USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) has returned to sea after spending 23 months in dry dock getting upgrades and repairs totaling 1.2 million man-days of work. Now the ship and her crew are getting their sea legs again, and part of the process is pushing the carrier to her max, which includes high-speed maneuvering.

For some of our mobile users that cannot play the video below can go to the to see it.

A Nimitz Class super carrier can reach speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour, which is amazing considering they displace just over 100,000 tons, and so in a straight line is one thing, but undergoing huge rudder deflections is a whole other story. Check out the video below of The USS Harry S. Truman conducting similar trials.

These maneuvers are not for stress tests alone. There are a few tactical scenarios where even a giant aircraft carrier, at the center of a Carrier Strike Group, could use its speed and maneuverability as a defensive tactic. These include evading swarms of enemy fast boats, the rare chance of aerial bombardment, and even evading some types of missile attacks.

It also just looks like a lot of fun.

Contact the author at .