Reported conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier during its extended deployment have brought renewed scrutiny to the US Navy’s capacity for prolonged conflict, particularly in the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. Experts indicate that issues of crew morale, basic supply shortages, and maintenance problems on the USS Lincoln underscore the limitations of US naval power in an asymmetrical conflict.
The USS Lincoln has been deployed since November 2025, setting a naval record for the longest period without a port stop. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about these circumstances, citing a pattern seen previously with the USS Gerald Ford, which deployed for 326 days before its rotation in May. Lawmakers stated that these situations raise questions about the Department of the Navy’s adaptability and mitigation strategies for fleet challenges in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
A US military official noted that Iranian attacks on US military sites, including significant damage to the naval base in Bahrain, have forced the navy to use the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia as its primary supply hub. This island is approximately 3,540 kilometers (2,200 miles) from where the USS Lincoln and USS George HW Bush have been operating near Iran. Alexandru Hudisteanu, a maritime security expert, emphasized that logistics are crucial for power projection assets like aircraft carriers, and the loss of the Bahrain base has complicated resupply efforts.
Bradley Martin, a retired US Navy captain and senior policy researcher, explained that such prolonged deployments inevitably lead to readiness issues. He highlighted that while the navy projects power and fills gaps, it faces inherent limits. The Pentagon and White House have acknowledged the demanding circumstances of war but have not characterized the conditions as dire. However, acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced the USS Lincoln would soon return home, with the USS George Washington, typically based in Japan, moving to the Middle East. This shift leaves no aircraft carrier in the strategically important western Pacific region.
Harlan Ullman, a former naval officer, suggested that the reported conditions reflect the demands of a prolonged conflict, noting that Iran has effectively sidelined two US aircraft carriers, the Ford and Lincoln, for potentially a year due to post-deployment refit periods. Martin added that the navy’s current size and force structure are not adequate to meet all the demands of the war with Iran and other global commitments, especially when facing inexpensive drones and smaller vessels in asymmetrical threats.
Mona Yacoubian, director and senior adviser of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, stated that the stresses on the US Navy reflect the evolving nature of drone-driven warfare. She drew parallels to Ukraine’s use of drones against Russia’s navy. Yacoubian concluded that the issues on the USS Abraham Lincoln embody the broader challenges the US faces in this conflict, prompting questions about strategy, sustainability, and contingency plans.