#6: Nimitz-class: Ten Supercarriers That Rule the Oceans
The ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers represent the single greatest concentration of conventional military power in human history. Each one carries over 60 aircraft, displaces approximately 100,000 tons, and can project decisive combat power anywhere on Earth within days. When a Nimitz-class carrier enters a region, the geopolitical calculus changes instantly, presidents have been asking "Where are the carriers?" since the class entered service in 1975.
Powered by two nuclear reactors that can propel the ship at over 30 knots for 20 years without refueling, a Nimitz-class carrier generates enough electricity to power a small city. Her four catapults can launch an aircraft every 20 seconds, and her air wing can strike targets over 500 miles away. The flight deck covers 4.5 acres and manages one of the most dangerous workplaces on Earth, military training for deck crew is among the most intensive in any armed service. From Desert Storm to Afghanistan to maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the Nimitz-class has been the backbone of American defense technology and global naval strategy for half a century.
