U.S. NAVY PHOTO / 2001 The USS Nimitz is expected to make its way into Pearl Harbor for a brief stay en route to the western Pacific. The aircraft carrier, shown here in 2001 entering Pearl Harbor as its sailors spelled "FREEDOM" on the 4.5-acre flight deck, is one of the world's biggest warships. It dispatched more than 6,500 missions during the Iraq war.

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USS Nimitz to dock
here for R&R

The visit comes as the Pentagon
evaluates Hawaii as home port
for an aircraft carrier

ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ » The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, one of the world's biggest warships, approached Hawaiian waters yesterday as the Pentagon considers whether to base a similar floating airfield in the state.

With dozens of fighter jets on its massive deck, and more than 5,000 sailors and airmen, the Nimitz will glide into Pearl Harbor tomorrow for a brief stay in the islands.

"We'll be in Hawaii for a few days of rest and relaxation," said Capt. Joseph Clarkson, the ship's executive officer, while the vessel conducted exercises about 100 miles south of Oahu.

On the flight deck above, F-18 fighter jets roared through their takeoffs in quick succession, depositing lines of steam in their wake from the heat of their sudden acceleration.

The Nimitz at times shook from the force of the jets taking off at speeds of about 160 mph. The carrier is en route to the western Pacific for a six-month deployment. It left its home port of San Diego on May 7.

The visit comes as the Pentagon considers whether to home-port one of its 12 aircraft carriers in either Hawaii or Guam. Top Navy officials have said they want to move one of the ships, which often play a key role in responding to crises worldwide, from the mainland to aid a rapid response to potential security threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

Though Guam is closer to Asia, Hawaii's established network of roads, schools and utilities may give the state an advantage in the competition to be host.

Hawaii's congressional delegation, led by Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye, has campaigned to bring an aircraft carrier to the state.

Six of the Navy's carriers are based on the East Coast, five are home-ported on the West Coast, and one is assigned to Japan.

The basing of an aircraft carrier in Hawaii, with its thousands of crew and their families, could boost the state's economy. But it might also strain the tight housing supply and school system.

Commissioned in 1975, the Nimitz leads a battle group of 11 ships, including the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, accompanying it to Hawaii. It hosts eight squadrons of fighter jets, spy planes and helicopters, among other aircraft. The ship dispatched more than 6,500 missions during the Iraq war.

Its 4.5-acre flight deck makes the Nimitz and the eight other ships in the same class of vessels the largest warships in the world. All nine Nimitz-class carriers are propelled by nuclear power from their two reactors.