USS Abraham Lincoln heads back to the United States after nine-month Middle East deployment
USS George Washington moved in to replace USS Abraham Lincoln, which left San Diego on November 21 with about 5,000 personnel after a nine-month deployment.
The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has headed back to the United States from the Middle East after spending nine months at sea, a U.S. official said.
Replacement carrier arrived on station
The official told CBS News that the carrier USS George Washington arrived in the region to relieve the Abraham Lincoln. The Abraham Lincoln left San Diego on November 21 with about 5,000 crew members and Marines aboard.
Officials said the Abraham Lincoln’s deployment was extended after the U.S. war with Iran, which began in late February, intensified the scope of operations. During the deployment the carrier served as a launch platform for thousands of sorties flown in support of U.S. strikes.
The move returns a major carrier and its personnel to home waters after a prolonged mission. The official’s remarks to CBS News provided the timeline and replacement details but did not offer additional operational specifics.
Naval leaders typically rotate carriers and strike groups on set deployment cycles; in this case the change of the Abraham Lincoln for the George Washington concludes a nine-month at-sea period for the Lincoln’s crew and embarked Marines.
Photo: press material from the event
