Secrets of USS Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier: Hardships, Camaraderie, and Precision, and Faith!

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Secrets of USS Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier: Hardships, Camaraderie, and Precision, and Faith

Welcome to Navy Power, where we’ll take you on a journey to explore the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy—not just a massive “floating city” at sea, but also a symbol of military might. With a height of over 20 stories above the water and a length exceeding 1,000 feet, the Nimitz is truly a marvel of engineering. However, its impressive size is only one of its highlights, as the carrier can launch or land aircraft in just 25 seconds—a remarkable speed compared to conventional runways. Onboard, more than 5,000 people, including sailors, officers, and pilots, live and work together. To meet the needs of this enormous crew, 114 chefs are constantly preparing nutritious meals each day.
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16 thoughts on “Secrets of USS Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier: Hardships, Camaraderie, and Precision, and Faith!”

  14. I served in USS Ranger (CVA-61) for a little less than 2 years. I made 2 WestPac cruises with over 1 year of time spent off the coast of Vietnam. Ranger was a Forrestal class super carrier, about the same size as a Nimitz, but much lighter because she didn't have all the massive shielding around the engineering. We did not operate in Carrier Task Groups at that time. We seldom had more than 2 escorts with us.
    We had more room in our racks (older style) than the more "modern" racks on Nimitz class carriers. That's because our lockers were at the back, rather than under, the rack. We could prop the locker doors open and access everything in them while laying in our rack. We did not have the separate lockers, when I was aboard, that took up even more of our precious deck space. Looking at the video, it looks like we also had larger berthing area rec room.
    There are more than 200 working in the galleys and mess decks but not all are Culinary Specialists. A large number were non-rated men/women who are assigned to mess cook duty for a period of 3 months. They come from the majority of divisions on the ship and are in S-2M Division. The Culinary Specialists (CS) are in S-2 Division. I did my 3 months of mess cooking just like most new people to the ship.

    VertReps were most often done at the same time as an UnRep. The two ships travel at about 12 knots. The water between looks like a boiling cauldron. In April, 1969, Task Force 77 was formed consisting of 4 aircraft carriers, 2 cruisers, numerous destroyers and the support ships USS Sacramento (AOE-1) and USS Mars (AFS-1). Just about every helo in the fleet was working to VertRep refrigerated foods from Mars to all ships. Sacramento UnRepped everyone supplying fuel and munitions. From Ranger's flight deck it looked reminiscent of photos of the fleets in WWII.
    We did not have all those amenities, like internet, ATMs, etc. When pay day came around, there were stations set up on the hangar deck. The men (no women in those days) lined up. When we reached the table, we pulled out our ID, told them how much money we wanted to draw, signed for it, and went back to work. At sea, most of us only drew about $20. Not much was needed. Before entering port, we'd draw more.
    You mentioned fresh water for cooking and drinking from the ship's evaporators. Actually, they also provided water for steam for the catapults and the turbines that turned our screws. Our showers were also fresh water. In my time aboard we never experienced water rationing.
    It is very definitely the camaraderie that comes from everyone in a given division being berthed together that makes the long days at sea possible to bare. I don't know if the same can be said now. The women are in their own berthing. In order to get together to talk, they have to go to places like the mess decks. Personally, I think the women should be berthed in the same berthing. Just separate their racks from the rest with partitions like they use in hospitals. We never went around nude, and vey seldom in just our skivvies. There's no reason the commode stalls can't have doors for privacy. Showers already have doors/curtains.

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  16. This is luxurious living compared to what I and many of my shipmates endured
    USS Midway 1965
    living on a carrier that was built during WW2 were the same living conditions during WW2
    No AC very hot and humid plus the smell of 50 plus men was awful
    We slept on a pipe rack with canvas supported by string like sleeping in a hammock water hours ment do showers should l go on

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