US carrier Lincoln returns to San Diego after 321-day deployment to Middle East
In short
The US Navy aircraft carrier Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego, California, on October 8 local time after a deployment the Pentagon called a record 321 days, Xinhua reported. The carrier was sent to the Middle East in January to take part in US military operations against Iran and a maritime blockade. US Navy documents show at least eight service members attempted suicide during the deployment, several outlets reported.
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The US Navy aircraft carrier Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego, California, on October 8 local time, ending a deployment that took it to the Middle East, Xinhua, Yicai and China News Service reported. Jiemian, citing CCTV, had reported that the carrier was expected to arrive at noon local time on October 8 after more than 300 days at sea. CLS and Yicai described the deployment as lasting 10 months. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Xinhua reported that US Central Command said in a social media post on October 8 that the carrier had returned after completing its mission in the Middle East, and that more than 5,000 sailors and Marines flew thousands of combat sorties during the deployment, covering more than 90,000 miles (about 145,000 km). According to the Pentagon, cited by Xinhua, the deployment lasted "a record 321 days", including 264 consecutive days at sea without a port call, surpassing the 206-day continuous deployment record set by the carrier Eisenhower in 2020. China News Service, citing USNI News, put the record stretch without a port call at 265 days. [ 3 , 5 ]
The Lincoln left San Diego last November and was sent to the Middle East in January to take part in US military operations against Iran and a maritime blockade. Jiemian, CLS and Yicai reported that, apart from brief resupply stops in Guam and Oman, the carrier spent most of its time on combat duty at sea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Jiemian, CLS and Yicai reported that the roughly 5,000 sailors aboard were said to have psychological problems because of the intense operational tempo and long deployment, and that several had broken down and tried to jump into the sea. They said US Navy documents show at least eight service members attempted suicide during the deployment. Xinhua said reports of the sailors' living conditions and mental health problems had emerged before the carrier's return. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
China News Service, compiling US media reports, said a letter sent last month by a senior US Navy official to New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand showed that at least eight service members aboard had attempted suicide during the months at sea. The letter was obtained by NBC News, and its disclosure raised concerns about the effect of such long deployments on service members' mental health. NBC also reported that there had been reports of worsening living conditions aboard during the deployment. [ 5 ]
Some crew family members said the long voyage was "seriously damaging" the sailors' mental health, China News Service reported, with one comparing conditions aboard to scenes from the US series "American Horror Story". One mother said of her son: "He was originally very optimistic, but later became very depressed." Another parent said she and her daughter serving aboard grew increasingly frustrated as the Trump administration repeatedly postponed the ship's arrival date. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
Chinese outlets, including official ones, focused on the strain the deployment placed on the crew, citing suicide attempts and complaints from families. China News Service reported that the disclosure of a Navy letter on the suicide attempts raised concerns about how such long deployments affect service members' mental health.
Key facts
- The aircraft carrier Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego, California, on October 8 local time. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The carrier left San Diego last November and was sent to the Middle East in January to take part in US military operations against Iran and a maritime blockade. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to the Pentagon, the deployment lasted a record 321 days, including 264 consecutive days at sea without a port call. [ 3 ]
- US Central Command said more than 5,000 sailors and Marines flew thousands of combat sorties and covered more than 90,000 miles (about 145,000 km) during the deployment. [ 3 ]
- Apart from brief resupply stops in Guam and Oman, the carrier spent most of the deployment on combat duty at sea. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- At least eight service members aboard attempted suicide during the deployment, according to US Navy documents. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The carrier Lincoln returned to its home port of San Diego, California, on October 8 local time. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The carrier left San Diego last November and was sent to the Middle East in January to take part in US military operations against Iran and a maritime blockade. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- At least eight service members aboard attempted suicide during the deployment. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Several sailors aboard broke down and tried to jump into the sea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Pentagon said the deployment lasted a record 321 days. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many consecutive days the carrier spent at sea without a port call. Xinhua, citing the Pentagon, gives 264 days, while China News Service, citing USNI News, gives 265 days.
- How many of the roughly 5,000 sailors aboard were affected by psychological problems. Jiemian, CLS and Yicai reported the problems without giving a number of those affected or naming a source beyond the Navy documents on suicide attempts.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 8, San Diego local time: the carrier was expected to arrive at its home port, Jiemian reported citing CCTV. [ 1 ]
- October 8: Jiemian reports the carrier is due to return to San Diego after more than 300 days at sea. [ 1 ]
- October 9: CLS reports the carrier has returned to San Diego after a 10-month deployment. [ 2 ]
- October 9: Xinhua reports US Central Command and Pentagon statements on the carrier's return and record deployment. [ 3 ]
- October 9: Yicai reports the carrier's return, citing CCTV. [ 4 ]
- October 9: China News Service reports on the return and the Navy letter on suicide attempts. [ 5 ]