Editing Nimitz-class aircraft carrier (section)

===Construction===
All ten ''Nimitz''-class carriers were constructed between 1968 and 2006 at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia. The first three units of the class were erected in Dry Dock 11, the other seven ships were constructed in the largest [[dry dock]] in the western hemisphere, Dry Dock 12, now {{convert|2172|ft|m}} long after a recent expansion.{{citation_needed|date=August 2019}}

Beginning with {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|6}}, the aircraft carriers were manufactured with modular construction. This means that whole sections could be welded together with plumbing and electrical equipment already fitted, improving efficiency. The modules were lifted into the dry dock using [[gantry cranes]] and welded. In the case of the bow sections, these can weigh over {{convert|1500000|lb|tonne}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/products/geraldrfordclass/construction/index.html |title=CVN 78 Construction & Facilities |publisher=Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107050658/http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/products/geraldrfordclass/construction/index.html |archive-date=7 January 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/bush/docs/Facts_about_CVN_77.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5qB8plOHX?url=http://www.sb.northropgrumman.com/bush/docs/Facts_about_CVN_77.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2010 |title=George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Christening |date=7 October 2006 |publisher=[[Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding]] |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This method was originally developed by [[Ingalls Shipbuilding]] and increases the rate of work because much of the fitting out does not have to be carried out within the confines of the already-finished hull.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northropgrumman.com/heritage/index.html |title=Our Heritage: Litton Industries |publisher=Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316174653/http://www.northropgrumman.com/heritage/index.html |archive-date=16 March 2010}}</ref>

The total cost of construction for each ship was around $4.5&nbsp;billion.<ref group="Note">All monetary values are adjusted for inflation to 2000s figures</ref><ref name="CVN 21">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/navycvn21.htm |title=Navy CVN-21 Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress |author=Ronald O'Rourke |year=2005 |publisher=US Department of the Navy |access-date=18 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201055019/http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/navycvn21.htm |archive-date=1 December 2006}}</ref>