When USS Nimitz was commissioned in 1975, it became the second nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever constructed for the U.S. Navy, following USS Enterprise one decade prior.

USS Nimitz – commissioned on May 3, 1975 – is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. This is possibly its final sea voyage, as the Nimitz is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026.

Almost 50 years on from its commissioning date, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed Naval Base Kitsap on Mar. 21, 2025, for a deployment to the Indo-Pacific. The ...

This will likely be the last deployment for the USS Nimitz — the oldest active U.S. aircraft carrier — before its planned decommissioning in 2026 after 50 years of service.