Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers

by Brad Elward, Paul Wright (Illustrator)

Overview

The Nimitz class aircraft carrier is the ultimate symbol of the United States superpower status. A true behemoth, this is an unsurpassed weapons platform that overshadows all of its nearest rivals. A history of the largest aircraft carriers in the world, with runways over 300 meters long, this book looks at the development and deployment of the nuclear-powered Nimitz class aircraft carriers from 1975 when the USS Nimitz, the lead ship of the class, was commissioned, to the present day.

All of the class are still operational and the tenth and last of the class, the USS George H. W. Bush, was commissioned in 2009. Here, Brad Elward provides a detailed overview of their design and development, highlighting their unique features, from jet blast deflectors to cutting edge radar systems, and a history of the Nimitz class in service, from deployment in the Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, through to the enforcement of the no fly zone over Bosnia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781846037597
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	11/23/2010
Series:	New Vanguard , #174
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Brad Elward is an aviation journalist and author, having had work published in such periodicals as 'World Air Power Journal'. He has written more than ten books on military aviation, including several for Osprey.

Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for most of his career, specializing in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day. Paul's art has illustrated the works of Patrick O'Brian, Dudley Pope and C.S. Forester amongst others, and hangs in many corporate and private collections all over the world. A Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Paul lives and works in Surrey.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Origins of The Supercarrier 5

Design and Development of The Nimitz Class 12

The Nimitz Carrier Structure

The Flight Deck

Aircraft Launch and Recovery Operations

LSOs and the Lens

The Hangar Bay

The Island and Significant Inner Structures

Defensive Systems

Electronic Systems and Radars

Integrated Air Defense

The Carrier Air Wing (CVW)

Propulsion and Powerplant

Operational History 34

The Carriers

Nimitz-Class Follow-on: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Class

Bibliography 47

Index 48

Editorial Reviews

I would highly recommend this book to any modeler wanting reference to the aircraft carriers of the Nimitz class, or to any person who is interested in the history of aircraft carriers as a whole. The art and photography are very good ... the book is well written and informative.” —Scott Hollingshead, IPMS/USA

“Elward, a published aviation historian, leads off with an excellent discussion of the origins of the Nimitz-class supercarrier, followed by a detailed description of the ship itself ... The book is filled with excellent photographs and rawings that show how the various carriers of this class developed. This is a nice reference book that aviation historians should keep handy.” —Doug Siegfried, The Hook (Summer 2012)

From the Publisher