Overview
- The supercarrier, which officials confirmed Friday had exited the region, is now under European Command and is expected to reach Norfolk around mid-May.
- Its departure leaves two U.S. carriers in theater — USS George H. W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln — continuing blockade operations on traffic linked to Iranian ports.
- The cruise stretched to roughly 309 days and broke the modern post‑Vietnam record after passing the 295‑day mark in mid‑April, far beyond the usual six to nine months.
- Strain on the crew of about 4,500 and the ship mounted after a March 12 laundry‑room fire injured two sailors and displaced hundreds from bunks, prompting repairs in Crete and raising the need for major maintenance on return.
- The deployment spanned multiple theaters, including operations in the Caribbean that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and support to actions against Iran, while movements and timing were disclosed to media by anonymous U.S. officials rather than a formal Navy announcement.