The USS Abraham Lincoln has now spent 304 days at sea—closing in on the all-time record for an aircraft carrier’s longest deployment, at 332 days.

The United States Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) has already set the record for the longest time at sea without making a port call, but the fifth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier could soon reach and even exceed the record for the longest post-Cold War-era deployment of any flattop. CVN-72 arrived in Guam on Saturday for a previously unannounced port call following a nearly week-long visit to Pattaya, Thailand, earlier this month.

Both the USS Abraham Lincoln and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) had previously visited the US island territory of Guam in December. Both ships returned to the US Pacific Command’s (PACCOM’s) area of responsibility (AOR) following seven months operating in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) AOR, supporting US military operations against Iran.

“The stop on Naval Base Guam marks CSG-3 personnel’s first return to American soil in nine months, during which personnel will be afforded on-base liberty,” the US Navy announced.

The Lincoln’s Long Deployment Is Finally Coming to an End

It is still unclear when the USS Abraham Lincoln will return to its homeport in San Diego, California. The distance from there to Guam is about 5,800 nautical miles, or around 14 days’ sailing under optimal conditions. That means even if the carrier were to leave on Tuesday and return to the United States as quickly as possible, it would be close to the deployment record set by CVN-78 this year. Transit time can be impacted by the weather and other factors, too.

The USS Abraham Lincoln first departed from Naval Base San Diego on November 21, 2025. In late 2025 and early 2026, it participated in exercises in the South China Sea; however, it was later reassigned to the Middle East during the military buildup in January and February, culminating in the launch of “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran on February 28.

The Abraham Lincoln participated in Iran operations from February, at the outset of the conflict, until August, when it was reassigned stateside following reports of low morale and an outburst of concern from the military community in the United States. After more than 250 days at war, the USS Abraham Lincoln departed from the Arabian Sea in mid-August, heading east into the Pacific.

As of Monday, the carrier has been deployed for 304 days, or 43 weeks and three days. If the Lincoln remains in the Pacific until another carrier arrives, it is likely to surpass the overall record for an aircraft carrier’s deployment.

This Aircraft Carrier Holds the Record for the Longest Deployment

The USS Midway (CVA-41) holds the record for the longest deployment of an American aircraft carrier. It was deployed for 332 days in 1972 and 1973 during the Vietnam War.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) holds the record for the longest deployment of an American aircraft carrier since the Cold War. The US Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, was deployed for 326 days before it returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in May. During its initial deployment, it participated in Operation Southern Spear, interdicting drug shipments to the United States and building up force around Venezuela, and Operation Absolute Resolve, the January 2026 seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Once this mission was complete, it joined the Lincoln in the Middle East in preparation for Operation Epic Fury, but departed the theater of operations in March after a serious fire aboard the ship.

US Aircraft Carriers Are Working Overtime to Cover the Globe

The US Navy has been unable repeatedly in recent years to maintain a presence in the Western Pacific, and that may be why CVN-72 isn’t already steaming across the Pacific Ocean.

The US Navy’s only forward-deployed supercarrier, the USS George Washington (CVN-73), was dispatched to the Middle East to relieve CVN-72, temporarily leaving PACCOM (formerly known as US Indo-Pacific Command, or INDOPACOM) without a carrier strike group.

The Yokosuka, Japan-based CVN-73 began its 2026 patrol in May. Its deployment was expected to last six months, but it could be extended as the US Navy continues to juggle its limited carriers to maintain a presence in both the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.

Another San Diego-based carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), is now preparing for its next full deployment after leading the July Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) international naval exercises off the coast of Hawaii. CVN-71 could head to sea in the coming days; it is expected to head to the Middle East, relieving the George Washington once it arrives and allowing the latter carrier to return to the Western Pacific.

Two other Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers from the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group remain in the Arabian Sea. These are the USS Spruance (DDG-111), which departed from Naval Base San Diego on November 21, 2025, and the Hawaii-based USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), which began its deployment on December 1, 2025. The crews of both vessels are also likely ready to return home as soon as possible!

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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