The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is leaving the Middle East for repairs, as the war with Iran rages.
America’s newest and the world’s largest aircraft carrier is expected to set sail for Crete after a 30-hour fire broke out onboard the warship, injuring nearly 200 sailors.
Ford Carrier Departing Mideast
The Gerald R. Ford carrier will leave the Red Sea and temporarily dock at a port in Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, reported Reuters citing two US officials. However, the officials did not reveal the duration of the carrier’s stay in Crete.
The Ford has been deployed for over nine months, taking part in the US strikes against Iran after participating in the operation to seize Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro. This long deployment has raised doubts regarding sailors’ morale and the vessel’s readiness.
Fire Onboard
A fire broke out in the aircraft carrier’s main laundry area last week, taking sailors more than 30 hours to extinguish it, the New York Times reported at the time, citing sailors and military officials. They said the fire damaged 600 beds, while Reuters said it affected 100 sleeping berths.
Furthermore, one of the officials told Reuters that about 200 sailors suffered smoke-related injuries, while one service member was flown off the vessel to receive treatment.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the fire caused “no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational.” It added that two sailors received treatment for “non-life-threatening injuries.”
The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has suffered maintenance issues due to the long deployment, including problems with its toilet system. The US Navy responded by saying that “clog incidents are addressed promptly by trained damage control and engineering personnel, with minimal downtime.”
Concerns over Ford’s Withdrawal
As the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the warship has over 5,000 sailors aboard and more than 75 military aircraft, including fighter aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornets. It is also equipped with sophisticated radar system for controlling air traffic and navigation.
Moreover, the Ford is supported by Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser Normandy, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney, and Roosevelt. This supporting group possesses surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
By mid-April, the Ford will surpass the 294-day record set by the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020 for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment.
The withdrawal of the Ford carrier from the Middle East raises concerns over a gap in US forces amid the ongoing war with Iran.
However, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy the USS George H.W. Bush to the Middle East, probably to relieve the Ford, a military official told the New York Times.
Iranian Threats
Iran has repeatedly threatened to target the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and its strike group. On Monday, Iran’s joint military command warned it would target logistics and service centers enabling the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier to remain operational.
“Aircraft carrier Gerald Ford in the Red Sea is a threat to Iran. Accordingly, the logistics and service centers for USS Ford strike group are considered to be targets,” spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, said in a video published by the semi-official Fars news agency.
Iran also claimed it had hit USS Abraham Lincoln with missiles. On Wednesday, the Iranian army said it had struck the aircraft carrier with “powerful coast-to-sea missiles,” forcing the warship to retreat, reported Tasnim news agency.
Lincoln is operating in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards repeatedly claimed it struck the warship. However, CENTCOM denied those claims.
The Pentagon is deploying the amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli, alongside thousands of Marines, to support the Lincoln’s operations.
