USS NIMITZ CVN-68 1980 AIRCRAFT CARRIER & F-14 OPERATIONS & CAPABILITIES "SEA LEGS" 81344

"Sea Legs” is a 1980 film produced by the US Navy in cooperation with Grumman Aerospace Corporation and details aircraft carrier landings. It features extensive footage of the launching and recovery of carrier aircraft, both from the deck and from within the cockpit. A carrier landing causes incredible tension and stress among pilots, the narrator explains at mark 00:45, as numerous landings are shown. Night landings are even more stressful, we’re told, as jets touchdown in the darkness. At mark 03:00 the film describes an aircraft carrier as a city at sea - one that must accommodate a variety of aircraft. Mark 04:00 shows the supercarrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), and references to how the F-4 Phantom II is being replaced by the F-14 Tomcat. It’s explained at mark 06:15 how pilots need to carrier additional fuel during a mission in order to safely return to a carrier deck, since the vessel may be 50 miles away from the initial launch site. The extra fuel is also needed “to give pilots a few extra shots at the deck, if need be.” Describing a carrier landing as little more than a “controlled crash” at mark 07:00, the film continues to show additional landings as the narrator continues explaining what goes into a successful attempt. There are super-slow-motion footage of landings starting at mark 07:30 as additional details are provided. Mark 09:39 takes us inside a Grumman plant to see the rigorous testing of aircraft before deployment to the aircraft carrier and a look at how the jets are stored and maintained. As important as the carrier and the aircraft are, the narrator explains at mark 13:50 that it’s the pilot who is the true hero of the story. “Navy tail hook pilots think they’re better than anyone else; and who’s to say they’re not,” the narrator confesses.
The A-7 Corsair II is also seen in the film.
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a supercarrier of the United States Navy, and the lead ship of her class. One of the largest warships in the world, she was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN-68 but was redesignated CVN 68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on 30 June 1975 as part of the fleet realignment.
The ship was named for World War II Pacific fleet commander Chester W. Nimitz, who was the Navy’s third fleet admiral. Nimitz had her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk until 1987, when she was relocated to Naval Station Bremerton in Washington State (now part of Naval Base Kitsap). Following her Refueling and Complex Overhaul in 2001, her homeport was changed to NAS North Island in San Diego, California. The home port of Nimitz was again moved to Naval Station Everett in 2012.
In January 2015 Nimitz changed homeport from Everett back to Naval Base Kitsap. With the inactivation of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in 2012, Nimitz is now the oldest American carrier in active service.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@1_TRICK_Pony]

Just as this film started, the sounds of a jet was very, VERY loud. I pressed volume mute on my remote, turns out military jets were flying over my house 😁

[@65gtotrips]

Peter Thomas is one of THE BEST narrator’s ever…You’ve heard him on Forensic Files !

[@jaminova_1969]

It is difficult to imagine that this ship is due for retirement in a couple of years. I'm glad I was lucky enough to have gotten to work on her at some point in this vessels career! Go Navy!

[@truckerray7533]

Been there, done that aboard the USS Nimitz CVN-68 & the USS Constillation CV-64 & it take extreme balls of steel & nerves as hard as diamonds to work the deck during carrier flight ops day & night, & no time to choke up or be afraid for any reason. It was a freakin blasts!!! This film brought back some good memories as well as some bad ones. . . .R.I.P. Shipmates--- SALUTE!!!

[@davidefland1985]

Mh last deployment in the Navy was on the Constellation

[@truckerray7533]

@@davidefland1985 Thankya for your service "shipmate!" When we're ya in. . . .what was your rate???

[@davidefland1985]

@@truckerray7533 1978-98. Rate AMH-1

[@robr9905]

Saw this in 1981 at NAS Pensacola ( class 36-81, GySgt Clark ). Wow so many years ago.

[@marctronixx]

The great Peter Thomas on narration! Sounds just like he did on Paul Hardcastle's song entitled "19".

[@jameshughes9351]

I was on the Nimitz 77 to 78 and then again in 1980 during the Iranian crisis

[@toddadams57]

1980 GONZO station aboard Coral Sea.

[@timanderson5543]

Ike same time,our helos were used for hostage rescue attempt.

[@dutch9664]

1974 I was one of the newest crew of USS Nimitz best fighting sailors ever trained.

[@davidefland1985]

I was ship’s company on the Nimitz lM2 division Hydraulic shop 1986-89. We deployed to change homeports from Norfolk to Bremerton Washington. That was airwing 8’s last deployment with the Nimitz VF-84 and VF-41. Nimitz is now the oldest operating carrier in the Navy commissioned in 1975.

[@justinegorski2703]

My ex husband was in IM-4 from 81 to 84.

[@iroezekiela7295]

Tomcat is a BEAST

[@colintraveller]

Seen it before ...classic documentry .. . changed days now on carriers ...

[@gregparrott]

Nice video of the carrier, the aircraft and the environment. Grumman's contribution to the film is especially apparent starting at 9:38

[@hiigara2085]

Okay that was such a cool in depth but succinct documentary. For CATOBAR operation it's perfect to explain it all

[@fordrugs]

Didn't know anything new from the film and yet watched it from the start to the end and enjoyed it. Great footage, nice and pertinent narration. Also Tomcats. Thanks.

[@amishmike1]

What does anyone care that you didn't learn anything new from the film? Were you a military aviator or just a KZbin av geek?

[@thetreblerebel]

Navy pilots are the best pilots

[@raleighkellyc9375]

Marine pilots are the best.we make history u Navy jocks make movies

[@thetreblerebel]

@@raleighkellyc9375 not really since Marine pilots learn to launch and trap but once your training is done it's just long runways from there...Navy is all day from the boat..

[@dylanaoyagi3]

@@thetreblerebel there’s a marine attack squadron on every carrier but there are no navy squadrons on LHA’s , odd. You see our comments are the same because neither acknowledges the fact that both Navy and Marine pilots land on variety of runways not just the ship.

[@richsimon7838]

I served on USS Midway (84-86) and USS Ranger (86-88) both had a Marine squadron onboard. Marine pilots are downright lunatics! They would fly jets that no way should be in the air. Their jets were dirty, dingy, banged up, and poorly maintained. Whenever we had a plane transferred to our Navy squadron from a Marine Squadron it was a mess, took the Navy guys a month or more just to bring it up to acceptable standards for a Navy pilot. That all said, the Marine pilots always made it back to the carriers in those bucket of bolts!

[@rickmills4801]

Tell it, Brother!!

[@roydrink]

A. There were several carriers, not just the USS Nimitz. B. The era was mid/late 70’s. C. There were many more aircraft than just the F-14. The Title was misleading, but the film was great.

[@dmx-terminator9614]

My favorite squadron, vf-143 F-14, flashed into the frame 14:25 .

[@timanderson5543]

Pukin dogs.

[@drinksnapple8997]

2:58. F14 pilot. Stanley Foltz (CDR USN-Ret) died of brain cancer in late 1993. He was just 50 years old.

[@ChuckMagnet-ql2is]

Love it

[@shengyi1701]

Time index 11:35 is on board the USS Enterprise as it features VF-2 Tomcats which were part of carrier wing 14 with the NK tailcodes

[@sabercruiser.7053]

state of the art documentary

[@hoghogwild]

Rare to see Tomcats without external fuel tanks.

[@michaelalanpowell]

Tomcats, Intruders, Prowlers, Hawkeyes, Vikings, Corsairs, Sea Kings and Trackers, now that's an CVW!! Were the Vigilantes, Skywarriors and RF-8 Crusaders still around in 1980? And when did the Greyhounds replace the Trackers?

[@Mishn0]

Good video. The only disappointment was it wasn't strictly about the Nimitz in '80. That would have been her I/O cruise during Operation Eagle Claw. I was hoping for some shots of the Coral Sea which was in the I/O at the same time...with me on her. Regardless, the video brought back memories. Thanks! p.s. "I/O" means "Indian Ocean" and "Eagle Claw" was the Iranian hostage rescue attempt.

[@usselpasoable]

I was in your battle group in the IO on the el paso lka-117. I used to watch night take-offs on the Nimitz. Our CO said on the 1mc one night "we were the closest American forces to the hostages". We came home in March, before the rescue attempt. Diego Garcia and Mombassa!

[@KB4QAA]

@@usselpasoable Later half of film has lots of shots from USS America, CV-66. Her number on the bow deck can be seen in one shot of the cats. The planes with "AE" tail identifiers are CVW-1 (Carrier Air Wing One) from America.

[@toddadams57]

I was aboard Coral Sea on GONZO station at that time working for COMCARGRU 3, RAdm Chambers.

[@allgood6760]

Awesome 👍

[@raybin6873]

Amazing how they land on the ship...but doing that at night? Whew! 🇺🇸

[@aaronseet2738]

When you're being shot at, you manoeuvre wildly. When landing back on carrier, you CANNOT manoeuvre wildly.

[@BeryJensen]

Amazing video.

[@Sugarsail1]

We have peacocks at our property and when they fly off the roof, they land just like this. Controlled crash with big landing gears.

[@justinegorski2703]

I talked to an air force pilot who said Navy pilots were crazy. I said they have to be, they are thrown off the front of a ship that will run them over if the plane doesn't fly and every landing is a controlled crash.

[@brunoklassen7248]

The Final Countdown!

[@karlt8233]

The A7's at 1:42 shows just the tail insignia are of VA-15 Valions was my first squadron starting in 84 but stationed on the USS Independence CV62 at that time. Don't think all the footage is from the same carrier/time frame

[@bender7565]

That was a little of everything east coast, I didn't see any Bedevilers or Pukin Dogs but I saw all the other fighter squadrons. My 1st cruise was the Indy in 79. I was a Tarsier (VF-33), we referred to you guys as the Food Lions!

[@SUP_Bigans]

If it was all Nimitz's squadrons, I should see Be-Delivers + Silver Eagle on Phantoms and Black Aces + Jolly Rogers on Tomcats.

[@SUP_Bigans]

If it was all Nimitz's squadrons, I should see Be-Delivers + Silver Eagle on Phantoms and Black Aces + Jolly Rogers on Tomcats.

[@fantom5894]

Wasn’t there a plane from VQ- something or other with USS John F Kennedy in a shot?

[@montysmith6355]

there are old pilots ,and there are bold pilots ,but there are no old bold pilots....

[@davy1458]

The a6 looks like a flying tadpoll. Lol

[@plum1030]

At 11:50, RIO Phil Anselmo. #Pantera

[@user-qn1zk4ki7m]

👍

[@igorzeitgeist5153]

F14 the boss

[@danielcarlson800]

Bitchin' film!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!

[@chandrachurniyogi8394]

the naval carrier borne A-6F Intruder (Block 40+) maritime multi role fighter should have been armed with it's own internal cannon . . . wonder why didn't they . . . the rationale behind trading the internal gun for guided missiles don't make sense . . . the good old chambered gun will always be the staple weapon of any fighter jet, regardless of advances in technology elsewhere . . . it's the fall back when you've exhausted your entire missile load . . .

[@fantom5894]

4:40 Really? The F-86 Sabre (used on carriers as FJ Fury) and Spitfire (used on carriers as Seafire) beg to differ.

[@michaelgrey7854]

Well the F-86 was actually developed from the FJ fury as the fury came first. :) The Spit? Well thats an odd ball out.

[@raleighkellyc9375]

Navy pilots fine. But what about the marine pilots

[@davy1458]

Does anyone here know which jet was fastest? Phantom, tomcat or crusader?

[@KB4QAA]

Phantom.

[@davy1458]

@@KB4QAA is that a guess or do you have reliable source of information? I keep getting conflicting answers from different sources....some things I have read say the f14 is faster....some say the f4....and a documentary I saw recently said that there was a stripped down f15 called the streak eagle that was the fastest of the three.....all I know for certain is that the tomcat is definitely the sexiest bird of the bunch lol

[@KB4QAA]

@@davy1458 Ok, I checked Wiki and it says the F-14 is faster at Mach 2.34 at unspecified altitude, and F-4E Mach 2.23 at 40k Feet. Shrug. It really doesn't matter. It's like arguing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Max speed can't be used in combat. It can't be achieved with any ordnance, fuel tanks or bomb/missile racks in place. It takes horrendous amounts of fuel to reach the altitude and get up to speed. It's a figure that essentially no ordinary aircrews will ever see in flight during a career. (retired navy NFO).

[@davy1458]

@@KB4QAA well dude....that was awful nice of you to take the time to get me an answer....thank you!

[@KB4QAA]

@@davy1458 Cheers! b.

[@magoid]

4:36 Not true. Several land aircraft, props and jets, were navalised.

[@okisoba]

Which ones?

[@magoid]

@@okisoba Hurricane, Spitfire, F-86, Su-27, MiG-29 ...

[@okisoba]

Was thinking only about American planes. But yeah, the F-86. This documentary was made in 1980ish before the Su-27 and MiG-29 were navalized.

[@magoid]

@@okisoba Another American examples are the T-33 (as T2V/T-1), U-2 and YF-17 (as F-18), although the last one was a major redesign. There is more from another nations. Edit: the NA T-6 was navalized too.

[@okisoba]

@@magoid Most trainers aren't shipborne aircraft

[@briancooper2112]

Great video!