The USS Abraham Lincoln will leave San Diego after its recent return from a near-record deployment in the Middle East, according to the U.S. Navy.
“USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) will shift its home port from San Diego to Bremerton, Washington, later this year to complete a long-planned maintenance availability. The relocation will be executed as a permanent change of station for the crew and family members,” the U.S. Pacific Fleet posted on social media.
The USS Lincoln arrived in North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado in January 2020, serving as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3. Navy officials said the carrier “safeguarded critical sea lanes across the Indo-Pacific and Middle Eastern theaters.”
The ship returned to San Diego on Oct. 8 after supporting military operations during the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran in 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
It has a complement of more than 5,000 sailors and Marines.
The USS Lincoln was at sea without a port call for 286 days, the second-longest deployment since the Vietnam War, with more than 300 consecutive days overseas. The USS Gerald R. Ford set the record for longest deployment by an aircraft carrier at 326 days, a mission that ended earlier this year.
The long deployment led to reports of low morale and mental health issues on the part of some crew members, and complaints by some in Congress.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced that the state offered sailors and Marines who served on the carrier mental health services.
The Navy added that throughout the home port shift process, sailors and their families will have access to resources to prepare for the transition.
“Home port shifts are part of the Navy’s continued commitment to the strategic dispersal of ships,” the Navy said in a statement announcing the change, adding that “The work conducted during the maintenance period will maximize the lifespan of Abraham Lincoln and re-establish the carrier at the highest state of material and combat readiness.”
