USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a supercarrier in the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. She is one of the largest warships in the world. She was laid down, launched and commissioned on May 3, 1975 as CVAN-68, but was redesignated CVN 68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on June 30, 1975 as part of the fleet realignment of that year.