The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier in the world, has returned to its base in Virginia after completing a full 11-month deployment. It operated in key theaters supporting the war against Iran and participated in the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, accompanied by two destroyers—the USS Bainbridge and the USS Mahan—has docked at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia. This marks the end of an 11-month mission, the longest deployment for an aircraft carrier since the end of the Vietnam War, with approximately 5,000 sailors reuniting with their families for the first time since June last year.
According to the U.S. Navy’s official news agency, the USS Ford spent a total of 326 days at sea during its deployment, setting a new record for the longest deployment in the past 50 years. Historically, only the USS Midway in 1973 (332 days) and the USS Coral Sea in 1965 (329 days) have had longer deployments.
However, this record excludes the USS Nimitz’s 341-day deployment during 2020–2021, as that period included strict shore quarantine for the crew in the United States to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The USS Ford’s lengthy mission began with its departure from Virginia’s coast in June, heading to the Mediterranean Sea. In October, its course was abruptly redirected to the Caribbean Sea as part of the largest naval reinforcement in the region in decades.
In January, the massive aircraft carrier took part in a military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro while he was serving as president of Venezuela.
After completing its mission in the Caribbean, the USS Ford faced another major challenge, sailing to the Middle East amid escalating tensions that erupted into war with Iran. The USS Ford participated in the initial operations against Iran from the Mediterranean before transiting the Suez Canal into the Red Sea in early March.
For its courageous service in the Iran conflict, the USS Ford and its escort fleet were awarded the prestigious "Presidential Unit Citation," the highest honor a military unit can receive, recognized for "outstanding combat performance facing a determined enemy."
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth personally welcomed back the fleet, including the two destroyers. On the deck of the USS Bainbridge, Hegseth praised the crew, saying, "You didn’t just complete your mission; you made history and made the entire nation proud."
Nevertheless, this unprecedented long deployment has raised questions and concerns regarding the psychological impact on personnel separated from home for extended periods, as well as wear and tear on the ship and its equipment.
Notably, during the mission, the crew faced a non-combat emergency when a fire broke out in the ship’s laundry room, causing significant damage. Hundreds of sailors were left without berths, prompting the Navy to dock the ship for extensive repairs on the Greek island of Crete before finally returning home.
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