1/72 Uss Nimitz, No. 2 Elevator, 2020

Kits-World - 1/72 Uss Nimitz (CVN-68), No. 2 Elevator, 2020. 450mm(W) x 450mm(H) 17inches(W) x 17inches(H).

Named after Chester W. Nimitz, the ship was launched in May 1972 and commissioned in May 1975, originally as CVAN-68 and thereafter CVN-68. Her first deployment was to the Mediterranean in July 1976 and she returned to the United States in February the following year. This was followed by further deployments to the Mediterranean, firstly in December 1977, returning in July 1978. She was then sent back to the same area of operations in September 1979. This trip saw her redeployed to the Indian Ocean during the Iran hostage crisis and in April 1980 she took part in Operation Eagle Claw, a failed attempt to rescue fifty two staff held hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran.

During May to August 1979, she starred in the United Artists movie The Final Countdown starring Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, Katharine Ross and James Farentino. The movie was released in August 1980.

In August 1981, she was involved in what is known as the Gulf of Sidra incident off the coast of Libya, where two F-14 Tomcats from VF-41 Black Aces, engaged and shot down two Libyan Sukhoi Su-22 Fitters, one of which had fired on the F-14's. Following this, the Libyans carried out at least three more mock attacks without further incident.

Nimitz undertook an number of further deployments throughout the 1980's, During 1982 and 1983, she deployed to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean again. In 1985 she was involved in attacks on Beirut and Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport following the hijacking of Twa Flight 847 by two Lebanese terrorists. In December 1986 she deployed again to the Mediterranean followed by a long voyage around Cape Horn and through the Pacific Ocean, eventually to arrive at Bremerton, Washington in July 1987 which would be her home port. She provided security for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and then took part in Operation Earnest Will in the North Arabian Sea where she provided protection for Kuwaiti oil tankers.

The 1990's were no less busy. In 1991 she deployed to the Persian Gulf to provide relief for the Uss Ranger following Operation Desert Storm, then in 1993 she was active again during Operation Southern Watch. During 1995 and 1996 she served a number of further deployments to the Indian Ocean, again to the Persian Gulf, and also the Taiwan Straits where she undertook observations of Chinese missile tests. In July 1997, she participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 97-2 off the California coast. This was then followed by more deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch which was still ongoing. In 1998 she underwent a three year major refit and update program.

In 2001, Nimitz was then sent to her next home port of Nas North Island where she underwent more upgrades until she was deployed again for participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in 2003, also in 2005 when she was sent to the Arabian Sea, and again in 2007 in further support of Iraqi Freedom. In 2008, she went to the Western Pacific area where she participated in threat response to counter growing threats from Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers. An unusual event occurred in 2004 when she was involved in the tracking of reported UFO's.

During the 2010's, Nimitz undertook more deployments and visits around the globe notably in the Arabian Sea area and also in support of Iraqi Forces fighting Isis in 2017. She was again overhauled in 2018, and was redeployed to the South China Sea along with the Uss Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in support of US troop withdrawals in Somalia.

Nimitz has now been in service for nearly fifty years and is due to be replaced by the Uss John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) by 2022.

The base here shows Nimitz's No. 2 elevator which is located to the forward of the ship on the starboard side. The elevator has been constructed from official measurements and photographs.

Aircraft operated (for the 2000's onwards). Note that this list is not extensive:

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II (VX-23 aircraft on test in 2014)
- Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
- Boeing F/A-18C Hornet
- Boeing EA-18G Growler
- Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
- Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler
- Grumman C-2A Greyhound
- Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk
- Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk