Where Are The Aircraft Carriers: July 13, 2026

Key Points:

• The U.S. is reinstating a naval blockade against Iran starting July 14, with CENTCOM enforcing restrictions on vessels to or from Iranian ports, following a previous blockade from April to June that involved redirecting compliant ships and disabling non-compliant ones.
• Over 20 U.S. Navy ships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George H.W. Bush, and USS Tripoli, conducted a large show of force exercise in the northern Arabian Sea on June 30, with the Abraham Lincoln marking 200 consecutive days at sea.
• The biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise is underway with USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Essex, and international partners participating in various naval operations, including flight drills and refueling, while older unmanned surface vessels like Sea Hunter are being tested for integration into carrier strike groups.
• USS Nimitz completed a four-month transit to Naval Station Norfolk, marking its permanent homeport shift and extended service life, while USS Gerald R. Ford entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its first public shipyard maintenance period following an extended deployment.
• USS George Washington is conducting flight operations in the Philippine Sea, engaging in multinational exercises including Valiant Shield, while the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group arrived in the CENTCOM area to support Middle East maritime security, potentially relieving USS Tripoli.