Record-Breaking 265-Day Voyage Concludes as USS Abraham Lincoln Returns to San Diego

Published on 08/10/2026 – 22:32 GMT+2

The USS Abraham Lincoln docked in San Diego on Thursday, concluding a historic deployment lasting 265 consecutive days at sea. The aircraft carrier had supported United States operations against Iran, though reports indicated the crew endured demanding conditions throughout the prolonged mission.

During a visit on Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the crew with the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest military decoration awarded to a unit. He firmly rejected claims that the vessel had become a symbol of dysfunction, low morale, or mission failure.

The deployment drew significant national scrutiny after reports surfaced regarding crew stress, mental health struggles, and shortages of food and hygiene supplies. While the Navy initially downplayed the issues, it later acknowledged certain problems onboard, including reduced meal variety caused by limited resupply opportunities.

Additionally, naval officials informed lawmakers that eight sailors attempted suicide during the deployment. Experts characterized the figure as relatively low for a strike group comprising approximately 6,000 personnel over the course of ten months.

The Lincoln originally departed California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea. It was subsequently rerouted to the Middle East in advance of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that commenced in February 2026.

Source link