Nimitz-class on sea trials?

[t68]

I am not sure what is happing here but I take it might be a NIMITZ class on sea trails ,picture number 24 she’s on a bit of a lean going flat out by the look of it


http://www.slideshare.net/secret/4L6vUZkXqnKk3P

Any help to find out what’s going on would be appreciated

 

[AegisFC]

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/68.htm

Photo of USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in a high-speed turn, believed to have been taken in the mid-1980s.

Not much but I don't think it was sea-trials for post ship yard work, on Nav Source the pic on that site is clearer and you can see the hull paint at the water line is worn down. I'd guess the picture was taken when the ship was going through INSURV (Board of INpection and SURVey), a very tough inspection that happens every 5 years or so.

 

[bd popeye]

That photo is indeed of the Nimitz during sea trials. It was taken in November 1990 after the Nimitz had spent about 1 year in the Puget Sound Naval shipyard in Bremerton WA. I served on the Nimitz with CVW-11 SEAOPDET from January to July 1991 during a WESPAC/IO deployment.

 

[AegisFC]

That photo is indeed of the Nimitz during sea trials. It was taken in November 1990 after the Nimitz had spent about 1 year in the Puget Sound Naval shipyard in Bremerton WA. I served on the Nimitz with CVW-11 SEAOPDET from January to July 1991 during a WESPAC/IO deployment.

That doesn't explain the worn hull paint.

 

[bd popeye]

That doesn't explain the worn hull paint.

I'm just relaying what the shipmates on CVN-68 told me about the high speed run and turns after the yard period. I have a cruise book from CVN-68 and that photo adorns the inside jacket of the '89-'91 cruise book. (those are the dates on the book) I cannot remember if CVN-68 was in drydock during that yard period.

Fantastic photo never the less.

 

[bd popeye]

Gents I did a little research on the photo in question. using my cruise book from CVN-68.

1) Nimitz was in drydock from 19 August 1989 until 3 March 1990.

2) (page 20) The ship was re-fit with a new CIC, The rudders, shafts and propellers were removed and refurbished. The majority of work/living spaces on the ship were refurbished. New electronic equipment was added. The ship was completly repainted. Hull included.

3)(page 28 & 29) The photo in question was taken the week of 11 May 1990. Not in November of '90 as I reported.:redface I'm 55 years old..I don't remember everything. There are several other photos of the Nimitz taken from the stern and STBD side.

4)(page 28) A quote about the turn:

To test the rudders, the ship conducted high-speed rudder checks which caused the NIMITZ to roll up tp 16 degrees.

The photo in the cruise book does not show the worn hull paint. The photo in the inside of the jacket of the cruise book is not in very good resolution. But it is the same photo. On page 24 there are photos of the freshly painted NIMITZ the day it was re-floated, March 3rd, 1990. She looks pristine to me.

One explaination on the paint damage could be the ship was moored against a camel(caisson) and the camel wore down the paint. The NIMITZ did spend two months moored before going to sea after being refloated.

Definition of camel;

Nautical meaning .
a. Also called pontoon. a float for lifting a deeply laden vessel sufficiently to allow it to cross an area of shallow water.
b. a float serving as a fender between a vessel and a pier or the like.
c. caisson

Today is the first time in the last 5 or so years I've looked at the cruise book..I had hair! And it was not grey! My how time flies!

 

[AegisFC]

One explaination on the paint damage could be the ship was moored against a camel(caisson) and the camel wore down the paint. The NIMITZ did spend two months moored before going to sea after being refloated.

Definition of camel;

Thanks for the clarification, and you are right it is a fantastic photo.