US Navy sends its oldest carrier to Indo-Pacific for last deployment

• The USS Nimitz, the U.S. Navy’s oldest and longest-serving aircraft carrier, started its final deployment, departing from Naval Base Kitsap on March 21. It is now headed for the Indo-Pacific after picking up Carrier Air Wing 17 in San Diego.
• Over its 50-year service, the Nimitz played a key role in major military operations, including Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and was the first carrier to qualify the F-35C fighter for operations.
• Although scheduled for decommissioning in 2026, recent maintenance and upgrades could lead to efforts to keep the carrier in service longer, which could increase the Navy’s fleet to 12 carriers.

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The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is headed for the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility. This is likely the last deployment for the U.S. Navy’s oldest and longest-serving carrier.

The Nimitz began its final deployment on March 21 when it left its home port at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington State. From there, it traveled to San Diego to pick up Carrier Air Wing 17 and meet up with its escorts. Now, the carrier and its strike group are steaming toward the western Pacific.

When did the Nimitz start its service?

The 1,092-foot-long, 100,000-ton carrier was commissioned in 1975. The first in the Nimitz class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the ship was named after World War II Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who led the U.S. Navy’s island-hopping campaign through the Pacific against Japan.

In a release about the deployment, the U.S. Navy stated that for fifty years, the USS Nimitz has stood as proof of America’s commitment to maintaining a forward presence around the world. The ship has played a key role in ensuring maritime security, deterring aggression, and protecting the American way of life.

Decades of Missions and Milestones

After five decades of service, the Nimitz and its crews have seen a lot. The carrier has served in oceans all over the world, participated in dozens of military operations, and been part of numerous historical events. The Nimitz supported Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, among others. It was also aboard the Nimitz’s flight deck that the U.S. Navy’s F-35C fifth-generation stealth fighter first qualified for carrier operations.

Why is the Nimitz going to the Pacific?

The Nimitz and its strike group will fill the gap left behind by the USS Carl Vinson. The Vinson and its strike group were ordered to the Middle East by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to take part in operations against the Houthis and potentially Iran.

The Future of USS Nimitz

While the Nimitz is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026, the carrier recently underwent maintenance and has received regular upgrades over its service life. There is ongoing lobbying to keep the aircraft carrier in service a little longer.

If that happens, the U.S. Navy would be operating 12 carriers at once. While maintaining such a large fleet is costly, supporters argue that considering the state of the world, keeping another carrier in operation wouldn’t be a bad thing.