The US Navy has returned its oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), to service.

The scrapping of the US Navy's oldest nuclear aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), has been postponed again, the American command fleet decided to extend the ship's service life for another year. The reason is the delay in the construction and commissioning of new aircraft carriers.

The Nimitz's decommissioning was announced last December. The carrier had already been in the US Navy's active service for several years longer than expected, but issues with the commissioning of the newest carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, forced an extension of its service life. At the end of 2025, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) departed for Naval Station Kitsap, from where it was scheduled to depart in May for its final voyage, which would culminate in its decommissioning.

However, plans changed because the USS Gerald R. Ford is still not ready and is having trouble implementing new systems not previously used on aircraft carriers. And the carrier complement of 11 must be maintained, so instead of sailing to Norfolk, Virginia, the Nimitz has rejoined the fleet. For now, until March 27, 2027.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding on June 22, 1968, and launched on May 13, 1972. She was officially commissioned on May 3, 1975, at Naval Station Norfolk.

Comments

[YOU]

It's too early for old men to retire. The old horse has heard the call of the battle trumpet. I hope not for long.

[hector]

Quote: YOU

It's too early for old men to retire. The old horse heard the call of the battle trumpet.

Yes, old people are like that, stronger than today's youth. As soon as Fordets found out they were sending him off to war, he immediately shit himself and became incontinent to get a deferment.

[Vicente]

Since we're on a roll, cut the last cucumber. Burn it, Donnie.

[RuAbel]

Maybe "Missouri" will come in handy again!

[TermNachTer]

They never actually decommissioned it. It was being transferred from the Pacific Fleet to the Atlantic to be decommissioned. They decided to hold off, but its combat effectiveness is somewhat questionable.

[Arkady007]

At the moment, the combat capability of such large vessels within a 1000 km radius of the combat zone may not last very long, given the use of modern missiles against them.
There is already confirmation of this.

[Trapperxnumx]

Quote: Arkady007

There is already confirmation of this.

Would you mind sharing some information?

[Inevitably]

He won't share, but why? Gentlemen are taken at their word!

[tralflot1832]

The deadline is surprising - one year. Are they hoping it won't sink within a year?

[oleg-nekrasov-19]

They just haven't built a new one yet, and they don't want to cut the 7th Fleet (the carrier groups are the core of it), so they're extending it for a year. And since it was moored as a ship in Norfolk, Virginia, where it was sent on its last deployment from Washington, it's still there. So it's unlikely to sink in port. .

[topol717]

Quote: tralflot1832

They hope it won't sink within a year?

This was done in the 70s, it can serve for another 100 years.

[Ruslan Golota]

You wrote it as if it was made in the USSR. With a quality seal.

[topol717]

Believe me, the US made some very high-quality things in the 70s and 80s. You can look at their cars from that time or their airplanes, which are still running and flying today.

[bayard]

Quote: tralflot1832

They hope it won't sink within a year?

Maybe that's precisely why they're bringing it back, because a new "Maine" cruiser is needed. Why dismantle an old, and (as they say) somewhat radioactive, wreck for scrap metal if you can let it die a useful death and (say) provide a pretext for a nuclear strike on Iran. The question is, will the Nimitz be ready quickly for its final deployment?

[Trapperxnumx]

Quote: bayard

a new "cruiser Maine" was needed.

This is what is most annoying

[TermNachTer]

Well, if it's moored to the pier with steel lines, then God willing it won't sink)))

[pharmacist]

And really, why should we dispose of it ourselves when we can offer it to Iran?

[HAM]

Is it a coincidence that the extension of the "veteran's" service coincided with the departure of the "undamaged" aircraft carrier?

[TermNachTer]

It's more likely connected to the fact that "Kennedy" is late, but there's no particular confidence that it will be finished within a year.

[bar]

Is this guy's sewer system still rotten?

[fuel oil]

If anything happens, let them "spill" it overboard... or decorate the deck with bio-toilets.

[topol717]

Quote: black oil

If anything happens, let them pour it overboard.

I'll tell you a terrible secret: they've been doing it that way for the last 50 years.

[tralflot1832]

Quote from Ruabel

Maybe "Missouri" will come in handy again!

And the cook on Missouri is pro-Russian.

[tralflot1832]

Quote: bar

Is this guy's sewer system still rotten?

The sewer system on Nimitz is AI-free. There will be no strike.

[d ^ Amir]

Nimitz's sewer system is AI-free. There won't be a strike.

Good-hearted day!!! It's all a bit simpler, in my opinion. This aircraft carrier was built when the scientific discipline of PLM (product lifecycle management, and I also came across the term "parameterization") didn't even exist. It's simply still functional, unlike the current ones, which, strictly according to science, will die after 30 years of the life cycle.

[Mouse]

The number of aircraft carriers at 11 units must be maintained

For pleasure?

[Joker62]

Instead of heading to Norfolk, Virginia, the Nimitz has reentered the fleet. Until March 27, 2027.

They won't be decommissioned by that time, and the new aircraft carrier itself won't be ready to join the navy again.
And an aphorism from DAM came to mind:

There is no money, but you hold on...

[tralflot1832]

Quote: TermNachTER

They never actually decommissioned it. It was being transferred from the Pacific Fleet to the Atlantic to be decommissioned. They decided to hold off, but its combat effectiveness is somewhat questionable.

Nikolai, good afternoon. What about Nimitz's air wing? It was a hodgepodge. They all flew out the day before Nimitz arrived in Norfolk. It was beautiful, there was a funny photo report. When the US Department of War photo gallery was freely available.

[naofumi]

Nikolay, good afternoon, what's with the Nimitz air wing? It's a hodgepodge.

With the Ronald Reagan currently in long-term maintenance in Bremerton and the Nimitz having its service life extended until March 2027, it's logical to expect its home base, CVW-17, to return aboard.

[Prisoner]

The Yankees are so cunning. They decided to blame the Persians for disposing of the old tub.

[pin_code]

Is it really that bad?))) I sympathize with the Americans. It seems things are bad with Ford (drowned in shit) and Lincoln (maybe it got a slap in the face?).

[Vadim Topal Pasha]

"I am tormented by vague doubts" (C) Isn't this connected with the damage to American aircraft by the Iranians near their shores?

[snow mountain]

Quote from Pharmacist

And really, why should we dispose of it ourselves when we can offer it to Iran?

It is even possible to offer him an alternative in the form of the Houthis.

[Oscar Essen]

If I were the sailors there, I'd think twice about serving on that vessel. Disposal is expensive, and what if they expose it to attack from Iran or sink it themselves under the Iranian flag? They'd save money and a bunch of sacrificial lambs, whip up a media frenzy, and now they're trying to persuade Trump to get involved fully.

[Stas]

It may happen that the Persians will dispose of it.