Archive · 20 Aug 2026
USS George Washington Begins Arabian Sea Operations, Replacing 250-Day Lincoln
A large United States aircraft carrier named USS George Washington has started working in the Arabian Sea.
It is taking the place of another carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln had been working in the region for more than 250 days.
The United States Central Command said the new carrier arrived as part of a scheduled deployment.
Before this, George Washington was in the South China Sea and visited Da Nang, Vietnam.
Families of Lincoln sailors said the long deployment caused serious problems for the crew.
They reported shortages of fresh food, mail delays, broken toilets, mouldy showers, water concerns, and a lack of hot water.
One sailor also went overboard but was rescued within an hour.
USS George Washington began operations in the Arabian Sea after arriving in the CENTCOM theatre on August 19.
The carrier is replacing USS Abraham Lincoln, which had operated in the region for more than 250 consecutive days.
George Washington recently operated in the South China Sea and completed a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam.
CENTCOM described the George Washington Carrier Strike Group’s Middle East mission as a scheduled deployment.
Families and lawmakers have urged the Pentagon to return Abraham Lincoln to San Diego, citing reported problems aboard the carrier.
- Who
- The USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, USS Abraham Lincoln, CENTCOM, and families of Abraham Lincoln sailors.
- What
- USS George Washington began Arabian Sea operations, relieving USS Abraham Lincoln after its more than 250-day deployment.
- When
- George Washington arrived in the CENTCOM theatre on August 19 and began operations on August 20.
- Where
- The Arabian Sea and broader CENTCOM theatre in West Asia.
- Why
- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group entered the region for a scheduled deployment and to relieve Abraham Lincoln.
Families’ Concerns
Official Deployment Account
Purpose and timing of the rotation
Families’ Concerns
Families and lawmakers pressed the Pentagon to bring USS Abraham Lincoln back to its home port in San Diego after its extended deployment and reported onboard problems.
Official Deployment Account
CENTCOM described USS George Washington’s arrival and Middle East mission as a scheduled deployment to relieve Abraham Lincoln.
Condition of Abraham Lincoln’s crew
Families’ Concerns
Families reported that sailors faced repeated extensions, shortages of fresh food, restricted meal plans, mail disruptions, broken toilets, mouldy showers, contaminated water systems, and weeks without hot water.
Official Deployment Account
The article’s official account focuses on the planned carrier transition and does not provide a response from the Navy to the reported crew complaints.
- New carrier
- USS George Washington (CVN 73)
- Relieved carrier
- USS Abraham Lincoln
- Lincoln deployment
- More than 250 consecutive days in the region
- Arrival date
- August 19
- Operations date
- August 20
- Previous location
- South China Sea, followed by a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam
- Reported crew concerns
- Food shortages, mail disruptions, sanitation problems, contaminated water systems, and weeks without hot water