Navy moves 51-year-old carrier to Norfolk for final duty

The USS Nimitz docked in Norfolk on July 9, ending a long transit from its previous homeport in Bremerton, Washington. The move marks the end of an era for the ship, which is now the most senior aircraft carrier in U.S. Navy history.

The 51-year-old vessel surpassed the record of the USS Enterprise, which served for 51 years and one day before leaving active duty in 2012. Navy officials expect the Nimitz to remain in service until at least March 2027. The replacement vessel, the USS John F. Kennedy, is scheduled to enter service at that time.

The carrier originally commissioned in Norfolk on May 2, 1975. It spent its first 12 years in the Virginia port before relocating to the West Coast. During its time in Norfolk, the ship served as a staging platform for Operation Eagle Claw, a 1980 mission to rescue U.S. hostages in Iran. It also appeared in the 1980 science fiction film The Final Countdown, starring Kirk Douglas.

After leaving Norfolk in 1987, the Nimitz operated primarily from the Pacific coast. It departed Bremerton on March 7 for the final time, leaving much of its air crew behind. The nuclear-powered ship carries a complement of nearly 6,000 sailors and naval aviators.

Since its July arrival, the Nimitz has hosted a NATO change of command ceremony. It is currently training pilots and maintenance crews from Naval Air Station Oceana. WHRO Military Reporter Steve Walsh boarded the ship on July 9 to document the crew during this final homeport change.