The world's largest aircraft carrier is returning to the US following a record-breaking deployment
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, is set to leave the Middle East in the coming days and return to the US following a record-breaking deployment lasting over 300 days. This was reported by two US officials, according to The Guardian.
The ship is due to arrive at its home port in Virginia in mid-May.
The USS Gerald R Ford’s deployment lasted almost ten months. It included participation in the war against Iran and operations to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Last week, the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush arrived in the region. This means that three US aircraft carriers were in the Middle East at the same time. Such a number has not been recorded since 2003. The USS Abraham Lincoln has also been in the region since January.
This month, the USS Gerald R Ford set a record for the longest deployment of a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. Its 295th day at sea surpassed the previous record of 294 days, set in 2020 during the USS Abraham Lincoln’s mission.
The ship’s prolonged stay at sea raised questions about the strain on the crew and equipment. A fire broke out whilst the ship was on duty, forcing the aircraft carrier to return to the Mediterranean for repairs.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hagset stated during congressional hearings that the decision to extend the deployment was made due to operational requirements.
“On multiple occasions, operational requirements demanded additional resources in real time, which, due to the complex decision-making process, led to the extension,” he said.
The USS Gerald R Ford was initially deployed to the Mediterranean, later redeployed to the Caribbean, and subsequently to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.
The aircraft carrier took part in the early days of the war against Iran from the Mediterranean Sea, after which it passed through the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea in early March.
The USS Gerald R Ford’s record did not surpass the Cold War record. At that time, the aircraft carrier USS Midway spent 332 days at sea in 1972–1973.
