Final Countdown: Today's Nimitz faces off with Nimitz of 1980

[birdman]

If I'm reading this right, would the 1980 Nimitz be able to go toe to toe with the 2011 Nimitz?  The 1980 Nimitz would win hands down.  The 1980 Nimitz had nukes, it would nuke the snot out of the 2011 Nimitz.  I don't know that today's carriers have nukes.

2011 wins, regardless of nukes, since they still have to be delivered, and 2011 has far better defenses.

[birdman]

Which ship would have better defense against anti-ship missiles?

See my above posts.  2011 does:
RAM and phalanx vs just phalanx
ESSM vs normal sea sparrow
Aircraft with AMRAAM (fire and forget) vs sparrow (sem-active)

Add in the battle group, and its no contest--newer aegis, VLS, block III/IV standard missile, etc