USS Nimitz (CVN-68 ) is a supercarrier in the United States Navy, the lead ship of its class. It is one of the largest warships in the world. It was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN-68, but was redesignated CVN-68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on 30 June 1975 as part of the fleet realignment of that year.

The keel of Nimitz was laid down 22 June 1968 by Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, and she was commissioned 3 May 1975 by President Gerald Ford. The ship was named for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who commanded the Pacific fleet in World War II. Captain Michael "Nasty" Manazir assumed command of the Nimitz on 16
March 2007.

Nimitz departed North Island in San Diego on April 2, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. on a six-month deployment in the Arabian Sea, relieving the Norfolk, VA.-based USS Eisenhower. The Nimitz reached Chennai, India on July 1st 2007 as part of efforts to expand bilateral defense cooperation between India and United States and will remain stationed there till July 5, 2007.

Displacement : 101,000 to 104,000 tons full load

Length : Overall: 1,092 ft (333 m)

Waterline : 1,040 ft (317 m)

Beam : Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)

Waterline : 134 ft (40.8 m)

Draft : Maximum navigational: 37 ft (11.3 m)

Limit : 41 ft (12.5 m)

Propulsion : 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 260,000 shp (194 MW).

Speed : 30+ knots (56+ km/h)

Range : Essentially unlimited

Complement : Ship's company: 3,200

Air wing : 2,480

Sensors and processing systems : SPS-48E 3-D air search radar, SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar, Mk 23 target acquisition radar, 2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars, SPN-43B air traffic control radar, SPN-44 landing aid radars, 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems, 3 × Mk 95 radars.

Electronic warfare and decoys : SLQ-32A(V)4 Countermeasures suite, SLQ-25A Nixie torpedo countermeasures.

Armament : 2 × 21 cell Sea RAM, 2 × Mk 29 Sea Sparrow.