USS Ford returns home after 11-month deployment supporting the Iran war and Maduro’s capture
The 326-day voyage included operations against Venezuela and Iran, while 600 sailors lost bunks in a March fire, officials said.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday, ending a 326-day deployment—the longest for an American warship since the Vietnam War.
- Departing last year for a routine cruise, the $13 billion ship was diverted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Caribbean for the operation capturing Nicolas Maduro and later to the Middle East for Iran war operations.
- Throughout the 11-month mission, the crew conducted more than 11,800 launches but faced significant hardships, including a laundry room fire that displaced 600 sailors for 30 hours and persistent mechanical issues with flight deck systems.
- Thousands of families gathered at the pier to welcome the sailors, though the deployment strained morale and prompted complaints during a March town hall meeting regarding food shortages and communication delays.
- The Ford's advanced electronic catapult system provided unique firepower options for American military objectives, while the record-breaking duration reflects the operational cost of maintaining such a demanding global presence.
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World's largest aircraft carrier returns from 11-month deployment, longest since Vietnam, after supporting Iran war and Maduro raid
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world largest aircraft carrier, returned home to Virginia on Saturday after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, that saw it support the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Nicolás Maduro when he was Venezuela’s president. The most advanced U.S. warship and two accompanying destroyers docked at Naval Station Norfolk with about 5,000 sailors waiting to see their families for the first time since…
Hegseth Personally Welcomes Home Sailors of USS Gerald R Ford After 11-Month Deployment
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday personally welcomed home sailors of the USS Gerald Ford after a record 11-month deployment. The USS Mahan and USS Bainbridge also returned home on Saturday. The USS Ford is the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier. The sailors aboard the USS Ford participated in the highly successful Maduro capture, among other missions. “To the warriors of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group—WELCOME HOME,” Hegseth…
Secretary of War Hegseth Welcomes Sailors Returning From Deployment
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford returning from deployment on May 16. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, returned to its homeport in Virginia on Saturday. The vessel had been at sea for nearly a year, during which time it experienced a series of incidents, including involvement in the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, confrontations …
USS Gerald R. Ford returns home after record deployment
After 326 days at sea, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford returned Saturday to Naval Station Norfolk. The deployment of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group spanned nearly 11 months and took more than 4,500 sailors across the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea and Red Sea. WELCOME HOME SAILORS pic.twitter.com/SVEHvXo2HC — DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) May 16, 2026 During a homecoming ceremony, U.S. Navy leaders welcomed the…
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