Charles de Gaulle vs Nimitz

The Charles de Gaulle and the Nimitz are both Aircraft carrier classes. The Nimitz displaces 100,000 tons — 2.4x the Charles de Gaulle's 42,500 tons. The Charles de Gaulle reaches 27 knots vs 30 knots for the Nimitz. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Charles de Gaulle vs 99,999 for the Nimitz. The Charles de Gaulle carries a crew of 1,350 vs 5,000 for the Nimitz. The Charles de Gaulle was produced in 1 units vs 10 for the Nimitz. Cost per hull is $3,500M for the Charles de Gaulle vs $4,500M for the Nimitz. The Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in 2001, 26 years after the Nimitz (1975).

French aircraft carrier, introduced in 2001, has a displacement of 42,500 tons.
Origin 🇫🇷 France
Category Aircraft carrier
Type Aircraft carrier
Manufacturer DCN
Year introduced 2001
Number built 1 unit
Estimated unit price $3,500 million
United States aircraft carrier, introduced in 1975, propelled by two nuclear reactors.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Aircraft carrier
Type Aircraft carrier
Manufacturer Newport News Shipbuilding Company
Year introduced 1975
Number built 10 units
Estimated unit price $4,500 million
Displacement 42,500 tons
Maximum speed 27.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 261.5 m
Beam 64.4 m
Crew 1,350
Propulsion 2 × Areva K15 pressurised water reactors (PWR), 150 MWt each; 2 × Alstom steam turbines with a total 61 MW (82,000 hp) shaft power; 4 × diesel-electric; 2 × shafts
Armament
  • 4 × 8 cell A-43 Sylver launchers carrying MBDA Aster 15 missiles
  • 2 × 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying Mistral missiles
  • 8 × Giat 20F2 20 mm cannons
  • 3 × Nexter Narwhal 20mm autocannons
Displacement 100,000 tons
Maximum speed 30.0 knots
Range Unlimited
Length 332.8 m
Beam 76.8 m
Crew 5,000
Propulsion 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 260,000 shp (190 MW)
Armament
  • 2–3 × Mk 29 Guided Missile Launching Systems (8 × RIM-162 ESSM or RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles each)
  • 3–4 × Phalanx CIWS
  • 2 × Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching Systems (21 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles each)
  • Mk 38 25 mm Machine Gun Systems

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class has greater displacement at 100,000 tons compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 42,500 tons.
Which is faster, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class is faster with a maximum speed of 30 knots compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 27 knots.
Which has longer range, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Nimitz-class?
Both the Charles de Gaulle-class and Nimitz-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class is longer at 332.8 meters compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 261.5 meters.
How many crew members do the Charles de Gaulle-class and Nimitz-class have?
The Nimitz-class has a larger crew complement of 5,000 compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 1,350 crew members.
Which is more expensive, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class is more expensive at approximately $4.5 billion per unit compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class at $3.5 billion.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class has been built in greater numbers with 10 vessels compared to 1 vessels of the Charles de Gaulle-class.