-97), and the USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118).
Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to CVW-9 is NG.
Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146) also known as the "Blue Diamonds" is a United States Navy operational fleet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore California. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet and are attached to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard USS Nimitz. Their tailcode is NA and their radio callsign is Diamond.
Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is currently attached to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).
Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, with most of its various squadrons also home based at NAS Oceana. Additional squadrons are based at Naval Station Norfolk/Chambers Field, Virginia; Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina; Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington; and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.
Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)
Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6), is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy. It was established as Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) on 1 June 1956. Its nickname is Screamin’ Indians. On 8 July 2011 it was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6). It is based at Naval Air Station North Island, is part of Carrier Air Wing 17 and deploys aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
Carrier Strike Group 11 is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the strike group's current flagship. Other units currently assigned to the group include the cruisers USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and USS Princeton (CG-59), and Destroyer Squadron 9.
Carrier Strike Group 3 is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is the group's current flagship. Other units assigned as of 2024 include Carrier Air Wing Nine, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyersUSS O'Kane (DDG-77), USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121), and USS Spruance (DDG-111), which are part of Destroyer Squadron 21.
Carrier Strike Group Seven was a U.S. Navy carrier strike group active from October 2004 until 30 December 2011. The strike group's antecendants included two previous aircraft carrier formations, Carrier Division Seven and Carrier Group Seven. Its heritage thus includes the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War, as well as the first and the second Persian Gulf wars, encompassing a total of 34 deployments to the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf.
Carrier Strike Group Nine is a U.S. Navy formation. The group is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike groups assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In 2004–09, it was based at Naval Base San Diego and its flagship was the Nimitz-class aircraft carrierUSS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
Carrier Strike Group Ten was involved in a number of operations between 2004–2009. Carrier Strike Group Ten was a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. In 2004–09 it was based at Naval Station Norfolk. In those five years it made two Middle East providing air and naval support for the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan, as well as Operation Vigilant Resolve, and Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 . In 2004–09 the group's flagship was the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrierUSS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).
Carrier Strike Group Three 2004–2009 operations included a world cruise, three western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments and a change-over of its flagship. During this period, CARSTRGRU-3 provided combat operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) as well as participated such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009, and Northern Edge 2009. The strike group's 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment
Summer Pulse 2004 (SP04) was the codename for a worldwide surge deployment that served as the first full-scale test of the United States Navy's then-new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). During Summer Pulse 2004, a total of seven carrier strike groups were underway at the same time in five different Numbered fleet areas of responsibility. This number of underway carrier strike groups had not been matched since the six carrier battle groups deployed during Operation Desert Storm. In addition to the carriers, the Navy also deployed 17 submarines and one submarine tender.
↑ Arendes, Ahron (19 April 2004). "Nimitz Earns Coveted Battle "E"" (Press release). North Island, California: USS Nimitz Public Affairs. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
↑ Arendes, Ahron (3 June 2004). "Nimitz, CVW-11 Win 2003 Flatley Award" (Press release). North Island, California: USS Nimitz Public Affairs. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
↑ Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs (9 May 2005). "USS Nimitz Strike Group Deploys" (Press release). San Diego, California. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
↑ Riveracorrea, Alexia M. (23 April 2008). "Nimitz Highlighted in PBS TV Series and Premiere" (Press release). North Island, California: Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
↑ Crosser, Felix (9 June 2006). "Nimitz Named Best in Pacific Fleet" (Press release). San Diego, California: USS Nimitz Public Affairs. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
↑ Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs (22 May 2007). "Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Arrives in 5th Fleet" (Press release). USS Nimitz, at sea: US Navy. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
↑ Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs (18 January 2008). "Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Set to Deploy" (Press release). San Diego, California. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2012.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs (28 July 2009). "Nimitz Strike Group Set To Deploy" (Press release). San Diego, California. Navy News Service. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2012.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ Simoes, Hendrick (22 October 2013). "USS Nimitz sent to Mediterranean". Stars and Stripes. Manama, Bahrain. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
↑ "Nimitz to Operate in Mediterranean". 648. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
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