U.S. Warships in the Middle East Face Logistics Nightmare

According to a report by Reference News Network on September 5, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier docked at a port in eastern Thailand on the 2nd after nearly 9 months at sea supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, allowing about 5,000 crew members to go ashore for rest.

It was reported that sailors and Marines aboard the nuclear-powered carrier had not gone ashore for over 260 consecutive days. Last month, reports indicated a deterioration in the mental health of the crew, and there were also shortages of key food supplies on board.

The U.S. Navy downplayed all of these issues. President Trump commented that the deployment of the Lincoln was still "far from enough."

The Lincoln was launched in 1988. On the 2nd, it entered the port of Laem Chabang in Chonburi Province, Thailand, where the crew subsequently disembarked to rest in nearby Pattaya. Pattaya is a beach resort city frequently visited by U.S. military personnel for relaxation.

From the hull's perspective, the Lincoln at least needs to be repainted, as there are large patches of suspected rust above the waterline and along the edges of the flight deck where fighter jets and helicopters are parked.

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok stated that since November of last year, the carrier has been deployed for a total of 286 days, and Thailand is the first port to fully accommodate the carrier during this deployment.

When asked about the appearance of the carrier, Captain Dan Kille of the Lincoln replied, "This is a normal phenomenon for long deployments, and we will not comment further."

According to a report by The New York Times website on September 2, a U.S. aircraft carrier typically carries about 5,000 crew members on duty around the clock, requiring four meals a day. Although the carrier is nuclear-powered, the onboard fighter jets and helicopters still consume millions of gallons of fuel each week.

The carrier does not operate alone; it requires escort by destroyers equipped with air defense missiles and cruise missiles, forming what is known as a carrier strike group. These escort ships also need food and fuel supplies.

Currently, two aircraft carriers and 12 destroyers are assisting in the blockade of Iranian ports in the Middle East. They are also supported by three additional warships, which house a Marine Corps assault force.

It was reported that the U.S. Navy has about 20 vessels in the Middle East, carrying approximately 20,000 sailors and Marines. The logistical challenges are immense: these vessels require sufficient food supplies each week to prepare over 420,000 meals and consume about 8 million gallons of fuel.

The U.S. Navy has been active in the Middle East for decades and has established supply stations in various locations.

However, on February 28, Iran destroyed a significant naval logistics base in Bahrain on the first day of the war. Other ports in the region that could accommodate aircraft carriers or supply ships are also within the range of Iranian missiles and drones, rendering them unusable.

Now, naval supply ships in the region must travel about 2,200 miles (approximately 3,540 kilometers) to a small island in the Indian Ocean called Diego Garcia to deliver food, fuel, and other supplies to ships in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. An alternative supply point is Singapore, which is 3,700 miles (approximately 5,955 kilometers) away, requiring ships to traverse the busy commercial shipping lane of the Strait of Malacca.

It was reported that due to the war rendering nearby U.S. military bases in the Middle East unusable, the only option is to conduct at-sea replenishments every 5 to 6 days. This process poses security threats to both the receiving ship and the supply ship.

During such missions, the two ships must sail together, maintaining exactly the same course and speed. Due to the effects of waves, wind, and currents, keeping the two ships at a safe distance of about 150 feet (approximately 46 meters) apart for several hours is a challenge.

Sailors use a line-throwing gun to launch a line from the aircraft carrier or destroyer to the supply ship, connecting the two vessels with a steel cable. Subsequently, fuel lines and cargo pallets are transferred through these cables. Meanwhile, helicopters transport supplies between the vessels, lifting food, parts, and mail.

It was reported that the deployment of these vessels has no set timeline—only when the President and Secretary of Defense make a decision will they return home.

But this state of affairs is unsustainable.

Reports indicate that the U.S. Navy currently has 11 active aircraft carriers, of which 4 have been dispatched to the Middle East to participate in the war. Some of the remaining carriers are undergoing long-term repairs at shipyards and will not return to deployment for several years.

The Lincoln has been at sea for 9 months, spending most of that time without docking. Typically, an aircraft carrier will enter port about once a month to allow the crew a brief rest. On August 20, the Lincoln began its return journey, replaced by the USS George Washington.

The Lincoln docked in Thailand on the 2nd. Its crew will rest there for several days before crossing the Pacific back to its home port in San Diego. (Translated by Wang Haifeng and Yang Xinpeng)