The Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier: An American Symbol of Power These nuclear-powered carriers, which have two reactors and four shafts for propulsion with a top speed of 30+ knots (34.5mph), were the largest warships in the world until the USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of her class of carriers entered service in 2017. Here's What You Need To Remember: The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is unquestionably a symbol of American might and power projection abroad. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing - just ask the many recipients of carrier-based humanitarian assistance programs. At 1,092 feet, the Nimitz-class supercarriers are more than three times the length of a football field, and with a crew of 3,200 sailors and 2,480 airmen, these are essentially floating cities. The lead ship of the class, USS