U.S. Aircraft Carrier Lincoln Returns Battered, Looking Like It 'Went Through Hell'

CNN reported that the appearance of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which arrived at the port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, on the 2nd (local time) for rest and maintenance after being deployed to the war in Iran, delivered a shock.

Having spent 286 consecutive days at sea carrying out operations, much of the 355-meter-long hull of the Lincoln was entirely covered in rust.

The U.S. military specialist media TWZ reported, "Having endured grueling combat against Iran, it spent 286 days at sea without port calls," adding, "As a result, it carries scars that serve almost like medals."

It continued, "Rust and algae were caked and dripping down not only both sides of the hull but also along the edges of the flight deck and around the sponsons," describing it as "somewhat startling for a warship that is the most powerful vessel on Earth and a core symbol of U.S. military power, while simultaneously serving as evidence of the hardships endured over several months."

It also metaphorically noted, "It looked as though it had been through hell."

However, citing experts, CNN evaluated that such an exterior was entirely to be expected given that the Lincoln had been conducting continuous operations for about nine months since leaving its home port of San Diego, U.S., in November of last year.

Carl Schuster, a former U.S. Navy captain who served on a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier like the Lincoln, told the broadcaster, "It is not unusual for a warship that has operated at sea for more than 60 consecutive days to have rust streaking along its waterline."

He explained, "The rust issue cannot be resolved during combat because it requires going down to the waterline, scraping off the rust, applying two coats of anti-corrosive paint, and then another two coats of marine-grade gray paint."

Completely removing the rust from the Lincoln is expected to take about a month.

The dripping rust on U.S. Navy ships has been a matter pointed out multiple times by U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress.

Last year, then-Navy Secretary John Phelan confessed that President Trump used to call him in the middle of the night over the rust issue, saying, "The president told me several times, 'Fix that damn rust right away.'"

Beyond just the rust problem, various issues have repeatedly been raised regarding the Lincoln due to its long-term deployment, including unstable supplies and the management of crew morale and mental health.

TWZ pointed out, "The current state of the USS Abraham Lincoln is an extreme case brought about by very specific operational circumstances," adding, "The burden placed on carrier strike forces has accumulated over the years and is now turning into a simmering crisis."

Another aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, completed an ultra-long deployment of 326 days in May, and the USS Theodore Roosevelt must carry out continuous operations for at least eight months.

TWZ criticized that extending carrier deployment periods worsens the situation day by day, creating highly concerning ripple effects not only on personnel management but also on regular maintenance cycles, let alone deep-level maintenance and upgrades.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.