Nimitz vs Queen Elizabeth

The Nimitz and the Queen Elizabeth are both Aircraft carrier classes. Displacement is 100,000 tons for the Nimitz vs 70,600 tons for the Queen Elizabeth. The Nimitz reaches 30 knots vs 25 knots for the Queen Elizabeth. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Nimitz vs 10,000 for the Queen Elizabeth. The Nimitz carries a crew of 5,000 vs 679 for the Queen Elizabeth. The Nimitz was produced in 10 units vs 2 for the Queen Elizabeth. Cost per hull is $4,500M for the Nimitz vs $9,700M for the Queen Elizabeth. The Nimitz was commissioned in 1975, 42 years before the Queen Elizabeth (2017).

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
British aircraft carrier, introduced in 2017, displaces 80,600 tons and has a crew of 679.
Origin 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Category Aircraft carrier
Type Aircraft carrier
Manufacturer Aircraft Carrier Alliance
Year introduced 2017
Number built 2 units
Estimated unit price $9,700 million
Displacement 100,000 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 30.0 knots â—‰
Range Unlimited â—‰
Length 332.8 m â—‰
Beam 76.8 m â—‰
Crew 5,000 â—‰
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
Displacement 70,600 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 25.0 knots â—‰
Range 10,000 nm at 15 knots â—‰
Length 284.0 m â—‰
Beam 73.0 m â—‰
Crew 679 â—‰
Propulsion Integrated electric propulsion: 2 × Rolls-Royce Marine Trent MT30 36 MW gas turbine engines, 2 × Wärtsilä 16V38 and 2 x 12V38 marine diesel engines (40 MW), 4 × GE Power Conversion 20 MW Advanced Induction Motors
Armament
  • 3 × Phalanx CIWS
  • 4 × 30-mm DS30M Mk2 guns
  • 6 × 7.62 mm Miniguns
  • 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) Browning heavy machine guns

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Nimitz-class or Queen Elizabeth-class?
The Nimitz-class has greater displacement at 100,000 tons compared to the Queen Elizabeth-class's 70,600 tons.
Which is faster, the Nimitz-class or Queen Elizabeth-class?
The Nimitz-class is faster with a maximum speed of 30 knots compared to the Queen Elizabeth-class's 25 knots.
Which has longer range, the Nimitz-class or Queen Elizabeth-class?
The Nimitz-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Queen Elizabeth-class has a range of 10,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Nimitz-class or Queen Elizabeth-class?
The Nimitz-class is longer at 332.8 meters compared to the Queen Elizabeth-class's 284.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Nimitz-class and Queen Elizabeth-class have?
The Nimitz-class has a larger crew complement of 5,000 compared to the Queen Elizabeth-class's 679 crew members.
Which is more expensive, the Nimitz-class or Queen Elizabeth-class?
The Queen Elizabeth-class is more expensive at approximately $9.7 billion per unit compared to the Nimitz-class at $4.5 billion.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Nimitz-class or Queen Elizabeth-class?
The Nimitz-class has been built in greater numbers with 10 vessels compared to 2 vessels of the Queen Elizabeth-class.