Changes

During ''Nimitz''’ third cruise to the Mediterranean beginning on Sept. 10, 1979, she was dispatched to strengthen the U.S. Naval forces in the [[Indian Ocean]] area as tensions heightened over Iran’s taking of 52 U.S. hostages.  Four months later, Operation ''Evening Light'' was launched from ''Nimitz'' in an attempt to rescue the hostages.  The rescue was aborted in the Iranian desert when the number of operational helicopters fell below the minimum needed to complete the rescue.  ''Nimitz''’ homecoming on May 26, 1980 was, at the time, the largest given to any carrier battle group returning to the United States since the end of World War II.

During ''Nimitz''’ third cruise to the Mediterranean beginning on Sept. 10, 1979, she was dispatched to strengthen the U.S. Naval forces in the [[Indian Ocean]] area as tensions heightened over Iran’s taking of 52 U.S. hostages.  Four months later, Operation ''Evening Light'' was launched from ''Nimitz'' in an attempt to rescue the hostages.  The rescue was aborted in the Iranian desert when the number of operational helicopters fell below the minimum needed to complete the rescue.  ''Nimitz''’ homecoming on May 26, 1980 was, at the time, the largest given to any carrier battle group returning to the United States since the end of World War II.

On August 18-19, 1981, during her fourth deployment, ''Nimitz'' and USS ''Forrestal'' (CV 59) conducted an open ocean missile exercise in the [[Gulf of Sidra]] near what [[Libya]]n leader Khadafi called the “Line of Death.” On the morning of August 19, two ''Nimitz'' [[F-14 Tomcat]]s from VF-41, were fired upon by Libyan pilots.  ''Nimitz'' pilots returned fire and shot both Libyan aircraft from the sky.  It was the US Navy's first aerial combat since the [[Vietnam War]].  Newspapers across the country rallied around the incident against terrorist-backing Libya with front page headlines reading: “U.S. 2 - Libya 0.”

On August 18–19, 1981, during her fourth deployment, ''Nimitz'' and USS ''Forrestal'' (CV 59) conducted an open ocean missile exercise in the [[Gulf of Sidra]] near what [[Libya]]n leader Khadafi called the “Line of Death.” On the morning of August 19, two ''Nimitz'' [[F-14 Tomcat]]s from VF-41, were fired upon by Libyan pilots.  ''Nimitz'' pilots returned fire and shot both Libyan aircraft from the sky.  It was the US Navy's first aerial combat since the [[Vietnam War]].  Newspapers across the country rallied around the incident against terrorist-backing Libya with front page headlines reading: “U.S. 2 - Libya 0.”

''Nimitz'' departed the Mediterranean on May 21, 1987, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, rounded the rough waters of Cape Horn, South America, and sailed for the first time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean enroute to her new home port of Bremerton, WA., arriving there on July 2,1987.  In September 1988, during her initial Western Pacific deployment, the ship operated off the [[South Korea]]n coast to provide security for the Olympic Games in [[Seoul]].  On October 29, 1988, ''Nimitz'' began operating in the North Arabian Sea where she participated in Operation ''Earnest Will''.  ''Nimitz'' returned home on March 2, 1989.  Following an extensive overhaul period, ''Nimitz'' departed Bremerton on February 25, 1991, for the Western Pacific and eventually the [[Arabian Gulf]], relieving USS ''Ranger'', during [[Gulf War|Operation ''Desert Storm'']] and returned home on August 24, 1991.  ''Nimitz'' again deployed on February 1, 1993 to the Arabian Gulf, relieving USS ''Kitty Hawk'' (CV 63) as part of Operation ''Southern Watch''.

''Nimitz'' departed the Mediterranean on May 21, 1987, crossed the Atlantic Ocean, rounded the rough waters of Cape Horn, South America, and sailed for the first time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean enroute to her new home port of Bremerton, WA., arriving there on July 2, 1987.  In September 1988, during her initial Western Pacific deployment, the ship operated off the [[South Korea]]n coast to provide security for the Olympic Games in [[Seoul]].  On October 29, 1988, ''Nimitz'' began operating in the North Arabian Sea where she participated in Operation ''Earnest Will''.  ''Nimitz'' returned home on March 2, 1989.  Following an extensive overhaul period, ''Nimitz'' departed Bremerton on February 25, 1991, for the Western Pacific and eventually the [[Arabian Gulf]], relieving USS ''Ranger'', during [[Gulf War|Operation ''Desert Storm'']] and returned home on August 24, 1991.  ''Nimitz'' again deployed on February 1, 1993 to the Arabian Gulf, relieving USS ''Kitty Hawk'' (CV 63) as part of Operation ''Southern Watch''.

On September 1, 1997, ''Nimitz'' set out on an around-the-world cruise that would allow the carrier to return to her East Coast roots and begin a multi-year overhaul at Newport News Ship- building and Drydock Company. During the around-the-world deployment, ''Nimitz'' was ordered into the Arabian Gulf to support Operation ''Southern Watch'' and various United Nations initiatives; answering each challenge.  At times the ''Nimitz'' Battle Group was the only force available in the region to enforce U.N. sanctions as lraq launched a campaign of defiance.  

On September 1, 1997, ''Nimitz'' set out on an around-the-world cruise that would allow the carrier to return to her East Coast roots and begin a multi-year overhaul at Newport News Ship- building and Drydock Company. During the around-the-world deployment, ''Nimitz'' was ordered into the Arabian Gulf to support Operation ''Southern Watch'' and various United Nations initiatives; answering each challenge.  At times the ''Nimitz'' Battle Group was the only force available in the region to enforce U.N. sanctions as lraq launched a campaign of defiance.  

==Flight deck crash in 1981==

==Flight deck crash in 1981==

On May 25, 1981, during work ups off the eastern Florida coast an EA-6B Prowler crashed on the flight deck, starboard side. A moderate breeze touched the night, and the ship steered 160º at five knots, reaching 30º29’3”N, 080º22’0”W, during the second dog watch on Tuesday the 26th. A particularly dark night with thin clouds above, no visible horizon, heavy haze at lower altitude and thunderstorms moving toward Nimitz produced problems for aircrew in the landing cycle. Suddenly, the landing signal officer shouted, “Power! Power!” as the aircraft dropped too low while landing at 2351. The Prowler hit the ship and its impact sheared off the top of the aircraft; it then slammed into three Corsair IIs spotted forward and then hurtled into a nearby Tomcat, pushing it into two adjacent F-14As. The EA-6B exploded near aircraft loaded with live ordnance, killing the crew and sending a “fireball” rolling across the flight deck and cooking off 20 mm ammunition, which spewed fragments into the men on deck. Sailors bravely plied hoses onto the inferno as CAPT Batzler ordered left 30º rudder and brought the ship about 90º to come out of the wind, forcing smoke away from the hose teams. A secondary explosion erupted at 0021 near catapult No. 2, probably caused by an [[AIM-7 Sparrow]] air-to-air missile. The fire blazed into the mid watch and at one point caused the ship to lose steerageway, though her crew regained control of ''Nimitz'', battling the flames until 0219. The fire fouled the flight deck and forced about a dozen aircraft aloft to emergency divert ashore to Charleston, S.C., before they ran out of fuel. Destroyer USS ''Moosbrugger'' (DD-980) manned her pilot rescue detail, and her helo joined two from ''Nimitz'' to search throughout the night for survivors, although they only recovered some aircraft wreckage. ''Moosbrugger'' also refueled one of the carrier’s helos during the ordeal, and all three helo aircrew “performed superbly,” including at least one that landed on ''Nimitz''’s fantail at the edge of the wind envelope during the height of the fire, a dangerous maneuver which observers said could not be done under the circumstances–until sailors persevered to aid their shipmates. ''Nimitz'' passed through several rainstorms through the nightmare, however, the merits of avoiding increased wind over the deck offset difficulties imposed by the rain and the captain chose to keep way to reduce wind interference. Initial reports, which proved to be erroneous, indicated that some men were blown over the side. In addition to the three marines on board the Prowler, 11 sailors had died and 48 were injured; 21 of the most critical were evacuated to Naval Air Station Jacksonville.  Four of the most severely burned men went on to the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center at San Antonio, Texas. The fire destroyed three [[F-14 Tomcat|Tomcats]] as well as the Prowler, and damaged two Tomcats, nine Corsair IIs, one [[A-6 Intruder|Intruder]], three Vikings and one Sea King. The Navy determined that a combination of “environmental, mechanical and human factors” caused the crash of the Prowler, and recommended a zealous anti drug program that became known as “zero tolerance.” ''Nimitz'' returned to Pier 12 at Norfolk during the afternoon watch on the 28th to repair damaged catapults, getting underway for additional training two days later. . <ref>[http://navysite.de/cvn/cvn68.html USS Nimitz]</ref>

On May 25, 1981, during work ups off the eastern Florida coast an EA-6B Prowler crashed on the flight deck, starboard side. A moderate breeze touched the night, and the ship steered 160º at five knots, reaching 30º29’3”N, 080º22’0”W, during the second dog watch on Tuesday the 26th. A particularly dark night with thin clouds above, no visible horizon, heavy haze at lower altitude and thunderstorms moving toward Nimitz produced problems for aircrew in the landing cycle. Suddenly, the landing signal officer shouted, “Power! Power!” as the aircraft dropped too low while landing at 2351. The Prowler hit the ship and its impact sheared off the top of the aircraft; it then slammed into three Corsair IIs spotted forward and then hurtled into a nearby Tomcat, pushing it into two adjacent F-14As. The EA-6B exploded near aircraft loaded with live ordnance, killing the crew and sending a “fireball” rolling across the flight deck and cooking off 20&nbsp;mm ammunition, which spewed fragments into the men on deck. Sailors bravely plied hoses onto the inferno as CAPT Batzler ordered left 30º rudder and brought the ship about 90º to come out of the wind, forcing smoke away from the hose teams. A secondary explosion erupted at 0021 near catapult No. 2, probably caused by an [[AIM-7 Sparrow]] air-to-air missile. The fire blazed into the mid watch and at one point caused the ship to lose steerageway, though her crew regained control of ''Nimitz'', battling the flames until 0219. The fire fouled the flight deck and forced about a dozen aircraft aloft to emergency divert ashore to Charleston, S.C., before they ran out of fuel. Destroyer USS ''Moosbrugger'' (DD-980) manned her pilot rescue detail, and her helo joined two from ''Nimitz'' to search throughout the night for survivors, although they only recovered some aircraft wreckage. ''Moosbrugger'' also refueled one of the carrier’s helos during the ordeal, and all three helo aircrew “performed superbly,” including at least one that landed on ''Nimitz''’s fantail at the edge of the wind envelope during the height of the fire, a dangerous maneuver which observers said could not be done under the circumstances–until sailors persevered to aid their shipmates. ''Nimitz'' passed through several rainstorms through the nightmare, however, the merits of avoiding increased wind over the deck offset difficulties imposed by the rain and the captain chose to keep way to reduce wind interference. Initial reports, which proved to be erroneous, indicated that some men were blown over the side. In addition to the three marines on board the Prowler, 11 sailors had died and 48 were injured; 21 of the most critical were evacuated to Naval Air Station Jacksonville.  Four of the most severely burned men went on to the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center at San Antonio, Texas. The fire destroyed three [[F-14 Tomcat|Tomcats]] as well as the Prowler, and damaged two Tomcats, nine Corsair IIs, one [[A-6 Intruder|Intruder]], three Vikings and one Sea King. The Navy determined that a combination of “environmental, mechanical and human factors” caused the crash of the Prowler, and recommended a zealous anti drug program that became known as “zero tolerance.” ''Nimitz'' returned to Pier 12 at Norfolk during the afternoon watch on the 28th to repair damaged catapults, getting underway for additional training two days later. .<ref>[http://navysite.de/cvn/cvn68.html USS Nimitz]</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==