U.S. Navy’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Returns After Record 326-Day Deployment

The United States Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), is set to return to Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday after completing a record 326-day deployment, the longest by a U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.

The nuclear-powered supercarrier left Norfolk on June 24, 2025, for what was initially planned as a routine deployment to Europe.

Instead, the mission expanded into operations across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Middle East as the U.S. military increased naval deployments in several regions.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle confirmed the carrier’s return during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, praising the strike group after nearly 11 months at sea.

“We’re going to give our heroes a welcome back on Saturday,” Caudle said. “It’s just an extraordinary ship, extraordinary crew, an extraordinary strike group, and the sailors I couldn’t be more proud of.”

The deployment became the longest post-Vietnam carrier mission after the Ford passed the 295-day deployment record previously set by USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in 2020.

The strike group operated with more than 15 allies and partners while supporting the U.S. 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th Fleets.

Operations included missions in northern European waters, the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

The carrier also supported Operation Southern Spear and Operation Absolute Resolve in the Caribbean before later deploying to the Middle East for Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

Norfolk revs…

USS Gerald R. Ford heads west through the Strait of Gibraltar today. Finally on her way home after an epic deployment – currently 316 days since she left the US.

Via @Gibdan1 pic.twitter.com/0nnCzYohxJ

— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) May 6, 2026

While operating in the Caribbean, the Ford was among the U.S. warships involved during the operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to the source material.

In February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Ford to return to the Middle East as the Pentagon increased military presence in the region alongside USS Abraham Lincoln.

The deployment was not without problems.

In March, a fire broke out aboard the Ford while it was operating in the Red Sea. Per reports, the fire started in the ship’s laundry room and took nearly 30 hours to extinguish.

Around 600 sailors temporarily lost access to sleeping areas, while nearly 200 personnel reportedly received treatment for smoke-related injuries.

The carrier later stopped in Souda Bay, Greece, and Split, Croatia, for repairs before returning to operations.

The ship also faced plumbing problems that reportedly affected nearly 650 toilets onboard.

Reports cited in the source material said Ford personnel had requested assistance for the system dozens of times since 2023.

Families of sailors also raised concerns over the extended deployment, delays in receiving mail and living conditions onboard. Some sailors slept on floors and tables after the fire damaged berthing compartments.

The deployment highlighted growing pressure on the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier fleet. Although the Navy operates 11 supercarriers, several are currently undergoing maintenance, reducing the number available for deployment.

That shortage forced longer deployments for operational carriers, including the Ford, while other carriers prepared for deployment.

The Ford’s embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 completed more than 11,800 launches and logged over 5,500 flight hours during the deployment in support of operations in the Middle East.

The strike group, commanded by Rear Adm. Gavin Duff, also included destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), USS Mahan (DDG-72) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81).

References: navytimes, forbes