{"product_id":"official-uss-nimitz-cvw-17-final-cruise-patch","title":"Official USS Nimitz CVW-17 Last Cruise 2025 Patch","description":"\u003cp\u003eOfficial USS Nimitz CVN-68 \/ CVW-17 Last Cruise 2025 Patch — Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Final Deployment Embroidered Patch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOld Salt's last cruise — USS Nimitz CVN-68, Carrier Air Wing 17, 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUSS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and the second-oldest carrier in the United States Navy fleet — laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding on June 22, 1968, launched on May 13, 1972, and commissioned on May 3, 1975 with President Gerald R. Ford in attendance. Across nearly five decades of service \"Old Salt\" has logged more than two million nautical miles and supported every major US carrier-launched combat operation of the modern era — from the failed Operation Eagle Claw rescue attempt in Iran in 1980, to multiple deployments enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq in Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17), embarked aboard Nimitz for her final deployment in 2025, comprises the Black Aces of VFA-41, the Argonauts of VFA-147, the Stingers of VFA-113, the Diamondbacks of VMFA-251 (USMC), the Sun Kings of VAW-116, the Cougars of VAQ-139, the Chargers of HSC-14, and the Battle Cats of HSM-73 — a full-spectrum carrier air wing built around the F\/A-18E\/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeye, MH-60S Knighthawk, and MH-60R Seahawk. This Last Cruise 2025 patch commemorates the historic final deployment of the lead ship of her class — the carrier that defined the modern Nimitz-class supercarrier era — before she returns home for inactivation, ceding her place to the Gerald R. Ford-class.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect For: USS Nimitz CVN-68 sailors and chiefs, CVW-17 squadron personnel (VFA-41, VFA-147, VFA-113, VMFA-251, VAW-116, VAQ-139, HSC-14, HSM-73), Carrier Strike Group 11 staff, plankowners and prior-cruise Nimitz veterans, Bremerton and San Diego homeport residents, and aircraft carrier history collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOld Salt — Last Cruise, 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Military, Law Enforcement and Custom Patches by USMCinsignia.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44960482230381,"sku":null,"price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/9831\/files\/PRODUCTIMAGES_91.png?v=1775066843","url":"https:\/\/marinepatches.com\/products\/official-uss-nimitz-cvw-17-final-cruise-patch","provider":"MarinePatches.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}