Das Boat, Bird Farm, Mom, aka 90,000 tons of diplomacy: the Nimitz Class carriers

[HeyJoe]

100326-N-3327M-103 SAN DIEGO (March 26, 2010) Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) as the ship transits into its homeport at Naval Base Coronado. Nimitz and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 returned to its homeport of San Diego after completing an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James Mitchell/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100323-N-3327M-211 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 23, 2010) Sailors and more than 1,000 friends and family members spell out the word "Nimitz" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the ship's 2010 Tiger Cruise. Tiger Cruise 2010 is the last evolution in the ship's eight-month deployment to the Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class James Mitchell/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100319-N-6538W-361 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 19, 2010) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Nathan Wuiff, from Sugarland, Texas, directs an aircraft aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is underway off the coast of Southern California conducting fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Walter M. Wayman/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100315-N-5049H-031 STRAIT OF MAGELLAN (March 15, 2010) A HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15 prepares to take off from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a transit of the Strait of Magellan on her way to the Pacific Ocean. Carl Vinson is underway in the straits supporting Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Stephen G. Hale II/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100315-N-0808V-900 STRAIT OF MAGELLAN (March 15, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) performs tactical maneuvering exercises with the Chilean navy Sa'ar 4-class fast-attack craft Angamos and Casma. Carl Vinson is supporting Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100315-N-0808V-297 STRAIT OF MAGELLAN (March 15, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) performs tactical maneuvering exercises with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the Chilean navy Sa'ar 4-class fast-attack craft Angamos and Casma. Carl Vinson and Bunker Hill are supporting Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100309-N-4774B-071 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 9, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) performs maneuvers off the coast of South America. Carl Vinson, along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), is participating in Southern Seas 2010, an operation directed by U.S. Southern Command that provides U.S. and other forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100304-N-4774B-346 ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 4, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) maneuvers after a replenishment at sea with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52). Carl Vinson and Bunker Hill are participating in Southern Seas 2010, a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100306-N-3595W-004 NORTH ARABIAN SEA (March 6 2010) Sailors assigned to the weapons department of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) stand a munitions watch on the flight deck. Dwight D. Eisenhower is on a six-month deployment as a part of the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina K. Wollman/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100227-N-4408B-676 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 27, 2010) The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Navy's 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, heels hard to starboard during high-speed turn drills. George H.W. Bush is underway in the Atlantic Ocean supporting fleet training operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Micah P. Blechner/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

091114-N-2475A-306 PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 14, 2009) The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) conducts a replenishment at sea with the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Curts (FFG 38) and the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

100501-N-8913A-342 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 1, 2010) Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 fly over aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as part of an air power demonstration for friends and families of CVN 77 Sailors. More than 7,000 guests attended the ship's first friends and family day. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Leonard Adams/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

091106-N-9928E-207 PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 6, 2009) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departs San Diego after a scheduled port visit to embark Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9. John C. Stennis and CVW-9 are participating in a strike group sustainment exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

 

[HokiePilot]

Since it is not a Nimitz Class Carrier, Is the USS Enterprise included in this thread, or should I start my own?

 

[HeyJoe]

Since it is not a Nimitz Class Carrier, Is the USS Enterprise included in this thread, or should I start my own?

Since it is so special and due to sail into the sunset soon*, why not pay it a tribute with its own thread?

*Now what to do with eight nuclear reactors?