The aircraft carrier "Lincoln" returns home after 272 days of deployment as the U.S. Navy shows signs of fatigue in the Middle East predicament.

According to news from the United States on the 20th, the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier will return to its home port in San Diego, California, and it is estimated that the journey will take about four to five weeks.

It is reported that during this deployment of 272 days, the USS Lincoln spent most of its time on combat duty at sea, with only brief supply stops in Guam and Oman. Approximately 5,000 sailors on board did not receive regular rest, leading many to face prolonged high-intensity combat and mental health issues. The carrier strike group is "sick"; what impact does this have on the U.S. Navy's operations?

Military observer Wei Dongxu: The protracted Middle East crisis has left the U.S. Navy showing signs of fatigue, exposing issues such as insufficient manpower and inadequate support for carrier strike groups. Currently, the USS Washington carrier strike group deployed to the Middle East seems to have only the USS Robert Smalls cruiser and the USS Chaffee destroyer as escort ships. If attacked by drones and missiles, they may face the problem of insufficient air defense and missile defense firepower. Originally, there were three Aegis ships in the USS Washington carrier strike group, but the USS Benfold experienced a power failure while sailing in the South China Sea and drifted without power for four days. One of the cruisers in the carrier strike group had to specifically deliver food to this unfortunate ship. After repairs, the USS Benfold did not follow the USS Washington and other warships through the Strait of Malacca, clearly falling behind.

Military observer Wei Dongxu: The situation on the USS Washington is also not optimistic. Recently, sailors on the carrier secretly revealed to U.S. media, sending photos showing the poor conditions of the toilets and showers. These sailors also complained that the food on the USS Washington has been getting worse. U.S. officials criticized that the USS Washington underwent a major overhaul and spent six years in the shipyard, yet its current condition is concerning. After being deployed in the Middle East, the USS Washington will also face the supply challenges that the USS Lincoln encountered. It is reported that Iranian attacks have made it impossible for the U.S. Navy's base in Bahrain to supply the carrier strike group. The U.S. Navy can only use Diego Garcia, located 4,000 kilometers from the mission area, as a temporary supply station. Provoking conflict in the Middle East has led to a "can't win and can't leave" dilemma, causing the carrier strike group to be overworked and the morale of naval forces to decline, shaking the important pillar of U.S. maritime hegemony.