Editing Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (section)

===Propulsion===
[[File:USS George Washington (CVN-73) propeller.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Shipyard employees reattaching the bronze propeller of USS ''George Washington'' while in dry dock|One of the four propellers of ''George Washington'']]

All ships of the class are powered by two [[A4W reactor|A4W nuclear reactors]], housed in separate compartments. The reactors produce heat through [[nuclear fission]], which heats water to produce steam. This is then passed through four turbines, which are shared by the two reactors. A [[Transmission (mechanics)|gearbox]] transmits power to four propeller shafts, producing a maximum speed of over {{convert|30|kn|km/h}} and maximum power of {{convert|260000|bhp|MW|lk=in|0}}.<ref name="SE" /> <!-- this part is commented out because it appears to be rumor, I cannot find any article citing such in Google. —Though actual top speeds are generally withheld for security purposes, in June 1999, the USN publicly released these trial speeds: ''Nimitz'': {{convert|31.5|knots}} ''Theodore Roosevelt'': {{convert|31.3knots}} ''Harry S. Truman'': {{convert|30.9|knots}} --> The turbines power the four [[bronze]] propellers, each with a diameter of {{convert|25|ft|m}} and a weight of {{convert|66000|lb|MT}}. Behind these are the two rudders, which are {{convert|29|ft|m}} high and {{convert|22|ft|m}} long, and each weighs {{convert|110000|lb|MT|abbr=off}}.<ref name="USN Info">{{cite web|url=http://www.public.navy.mil/usff/nctamspac/Pages/AboutUs.aspx |title=Information About Us |date=14 October 2009 |publisher=U.S. Navy |access-date=24 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203050328/http://www.public.navy.mil/usff/nctamspac/Pages/AboutUs.aspx |archive-date=3 December 2010}}</ref>

The ''Nimitz''-class ships constructed since {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76|6}} also have [[bulbous bow]]s to improve speed and [[fuel efficiency]] by reducing [[wave-making resistance]].<ref>{{cite book |title=A Methodology for Estimating the Effect of Aircraft Carrier Operational Cycles on the Maintenance Industrial Base: Technical Report |last1=Yardley |first1=Roland |last2=Schank |first2=John |last3=Kallimani |first3=James |year=2007 |publisher=[[RAND Corporation]] |isbn=978-0-8330-4182-1 |page=30}}</ref> As a result of nuclear power, the ships are capable of operating continuously for over 20 years without refueling and are predicted to have a service life of over 50 years.<ref name="USN Info"/>