World's largest aircraft carrier returns from 11-month deployment, longest since Vietnam War

Key Points:

• The U.S. Navy's most advanced warship, the aircraft carrier USS Ford, along with two destroyers including the USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a record 326-day deployment, the longest for a carrier in over 50 years.
• The deployment included combat operations during the Iran war, participation in a major naval buildup in the Caribbean, and involvement in a military operation to capture Maduro, with the Ford earning the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance in action.
• The Ford's extended time at sea raised concerns about the impact on sailors and the strain on the ship's equipment, especially following a noncombat-related fire in a laundry area that necessitated repairs on Crete.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the crews for their historic mission and service, highlighting the significance of their achievements and the pride they brought to the nation.
• The deployment surpassed typical post-Vietnam War lengths, with only the USS Midway and USS Coral Sea having longer carrier deployments in the 1970s, though the USS Nimitz had a longer total duty period including shore isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.