US EditionUSS Gerald R. Ford reaches longest carrier deployment since Vietnam War
The 4,500-sailor crew has faced fire damage, plumbing failures and repeated extensions as Navy leaders say the ship could stay deployed 11 months.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford officially marked 296 days at sea on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, setting a record for the longest modern U.S. aircraft carrier deployment with nearly 4,500 sailors aboard.
- Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia expressed concern over the deployment's strain on sailors, noting the crew has remained at sea for about 10 months following two extensions, with the mission potentially lasting roughly 11 months.
- Operational difficulties include a March 12, 2026, laundry room fire that damaged 100 sleeping berths and injured three sailors, alongside ongoing plumbing problems with nearly 650 toilets on board.
- Following repairs in Split, Croatia, the vessel continues operating in the Mediterranean Sea, having logged 32 maintenance assistance calls throughout 2025.
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Ford's Record Deployment Strains Crew, Senator Says
The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, broke the US 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 previous longest deployment by an aircraft carrier in...
Associated Press News
US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has broken the U.S. record for the longest deployment since the Vietnam War.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Has a Message for the U.S. Navy: It’s Been at Sea for 295 Rough Days
Day 295. The Ford's crew has been at sea since June. The Vietnam-era record is next. A laundry fire forced repairs in Crete and Croatia. Reports say 12-14 months to fix. In 1942, the Yorktown was repaired in 3 days after a 551-pound bomb plunged 50 feet into the ship. Admiral Nimitz demanded it. They delivered.
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