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Enterprise vs Nimitz

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Specifications
Enterprise Nimitz
Origin 🇺🇸 United States 🇺🇸 United States
Category Aircraft carrier Aircraft carrier
Type Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Aircraft carrier
Manufacturer Newport News Shipbuilding Newport News Shipbuilding Company
Year introduced 1961 1975
Number built 1 unit 10 units
Estimated unit price $451 million $4,500 million
Displacement 94,781 tons 100,000 tons
Maximum speed 33.0 knots 30.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 342.0 m 332.8 m
Beam 78.4 m 76.8 m
Crew 5,828 5,000
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Enterprise Nimitz
Armament
  • 3 × NATO Sea Sparrow launchers (24 missiles)
  • 3 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts
  • 2 × RAM launchers (22 missiles)
  • 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
Propulsion 8 × Westinghouse A2W nuclear reactors, 4 x Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 280,000 shp (210 MW) 2 × Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 × steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 260,000 shp (190 MW)

Overview

The Enterprise and the Nimitz are both Aircraft carrier classes.

Displacement is 94,781 tons for the Enterprise vs 100,000 tons for the Nimitz. The Enterprise reaches 33 knots vs 30 knots for the Nimitz. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Enterprise vs 99,999 for the Nimitz. The Enterprise carries a crew of 5,828 vs 5,000 for the Nimitz.

The Enterprise was produced in 1 units vs 10 for the Nimitz. Cost per hull is $451M for the Enterprise vs $4,500M for the Nimitz. The Enterprise was commissioned in 1961, 14 years before the Nimitz (1975).

Related Comparisons
Nimitz vs Gerald R. Ford Nimitz vs Admiral Kuznetsov Enterprise vs Forrestal Enterprise vs Kiev Enterprise vs Kitty Hawk Enterprise vs Invincible

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Enterprise-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class has greater displacement at 100,000 tons compared to the Enterprise-class's 94,781 tons.
Which is faster, the Enterprise-class or Nimitz-class?
The Enterprise-class is faster with a maximum speed of 33 knots compared to the Nimitz-class's 30 knots.
Which has longer range, the Enterprise-class or Nimitz-class?
Both the Enterprise-class and Nimitz-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Enterprise-class or Nimitz-class?
The Enterprise-class is longer at 342.0 meters compared to the Nimitz-class's 332.8 meters.
How many crew members do the Enterprise-class and Nimitz-class have?
The Enterprise-class has a larger crew complement of 5,828 compared to the Nimitz-class's 5,000 crew members.
Which is more expensive, the Enterprise-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class is more expensive at approximately $4.5 billion per unit compared to the Enterprise-class at $451 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Enterprise-class or Nimitz-class?
The Nimitz-class has been built in greater numbers with 10 vessels compared to 1 vessels of the Enterprise-class.