Nimitz Propulsion system: Two nuclear reactors Main Engines: Four Speed: 30+ Knots Propellers: Four Blades on each Propeller: Five Aircraft elevators: Four Catapults: Four Arresting gear cables: Four Overall length: 1,092 feet Overall width: 252 feet Beam at waterline: 134 feet Area of flight deck: About 4.5 acres Full load displacement: About 95,000 tons Accommodations: About 6,000 persons Meals each day: 18,000-20,000 Mail processed: Over one million pounds per year

Notes of Interest Nimitz Class Aircraft Carriers reach over 18 stories high from the keel to the top of the mast. The Hangar Bay extends for most of the ship's length. It is used for major repair and shelters the aircraft not needed for that day's flight schedule. Eight steam turbine generators each produce 8,000 kilowatts of electrical power, enough to serve a small city. Four distilling units enable the carrier's engineers to make over 400,000 gallons of fresh water a day, for use by the propulsion plants, catapults and crew. - Its self-defense measures include missiles, guns, and electronic warfare. The NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System is comprised of two launchers with eight missiles each. Sea Sparrow is a radar-guided, short-to-medium range missile capable of engaging aircraft and cruise missiles. It also has three Close-In Weapon System mounts for short-range defense against aircraft or missiles. Each mount has its own search and track radar, and a six-barrel, 20-millimeter Gatling gun capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute -- 50 bullets a second! A carrier's Food Services Department provides 18,000-20,000 meals a day.  Back to US Navy