What are the structural features of the Nimitz class carriers?

The Nimitz class ships, like the previous carriers, by the requirements of their own development, chose a fat type of ship that is not favorable to resistance. Nor were they of a high standard in terms of internal habitability. Weight distribution was an issue that carrier designers struggled with.

Supercarriers from HMS Forrestal onwards have increased in displacement, but the draught has changed very little, increasing in length and width. This change was due to the limitations of harbor and dock depth conditions, and also to the acquisition of the longest possible deck length and width favorable to flight operations, i.e., the expansion of the flight deck area.

The hull construction was also consistent with that of the aforementioned carriers. Below the hangar deck is watertight structure, *** divided into 8 decks (including double bottom). Its type depth is 19.51 meters. Both sides from the bottom to the hangar deck are using the old mine-protected compartment structure, with four longitudinal bulkheads between the inner and outer hulls.

This type of protection proved to be effective in World War II, but now it has been developed to extend above the waterline to form a double-layer defense structure on both sides of the hangar. Along the length of the ship every 12 ~ 13 meters will be set up a watertight cross-section of the next door, *** 23, and there are 10 fireproof next door. Thus forming more than 2,000 watertight compartments, which is more than 2,000 watertight compartments to ensure the ship's unsinkability. In these compartments using empty, solid measures to enhance the ship's resistance to damage. In World War II, these compartments were filled with fresh water and fuel oil.

Nowadays, since JP-5 is a relatively safe fuel due to its mild properties, aviation fuel tanks are also provided in the wing compartments of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, thus greatly increasing the capacity of aviation fuel loading. The multi-layer setup of empty and solid compartments and X-shaped energy-absorbing support structures on both sides, as well as high-strength structural steel of HY-80 or higher, form the carrier's sturdy passive defense system.

Deck

The height of the flight deck is 19.11 meters from the water surface and 30.63 meters from the baseline. The height from the baseline to the masthead is 74.37 meters. ***There are 3,360 cabins. From the "Forrestal" class after the carrier are used closed hangars, flight deck for the strong deck, to participate in the ship's total longitudinal strength. In order to ensure that the requirements of high-performance aircraft landing, but also to solve the hull lengthening of the longitudinal strength of the hull girder problem.

In the hull, power plant, ammunition depot and other important compartments are arranged in an armored box, in order to prevent damage to endanger the life of the ship. The hangar deck to the flight deck accounts for 4 decks high, which is 11.13 m. The hangar accounts for 3 decks high, and the length accounts for 66% of the waterline length. The hangar is surrounded by aviation workshops. On top of the hangar was the pod deck (called the anti-aircraft gun deck by the Japanese).

The vast space between the flight deck and the pod deck was the office area of the aviation wing. The superstructure concentrated on the starboard side of the flight deck amidships was called the "island". The Commander's Bridge, Navigation Bridge and Flight Bridge are arranged here to command the entire ship's flight operations and the fleet. In addition, many radar and other electronic antennas are located on the island, making it an important centerpiece of the ship.

Armor

The Battle of Mare Island had a great impact on the development of the U.S. aircraft carriers. Because of the strengthening of the defense, so the displacement increased again and again, now exceeding 100,000 tons mark. The flight deck was further strengthened with additional firefighting equipment and new breathing apparatus. The "Lincoln" and "Washington" in the increase of flight deck armor at the same time, in the bridge and other parts of the additional defensive armor.

At present, in the "Roosevelt" after the ship, in the ammunition depot on the side of the additional 63.5 mm thick Kevlar armor plate, in the ammunition depot and the top of the nacelle also added the type of armor plate, forming a box-shaped defensive structure. This type of shrapnel armor was added to the bridge of the carriers after the USS Washington, and after the CVN 74, it was constructed of high-strength low-alloy steel HSLA-100. This steel makes the structure lighter for shrapnel defense.

Anchor rudders

The class of carriers featured two anchors, each weighing 30 tons. The anchor chain weighs 163.3 kg per loop. 4 5-bladed propellers, 6.40 meters in diameter, weigh 30028.32 kg each. *** There are 2 rudders, each weighing 65.5 tons. The air-conditioning unit has enough capacity for more than 800 families. Fresh water production is 1514m3 (400,000 gallons) per day.