Who can provide conclusive evidence of when these two photos of HMS Ark Royal and USS Nimitz were taken?

[PreMars]

Some says the first was taken in 1976 but some says 1978. And the second photo is unknown.

 

[Kiltonge]

By the shoreside features and the size of Nimitz's numerals, the top one is August 1978 at Norfolk, VA. From "HMS Ark Royal 1976-1978 The Last Commission".

 

[BlackBat242]

Navsource gives these cites:

Aerial bow view of USS Nimitz (CVN-68), right, and the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R09) tied up at piers at Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia, between 14 and 21 August 1978.
NS026896: U.S. Navy photo, available from Defense Imagery Management Operations Center (id: DN-SC-87-08414).
NS026896a: U.S. Navy photo, available from Defense Imagery Management Operations Center (id: DN-SC-87-08415).
NS026896b: Photo source unknown.

NS026896b matches the lower photo in the first post, while NS026896 matches the upper photo in the first post.

NS026896a is from a different angle from NS026896, but looks to have been taken at the same time.

Looking at other Navzource photos of Nimitz, to me it looks like in NS026896b the smaller bow number of Nimitz matches photos taken of her after 1978, while the larger number in the other two matches photos from before 1978!

I can only guess that the flight deck resurfacing in progress in NS026896b began shortly before Ark departed.

This site lists events from Ark's cruises - one long entry from 1966-Oct 1973, one for Nov 1973-Feb 1977, and one for March 1977-Dec 1978.
https://www.phantomf4k.org/accidents/11-aircraft-carrier
As Nimitz commissioned 5 May 1975, only the last two are possibilities.

There is mention in 1976 of Ark passing off the US coast, but no mention of entering port in Norfolk.

Further deployment to the West Atlantic and participation in Ex Safepass 1976 off Virginia and private flyex's visiting Norfolk, Mayport and Fort Lauderdale for the American bi-centennial celebrations.

Further private flyex's in the Caribbean. The Phantom F4K's of 892 Sqn conducted Missile Firings in the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range off Puerto Rico.

The 1978 entry only mentions one visit to Norfolk, so all 3 photos have to be from that time.

22nd June Air group disembark prior ships visit to Mayport 23rd June/8th August

8th/13th August passage to Norfolk Virginia area and flyex

4th August/21st August visit Norfolk

23rd August leave USA and sail eastward to the Azores, Ex Common Effort until 31st August.

4th/19th September, Ex Northern Wedding.Position 61N20W. 200 ships, nine nations, including USS Forrestal

19th September enter Moray Firth

NS026896a: