America’s oldest aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, sails on its final mission after 50 years of distinguished service, carrying with it a legacy that shaped modern naval warfare. USS Nimitz has departed from Naval Base Kitsap for what is likely its final deployment, heading to the Indo-Pacific region. Commissioned in 1975, the Nimitz is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the world, with nearly five decades of service. The Gerald R. Ford class carrier USS John F. Kennedy will replace the Nimitz, marking the end of an era in naval history.
Final Voyage Begins for Historic Carrier
The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, on March 21, 2025, embarking on what is expected to be its final deployment. The legendary vessel passed Seattle’s Alki Beach with approximately 2,800 sailors on board, a sight witnessed by many local residents who gathered to see the massive carrier. As the oldest operating aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy and indeed the world, the Nimitz’s departure marks the beginning of the end for a vessel that has been a cornerstone of American naval power since the Ford administration.
The Nimitz is serving as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 11 (CSG 11), conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area in the Indo-Pacific. This strategic deployment demonstrates America’s continued commitment to maintaining a strong naval presence in this critical region. After completing this final mission, the carrier will relocate to Norfolk, Virginia, where it will begin the decommissioning process, concluding an extraordinary half-century of service to the nation.
My first duty station USS Nimitz CVN-68. She is scheduled for decommissioning next year.l personally think she has a lot of fight still in her! pic.twitter.com/fHIUqXLZ6O
— Devil Doc HMCS FMF (@SJScherz8404) March 24, 2025
Formidable Strike Group Showcases American Naval Power
Carrier Strike Group 11 represents one of the most powerful mobile military forces in the world. The group includes Destroyer Squadron 9 (DESRON 9), consisting of four Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers: USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Gridley, USS Wayne E. Meyer, and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee. These advanced destroyers provide the strike group with formidable defensive capabilities and additional offensive firepower, protecting the Nimitz while extending its operational reach across vast maritime domains.
“For five decades, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group has upheld the U.S. Navy’s commitment to a forward presence while ensuring maritime security, deterring aggression, and protecting the American way of life,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tim Pietrack.
Complementing this surface fleet is Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17), comprising nine aircraft squadrons. These include F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers for electronic warfare, E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, and C-2A Greyhound logistics aircraft. This diverse air wing provides the strike group with comprehensive capabilities for air superiority, ground attack, anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and logistics support.
USS Nimitz left Bremerton and Seattle this morning on likely its last deployment. After transiting Puget Sound, Nimitz is expected to head toward Hawaii. Slated to be decommissioned April 2026 in Norfolk. pic.twitter.com/7sEygFGYWZ
— Barnett Parker KOMO TV (@BarnettParker) March 21, 2025
A Legacy of Service and Combat
The Nimitz’s impressive service record spans multiple conflicts and crises across five decades. Laid down in 1968, launched in 1972, and commissioned in 1975, the carrier underwent a major refueling and complex overhaul from 1998 to 2001, extending its operational life. Throughout its career, the Nimitz participated in several significant military operations, including Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War, Operation Southern Watch enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq, and Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS.
The Nimitz achieved its 350,000th arrested landing in 2023, a testament to its incredible operational history. Beyond its military achievements, the carrier also gained cultural recognition through its starring role in the 1980 science fiction film “The Final Countdown,” a title that now seems prophetic as the ship embarks on its final deployment. Initially planned to retire in 2025, the Nimitz received a short extension to May 2026, when it will be replaced by the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), a new Gerald R. Ford class carrier expected to be commissioned in 2025.
End of an Era for American Naval Aviation
As the Nimitz prepares to sail into history, its retirement represents more than just the decommissioning of a single vessel; it marks the beginning of the end for the entire Nimitz class of carriers that formed the backbone of American naval power for decades. The Nimitz’s decommissioning will take place at Newport News Shipyard in Virginia, the same facility where it was born over half a century ago, completing a full circle in American naval history.
The transition to the Gerald R. Ford class carriers signals a new chapter in America’s naval dominance. These newer carriers feature advanced technologies, including electromagnetic aircraft launch systems, enhanced automation, and improved power generation capabilities. While the Nimitz sails toward sunset, its legacy of power projection, deterrence, and American naval supremacy will continue through these new vessels, ensuring that America’s aircraft carriers remain the most potent symbol of national military power for decades to come.