US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War

https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-uss-gerald-r-ford-record-deployment-4144a52a981e5aa079326123686f2497

US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
Updated 4:41 PM CDT, April 15, 2026


The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier leaves Naval Station Norfolk, June 23, 2025, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/John Clark, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, broke the U.S. record Wednesday for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, a nearly 10-month span that saw it take part in both the military raid in Venezuela and the Iran war.

The Ford began its deployment in June 2025, heading to the Mediterranean See from its home port in Norfolk, Virginia. The military rerouted it to the Caribbean Sea in October as part of the largest naval buildup in the region in generations.

The carrier took part in the military operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Then it would see more battle, heading toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalated.

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said the record-breaking deployment has taken “a serious toll” on the mental health and well-being of the crew. He noted that the fire temporarily left 600 sailors without places to sleep.

“They should be home with their loved ones, not sent around the world by a President who acts like the U.S. military is his palace guard,” the Democratic senator said in a statement.

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/18/onboard-fire-uss-gerald-ford-aircraft-carrier

Fire damage, clogged toilets, and sinking morale: USS Gerald R Ford to set sail for repairs in Crete
Aircraft carrier has been participating in strikes on Iran, after previously taking part in the operation to seize Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro
Mark Saunokonoko and agencies
Wed 18 Mar 2026 03.20 EDT

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One of the officials said nearly 200 sailors were treated for smoke-related injuries when the fire broke out in the ship’s main laundry area. The fire took hours to bring under control and had an impact on roughly 100 sleeping berths.

One service member was flown off the ship with injuries, the official said. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The New York Times reported two sailors received treatment for “non-life-threatening injuries”, citing the US military’s Central Command. After the fire initially broke out, the US military had said that there was no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant and the aircraft carrier was fully operational.

The carrier, crewed by more than 4,000 sailors, has reportedly suffered significant problems with its toilet system while at sea, with US media describing clogged systems and long lines for restrooms on the ship.

The issue is not new – a 2020 report from the US Government Accountability Office said the ship’s toilet system was subject to “unexpected and frequent clogging” and requires acid flushes on a regular basis to clear it, at a cost of $400,000 each time.

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