Research for CVN-68

This paper is the first of a two-volume report in which the analysis of the USS Nimitz and Carrier Airwing Nine Surge operations of July 1997 are documented. This paper focuses on three areas: operational issues, aircraft and ship maintenance and supply issues, and personnel issues. The analysis is a combination of descriptive (narrative of what happened), qualitative (documentation of knowledgeable individual's insights), and quantitative (measured data, such as time expended, amount expended, and sorties generated) assessments. Special attention is paid to the generation and support of strike/fighter sorties.