Inside Trump's $4.5bn flagship supercarrier USS Nimitz rushing to flashpoint Middle East armed to the teeth with F-35s
AMERICA is sending the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.
The hulking $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier, nicknamed Old Salt, is the flagship of the deadly Carrier Strike Group 11.
12
12
12
The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing Seventeen and Destroyer Squadron Nine - a potent combination of military hardware that will strike fear into Iran.
The Nimitz left the South China Sea Monday morning heading west towards the Middle East, where it will be stationed.
The move comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran and question marks over whether the West will become embroiled in the conflict.
Donald Trump has warned Iran it would experience the "full force" of the US military if it attacked US interests.
And Sir Keir Starmer has sent more RAF jets to the Middle East, including Typhoons and air-to-air refuelers, as tensions mount.
The USS Nimitz will provide a major boost to US military presence in the region.
And The Sun knows first hand of the true might of this awesome 100,000 ton warship.
I spent two days on board the USS Nimitz during a training exercise.
The massive vessel is 1,092ft long and 252ft wide and consists of 117,000 sq ft.
The flight deck is four and a half acres and boasts four aircraft catapults to propel F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and F-35C stealth strike fighters into the sky.
Iran launches 3rd night of strikes as Netanyahu warns war could lead to 'regime change' in Tehran
Four giant elevators bring the aircraft from the hangar in the guts of the carrier.
I stood just feet away as F-35 Lightning II fighter jets were catapulted from the deck with an ear-splitting blast, before disappearing off the bow of the ship in a haze of steam.
The violent rumble of the jet engines shook my bones to the core.
A Seahawk helicopter circled nearby in case of any accidents.
The F-35C is designed for long-range stealth strike missions and is built explicitly for US Navy carrier operations.
The flight deck of the Nimitz was awash with dedicated crewmen wearing different coloured 'jerseys' whose job is to tow the aircraft into position before the pilots ready the jets for take off.
Green jerseys operate the jet blast deflectors (JBD), aircraft handlers wear yellow jerseys, blue jerseys work in the hanger bay and purple jerseys refuel the aircraft, while red jerseys handle aviation ordinance and crash and salvage.
The whole manic scene - described by those on board as a choreographed ballet - is watched over by white jerseys.
12
12
12
I stood behind a yellow jacket, also known as a shooter, one of several catapult officers responsible for the safe and efficient launch of the ship's aircraft.
She threw a shooting sign to tell the jet to take off.
'Stay behind me,' she screamed as we ducked under the afterburners of a Super Hornet.
'The heat from those engines will take your skin off.'
Beneath deck is a massive floating city where 5,000 US Navy personnel carry out their duties like worker bees in a hive.
Inside the ten floor, 3,000 room hull, life is one slick operation.
There are several cafeterias, gyms, a Starbucks coffee shop and 'luxury' state rooms for 'Distinguished Visitors'.
Since it is nuclear-powered, the Nimitz – call sign NMTZ - can operate for up to 20 years without refuelling.
Capable of reaching 30 knots (35mph) the ship is one of ten nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the US Fleet.
I joined the ship off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, for a routine five-day training mission which saw the F-35C put through its paces.
The ship raised its two 60,000lb anchors and set sail from Naval Air Station North Island, in Coronado, San Diego.
12
Walking around the vast warship you're struck by the sheer number of young faces walking the narrow corridors and stairways - the backbone of the US Navy.
The average age of sailors on board is 25 and often you'll find a teenager fresh out of high school steering the warship out of port.
During my time onboard I was also taken up to the bridge, the heart of the ship's operation, where the Captain sat on a raised chair surrounded by his team of navigators, officers and the rest of the watch team charged with keeping the ship away from hazards.
The mission of many of the Nimitz sailors will be to take off and land dozens of fighter jets, helicopters and planes, sometimes within less than 60 seconds of each other.
The crew often work 12-hour shifts, six days a week.
The busy ship goes through around 500 cans of energy drink Monster a day purchased from the ship's store.
The Nimitz entered service in 1975 but has undergone dozens of refurbishments and upgrades since.
It is the lead ship of her class, one of the largest warships in the world, second only to the USS Gerald R Ford.
The Nimitz's homeport is Naval Base Kitsap in Washington and the vessel is named for legendary fleet admiral Chester W. Nimitz (1885–1966), who helped the US defeat the Japanese Navy in World War II.
Its deployment to the Middle East will likely be its last mission as it marks 50 years of service.
The ageing warship is set to be replaced by the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) later this year.
12
12
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
41 minutes ago
- Times
What war in the Middle East means for your money
The conflict between Israel and Iran is the latest geopolitical shock set to hamper the outlook for the UK economy — and, ultimately, your bank balance. Since the attacks began on June 12, the price of oil has risen to a six-month high. Hopes for interest rate cuts have been dashed, fears of rising inflation have been amplified, and any respite from stock market turmoil appears to have been short-lived. • Read more money advice and tips on investing from our experts This week the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said: 'I'm always concerned about the effect of international issues on people back at home. You saw with Ukraine the direct impact it had on energy bills. Equally, with this conflict, you can see the effect it's having on the economy, particularly on the price of energy.' From petrol prices to pension pots, here's what you need to know: Iran is the third-largest oil producer among the 12 members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), and there are worries about how a wider regional war could affect the transport of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for about 25 per cent of seaborne crude oil transportation, according to the consultancy Capital Economics. The price of a barrel of Brent crude hit a six-month high of about $78 after Israeli attacks on Iran began, up from about $65 at the start of this month. That is bound to have a knock-on effect on motorists, said David Oxley from Capital Economics: 'A rough rule of thumb is that a $10 rise in the oil price will add about 7p to the price at the pump.' It normally takes about two weeks for oil prices to feed into pump prices, Oxley said. Motorists have, however, had some recent respite from the cost of living crisis as petrol and diesel prices hit their lowest in almost four years. Petrol cost an average of 132p a litre last month, the lowest since July 2021, while diesel was at 138p, the lowest since September 2021, according to the motoring organisation the RAC. While prices are likely to rise, they are not expected to reach the high of March 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused the oil price to reach $127 per barrel. The price in sterling peaked in July of that year at more than £100 with pump prices hitting 192p per litre for petrol and 199p per litre for diesel. More than a million homeowners whose fixed deals come to an end this year may have their hopes of further interest rate cuts dashed. The lowest two-year fix was 3.72 per cent last month, but rates are starting to tick up again, according to the property portal Rightmove. The lowest two-year deal is now 3.82 per cent from Lloyds Bank for those with a Club Lloyds account. The lowest five-year fixed rate has gone from 3.78 per cent to 3.88 per cent, also from Lloyds. Lenders had been cutting mortgage rates to compete for business, but changed tack after inflation went from 2.6 per cent for the year to March to 3.5 per cent in April. This makes cuts to the Bank of England base rate less likely — the Bank generally keeps the rate high when inflation is above its target of 2 per cent. The Consumer Prices Index inflation figure for the year to May, released this week, was 3.4 per cent. Uncertainty around President Trump's trade tariffs and conflict in the Middle East has also dampened hopes of further base rate cuts. The Bank held rates at 4.25 per cent this week, which, although a lot higher than the sub 2 per cent rates many mortgage holders will have fixed at three or five years ago, is down from the peak of 5.25 per cent in August last year. Fixed mortgage rates are based on swap rates (the rates at which banks lend to each other, which are in turn based on forecasts of where Bank rate is expected to be in the future), which have edged up over the past week or so, suggesting that mortgage rates could follow. Homeowners who want certainty can lock in a new deal up to six months before theirs ends yet still swap if a cheaper deal comes along. Rising oil prices could also cause other expenses to creep up, particularly if the Iran conflict continues or escalates. Lotanna Emediegwu, an economics lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, said that prolonged conflict could drive up energy bills. The price cap that limits how much suppliers can charge customers on standard variable tariffs will work out at an average bill of £1,720 a year for gas and electricity from July 1 (down 7 per cent from today's cap). At the moment analysts expect the cap to go up 2 to 3 per cent in October, but this could change dramatically. He said: 'Until recently, fuel prices had been rising less than other things, so actually mitigating some inflationary pressures. The recent conflict is expected to reverse this trend. 'The financial repercussions extend beyond immediate energy costs into transportation and logistics. Transport expenses are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in fuel prices. This affects everything from airline fares to shipping costs for products, ultimately hitting consumer prices.' Before June 12, when Israel launched strikes on Iran, inflation had been expected to rise to 3.5 per cent by the autumn — now it could go further. A sustained $10 per barrel rise in the oil price typically pushes up annual inflation by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points, according to The Economist, meaning that it could be closer to 3.7 per cent by September. Emediegwu said a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route could add a further 0.5 to 1 percentage points, which could take it close to 5 per cent. So far the stock market has been fairly resilient to the conflict in the Middle East. The UK's FTSE 100 is down about 0.77 per cent since the turmoil started, while the US's S&P 500 is down about 1.06 per cent. If a sustained conflict leads to an increase in the price of oil, stock valuations may fall — this is because higher oil prices lead to higher inflation, which means interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer, which makes it more expensive for companies to borrow money to grow and often curbs investors' risk appetite. Losers are likely to include airline and travel stocks, as well as so-called growth stocks, which include technology and healthcare companies. Many investors will have exposure to the US 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks of Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Tesla, Amazon, Meta and Nvidia. These companies are often valued on their future earnings potential, which means their stock price can be volatile if company results or wider economic conditions point towards a slowdown of earnings. The good news is that Iran and Israel are a very limited part of the global stock market, so direct exposure for most UK investors will be immaterial. However, Michael Field from the research firm Morningstar said that the risk is that wider markets get jittery about the potential for the conflict to escalate further. Investors should avoid making any kneejerk changes to their portfolio. Ultimately, while geopolitical tensions may create short-term turmoil, historically markets have been resilient in the long term. Jacob Falkencrone from the investment bank Saxo said: 'As an investor, your greatest tool is a disciplined approach — staying informed, remaining calm and focusing on your long-term investment goals rather than reacting impulsively to temporary shocks.'
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Clinton donor and lobbyist's chilling threats against Minnesota capitol days after Democrat lawmakers were shot
A Minnesota lobbyist is facing felony charges after he allegedly threatened to shoot people at the Minnesota State Capitol just days after a lawmaker in the state was assassinated and another critically injured. Jonathan Michael Bohn - who has made numerous donations to Democratic causes including Hillary Clinton 's presidential campaign - was arrested on Wednesday after making the threats via text message. The 41-year-old Bohn works as the public affairs director of the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO). He made his first appearance in Carver County District Court on Friday. In court, prosecutors said he had texted someone that he was 'excited to have his gun at the capitol and blow someone's effing face off'. The criminal complaint, seen by KARE11, prosecutors claim he also said that: 'After January 6, I bought a pistol. 'Today I bought 500 bullets. I can't wait to shoot one of you mother******* in the face,' he wrote. Officials said that a search of his home uncovered a firearm and he was placed under arrest. According to the Minnesota House GOP, the text was received by a constituent of Rep. Jim Nash who then reported it to the authorities. The outlet also reported that Bohn cried throughout his first appearance as Judge Eric Braaten set his bond at $1 million and ordered him to not contact the person he had text. Bohn was also ordered to stay at least a half a mile radius away from the Capitol complex. His attorney, John Lesch, said Bohn was engaged in a political argument when he made the comments. Lesch contended that the remarks were inappropriate but didn't mean to convey an actual intent to harm anyone. He told the court that Bohn had been angered by a post that had mocked two of his friends, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman. Hortman was murdered last week alongside her husband Mark, while the same gunman also attempted to kill Hoffman and his wife. Authorities say Trump supporter Vance Boelter, 57, is responsible for the killings, he was arrested late on Sunday night following an extensive manhunt. Boelter was charged with a total of six federal counts - two for stalking, two for murder, and two for shooting and firearms offenses. He already faces state charges, including murder and attempted murder. In a statement, Bohn said: 'I condemn violence in all its forms, and I agree with the calls from public officials and community leaders to turn down the temperature of our political discourse. 'I failed to do that here. I am profoundly sorry that my words have created a distraction during this time of collective mourning. 'This moment demands unity, compassion, and reflection — and I am committed to being part of that healing.' In a bio on the IFO site, it says: 'In the halls of the Capitol, Jonathan is regarded as a well-connected advocate who has worked on a variety of issues leading to legislative victories.' State records say he has been registered as a lobbyist with the firm since 2015, and works in the area of higher education. The IFO is a union that represents thousands of faculty at the seven state universities in Minnesota. He has been placed on leave following the allegations. IFO President Jenna Chernega said in a statement: 'We are monitoring developments closely, cooperating as needed with law enforcement and will continue to keep our members informed. 'As an organization, we remain committed to respectful, values-driven engagement with lawmakers, community partners, and one another – even in difficult moments.' Federal Election Commission data also reveal he has donated Democrat PAC ActBlue numerous times, as well as the Hillary for America campaign.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
US judge blocks slashing of universities' federal funding from National Science Foundation
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday blocked the National Science Foundation from sharply cutting research funding provided to universities in the latest legal setback to efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to slash government support of research at major academic institutions.
