The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is currently operating in the Pacific Ocean, specifically in the Philippine Sea, after completing its deployment from the United States and a recent scheduled port call in Guam. This information was confirmed by official statements from the U.S. Navy and naval tracking reports.
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group operates within the U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of responsibility, maintaining the U.S. naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. The strike group consists of the aircraft carrier itself, with its embarked air wing, and the destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121), USS Spruance (DDG-111), and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112).
According to an official statement released along with photographic material, the USS Abraham Lincoln, as the flagship of its strike group, is conducting routine operations in the region. The statement notes that these activities are part of the U.S. Navy’s ongoing commitment to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
As previously reported by Zona Militar, the aircraft carrier departed Guam on December 12, following a scheduled visit, and has since been conducting operations in the Philippine Sea. Previously, on December 11, it had arrived on the island as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific. Guam plays a key role as a logistics, command, and control hub for U.S. naval forces in the region, facilitating support for aircraft carriers, surface vessels, and submarines.
During that port call, Rear Admiral Todd Whalen, commander of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, stated: “Our deployment to 7th Fleet waters demonstrates our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Visits to strategic ports like Guam strengthen our operational readiness and allow us to remain prepared to execute maritime operations in the theater.”
In parallel with the operations of the USS Abraham Lincoln, other U.S. naval units are deployed in the region. The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is operating in the East China Sea, where it is conducting training exercises during the end-of-year period, according to information from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Aboard the Tripoli are elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), along with F-35B Lightning II, MV-22B Osprey, AH-1Z Viper, and UH-1Y Venom aircraft.
Likewise, fast attack submarines such as the USS Seawolf (SSN-21), USS Greeneville (SSN-772) and USS Annapolis (SSN-760) have recently made movements between ports in Japan, South Korea and Guam, as part of deployments and crew resupply and rest activities.
Captain Dan Keeler, commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln, emphasized during the initial phase of the deployment: “My crew is excited to return to this region of the world, and we look forward to demonstrating what an aircraft carrier and its strike group can deliver. Our sailors are eager to learn about new cultures and strengthen ties throughout the region during this deployment.”
With the USS Abraham Lincoln now operational again in the Western Pacific, the U.S. Navy maintains multiple active surface, aircraft, and submarine groups in the Indo-Pacific, as part of regular operations and planned deployments in the region.
*Images obtained from the U.S. Navy (cover photo credit: Zoe Simpson).
You may be interested in: After Completing Its Modernization, the U.S. Navy’s Last Los Angeles-Class Nuclear Submarine Will Operate Until 2040
Carriers are expensive and though well defended, a person has to wonder if in real combat, how defended are they? If defending against surface launched aircraft or missiles how long can they defend?
Combatting to defend the profits of Taiwan’s integrated circuit industry, how effective against the PRC could they possibly be with non nuclear munitions?
A carrier is always in a strike group, ddg’s are always on point to intercept and are highly capable at intercepting anything from ICBM’s, to your mom. The Carrier in turn carries dozens of intercept aircraft also skilled at intercepting threats, its what all of them train for to such a dizzying degree it is how those sailors start and finish bootcamp. Nuclear is more a submarine job, and while they aren’t visibly with the surface ships, theyre part of the deployment and picket out further than the destroyers. Hundreds of cruise missiles are deployed between all of these ships and boats, and are far more formidable than anyone has ever seen the full impact from.
Look up what happened in Libya during 2012 when Libya had 114 cruise missiles launched at them.
I believe the mission of the aircraft carrier groups are to provide a strong deterrent using conventional forces such as it’s airing. The reality is however the only ships capable of surviving a nuclear attack are submarines. But let’s be clear, if nuclear weapons are in play the world is seriously out of time…may God forbid.
I always wondered if we are telling people that are our likely enemy’s like Russia, The Middle East like Iran,Iraq, and now Venezuela officials about plans of what are doing and why we are there in the first place? Isn’t this going to be dangerous information to these certain countries,that want to hurt us with no help from our president? Lets,face it when it comes to push and shove we all know Trump would rather push us,under a bus and say he never knew our strategies for our Ships being there in the first place! I am not a,fan of him but I do worry about service men & women who do have to be in those positions in open water!
Get real because the designers of such military did!
The USA has the most lethal navy and aircraft in the world! China know that the use of nuclear arms would be the end of mankind as a species but Putin is more likely to try. Ai is the biggest global threat along with Islam!
Unfortunate you have that slim opinion about our president. Not sure what you view for information, I would suggest broadening your understanding of what the facts are!
His view are documented. You might be blinded by his cult.
Basically, the same outcome will be for China as it was for Japan. Both of my Grandfathers fought in the Pacific during WW2. One for the British Army in Burma (eventually appointed Governor of Punjab by British Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten) and my maternal Grandfather (U.S. Navy Seabee) in the Island Chains prior to teaching Okinawa. This would be a different type of engagement, unlike Korea where millions of Chinese kept pouring in nonstop. It would primarily be a sea battle. Troop carriers from China would be sunk resulting in catastrophic loss of life.
Our fast attack submarines would basically send Chinas fleet to the bottom of the Sea very quickly. And we would also have air superiority.
Having an aircraft carrier with nuclear capability is a must to a powerful nation. Meaning they can strike at first at enemy anytime anywhere. Bringing the war on the enemy’s country.
I visited the USS Spruance (DDG-111), the last time I was in San Diego last March.
I served on the USS Henry B Wilson (DDG-7) during the Vietnam War.
We and two other destroyers escorted the USS Enterprise (CVA-65), the world’s first nuclear powered aircraft carrier from California to Vietnam.
The level of superiority that the US maintains in all aspects of war, from capabilities to logistics, from manpower to technology, nuclear to information, is almost beyond comprehension. There is no close second, period. The US spends more on military than the next ten countries combined. It matters not whether they disclose their location, intent, or future plans.
This is a very old carrier. I evacuated on it in 1991 from Clark Air Base after the Mount Pinatubo eruption. Most everyone on that ship now was not even born then.
I don’t see why the have to be in the other side of the world? Isn’t there plenty of open water close to the US? Why now? For GOD’S SAKE a nuclear attack will erase us all and that will be the end of humanity! Wake up people, we are all human beings, a ting like beasts!
Just a heads-up. The reference in the article’s title, “Nuclear-powered,” is referring to the ship’s power generation source, the source it uses to propel itself and conduct onboard operations such as lighting and powering equipment. These functions used to be accomplished using diesel engines and generators, now these ships are powered using a nuclear reactor; such reactors are not weapons systems and do not have weapons capability.
That’s not to say there aren’t nuclear weapons aboard, because there certainly are, but powering the ship is a different matter. Ergo, a “nuclear-powered” ship is a ship that is propelled by nuclear vs. conventional power.
If we didn’t send these fleets out to the info-pacific and just stayed home , how long do you think it would be before China invaded Taiwan? Then the Philippines and Japan. With nothing and no one to stop them, what do you think China would do? Help all of Asia become thriving democracies of freedom and harmony? They would create a Chinese empire, where the ccp controls the economies and governments of all of Asia. Where the people of all Asia are forced to serve the interest of the Chinese communist party. Where any revolt or rebellion against their rule is met with extreme violence. That would be only their first move. With the resources and human capital they took, they would next threaten Europe and the Middle East. Africa would be relatively easy to take afterwards. Once they controlled that 3/4 of the globe, they would build a force unseen in human history and come for the Americas. A hundred years later, there is very little left of civilization that is not Chinese. This is their literal desire. They believe there should be only Chinese civilization and no other. With AI and Robotics, in a hundred years they would have no need to keep other non Chinese people as slaves. They would surely eliminate them all. Perhaps the most powerful keeping some of us as pets. Think that sounds crazy? That is the dream of the Chinese empire. It’s the dream of Muslims as well. That only Muslims should exist as non slaves. The USA is all that’s truly keeping this from happening. Certainly not perfect, but the United States promotes and protects independent and sovereign nations and the rights of people to live freely. To choose for themselves how to live. Within a just and lawful framework. That is the hope and principles that The United States of America was founded on and supports.