U.S. Media: The USS Washington Will Head to the Middle East to Replace the USS Lincoln

On August 13, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Huang Qiang and Yan Liang) that the United States is preparing to send the USS Washington aircraft carrier to the Middle East, replacing the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, which has faced criticism regarding onboard living conditions and crew mental health.

The report cites U.S. officials as saying that the rotation plan was established before concerns were raised about the living conditions on the USS Lincoln.

According to the U.S. Naval Institute News, the USS Washington carrier strike group, based in Japan, left the Yokosuka base in May. The carrier entered the Strait of Malacca on the 13th of this month, accompanied by a cruiser and a destroyer, after passing through the Singapore Strait.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the USS Lincoln began its planned deployment in November last year and was reassigned to the Middle East in January this year to participate in the U.S. military's "Epic Fury" operation against Iran and the maritime blockade of Iran. However, it has recently been revealed that sailors on the USS Lincoln are facing issues with living conditions and mental health due to the high operational tempo and prolonged deployment. Reports indicate that several personnel on the Lincoln have experienced mental breakdowns and attempted to jump overboard.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal recently wrote to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Harker, requesting an explanation regarding the issues on the USS Lincoln. Blumenthal stated that the USS Lincoln has been deployed for over 250 days and has not docked for 200 days, with numerous reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating crew mental health, and safety hazards on the deck. The mail system disruption has led to many packages sent to the ship being lost in transit for months.

According to the U.S. MS Now news channel, due to concerns about the mental state of personnel onboard, about 200 family members of crew members met with Acting Navy Secretary Harker and others in San Diego on the 6th to directly express their anxieties to Navy leadership. However, a U.S. Navy spokesperson stated in a media statement on the 12th that "no increase in reported intentional suicides or suicide attempts has been found." Harker also told the media on the 13th that reports regarding the poor conditions on the USS Lincoln are "completely distorting the facts."