Killer photos of Nimitz in drydock

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

It was amazing the creeks and groans it made as it settled onto the blocks.

I'm amazed that the hull can withstand such a tremendous load, just on the keel.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

WOW - I've always imagined they had a lot more 'boat' below the water line.
Why don't they capsize more easily?
Bill K

[daepp]

More from the Nimitz:

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

The first time was for emergency repairs after careening off of Bishops Rock. Still miss that ole B i t c h at times.

That would have been a career limiting move for someone, no?

[John Rogers]

The high speed turn picture I think is the "Connie CV64" and might be reversed as the island is usually on the starboard side? Anyways as part of over haul and INSERV acceptance a carrier has to do several things in no particular order:

- Go full or 100% power ahead. The CVN65 at full speed was only using 85% reactor power. It was limited by shaft torque maximum reading.

- Go full or 100% astern. It is unbelievable how hard a carrier shakes going that fast astern!

- Go flank speed or greater and put rudders 100% port and then 100% starboard. That's the picture posted above.

- Finally go 100% ahead and do a crash stop which with a carrier is about 2 1/2 miles! That was so you could go back and get a cat shot fail where the officers are hopefully in the water.


One last piece of info about Enterprise, on it's maiden sea voyage, Adm. Rickover was in #1 engineering control station and was ordering the stuff listed above to take place with orders to the bridge. He would go out and listen to the #1 main engine and then order another 25 turns. Finally the ahead steam throttle valve was 100% open and the bridge called down and said we were going past the Chesapeake Bridge-Tunnel at 45 knots and he let it run along for 15 minutes or so with all temps and pressures well in spec. One of the ONLY times he smiled!

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by crustychief

He wouldn't happen to have the same initials as you, would he?

Since you asked and I thought about it, yes, he does.

[GH85Carrera]

We lived on Hickam AFB back in 1970 and 71. I would go to the officers club snack bar for a burger. It was right on the edge of ocean in Pearl Harbor. The water was just right at the edge of the place. I remember eating a burger and looking up and the view was gone, it was just a wall of grey. The Enterprise was cruising into or out of port. Just a massive wall of grey.

[crustychief]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Since you asked and I thought about it, yes, he does.

My co-worker is out there working the project as an NTR. I am working the Fitzgerald, the other DDG that got hit by a merchant. I am also working the Howard in San Diego. Small Navy world.

[DonDavis]

Served for COMDESRON 21 that was stationed on Nimitz for Desert Storm. Was aboard about 9 months. Earned my EAWS on her. Most impressive.

Crossed the equator during that trip as a filthy 'wog.
On that day, I gained a much more clear understanding and appreciation of just how big the flight deck really is.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by crustychief

My co-worker is out there working the project as an NTR. I am working the Fitzgerald, the other DDG that got hit by a merchant. I am also working the Howard in San Diego. Small Navy world.

Sorry, I'm not up on all the acronyms, NTR=?

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by stuartj

That would have been a career limiting move for someone, no?

Oh yeah. Word was that the Navigator was booted and of course our Capn was replaced. Heard he got his star eventually but, rode desks after that. The Capn’s fate never rode well for me though I understand the ultimate responsibility. As the story went at the time, hadn’t it been for his quick thinking as he came into the bridge (Navigator was the OOD at the time which was a direct link to the cause of the impact) and assessed the situation, the damage to the ship would have been far worse. As it was told to me, Capn shoved the Bosn at the wheel aside and was the one that put us into the hard turn. Didn’t feel he had the time to even give the order.

[Seahawk]

The irony of the USS Nimitx running aground is that the ships namesake, Admiral Nimitz, ran a destroyer aground in 1908:

The destroyer Decatur ran aground on a mud bank in the Philippines on July 7, 1908 while under the command of Ensign Nimitz. The ship was pulled free the next day, and Nimitz was court-martialed, found guilty of neglect of duty, and issued a letter of reprimand.[8]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_W._Nimitz

There has always been debate on how Nimitz would have fared in today's Navy.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Served for COMDESRON 21 that was stationed on Nimitz for Desert Storm. Was aboard about 9 months. Earned my EAWS on her. Most impressive.

Crossed the equator during that trip as a filthy 'wog.
On that day, I gained a much more clear understanding and appreciation of just how big the flight deck really is.

And the mess decks, and the hanger bay,,,,, . All on our hands and knees. Riding the elevator up to the flight deck was a brief shining star on my “birthday” in ‘86 lol.

I can’t imagine what the ceremonies are like these days given coed crews. After we finished our dunks, we gladly stripped bare assed, got hosed off a bit and walked back to our berths, swinging in the breeze.

[Scott Douglas]

Are the covers on the edges of the props protecting the edges or people?

[70SATMan]

I loved the high speed drills. We had a knot meter on the wall in my system workshop and usually they’d cut the feed between 35-40. One time however, they forgot to do so.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Are the covers on the edges of the props protecting the edges or people?

Officially both but really, the prop edges. When the E went into dry dock for overhaul, I seem to recall that they replaced one bent shaft that they had put up with for years.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

The high speed turn picture I think is the "Connie CV64" and might be reversed as the island is usually on the starboard side?

Reversed.
Always on the Starboard side..., and as you can see, it's the Stennis (CVN 74)....

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Forigina ls%2F08%2F8a%2Ff9%2F088af995b97219f25d4f254fed631a 58.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F 392868767470459449%2F&docid=AVd1nKRGr3F-_M&tbnid=Q75PlLRyMSKIeM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwj2yKOdgcPfAhWL6IMKHeheAPsQMwgpKAIwAg.. i&w=800&h=600&itg=1&bih=918&biw=1667&q=aircraft%20carrier%20drift&ved=0ahUKEwj2yKOdgcPfAhWL6IMKHeheAPsQMwgpKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8

[Tobra]

45 knots, that is just wrong that something that big could go like that.

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Are the covers on the edges of the props protecting the edges or people?

yes

It is really something to walk under a ship that enormous

[crustychief]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Are the covers on the edges of the props protecting the edges or people?

both as stated above and it is FME protection.

[SpyderMike]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

We lived on Hickam AFB back in 1970 and 71. I would go to the officers club snack bar for a burger. It was right on the edge of ocean in Pearl Harbor. The water was just right at the edge of the place. I remember eating a burger and looking up and the view was gone, it was just a wall of grey. The Enterprise was cruising into or out of port. Just a massive wall of grey.

I spent 4 years as a Nuclear Test Engineer at Pearl Harbor working on Submarines in the early 1980s. Mostly worked the Swordfish, Los Angeles, Sea Dragon and Indianapolis. We used to have lunch there at the Hickam O Club and $0.25 Heineken beers that were stamped "FOR MILITARY USE ONLY" after work. Nice place to hang out.