“林肯”号航母结束272天部署返航 美海军深陷中东困局疲态尽显

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 its 272-day deployment, the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier 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 aircraft carrier strike group is "ailing"; what impact does this have on the operational capabilities of the U.S. Navy?

Military observer Wei Dongxu: The protracted crisis in the Middle East has left the U.S. Navy showing signs of fatigue, exposing issues such as insufficient manpower and inadequate support for the aircraft carrier strike groups. Currently, the USS Washington aircraft carrier strike group deployed to the Middle East seems to have only the USS Robert Smalls cruiser and the USS Shoup destroyer as escort vessels. In the event of an attack by drones and missiles, they may face challenges due to insufficient air defense and missile defense capabilities. Originally, the USS Washington strike group had three Aegis-equipped ships; however, 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 strike group had to specifically deliver food to this unfortunate vessel. After repairs, the USS Benfold did not accompany the USS Washington and other ships 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 prevented the U.S. Navy from supplying the carrier strike group from its base in Bahrain. The U.S. Navy can only use Diego Garcia, located 4,000 kilometers from the operational area, as a temporary supply station. The conflict in the Middle East has led to a situation where they cannot win and cannot leave, causing the carrier strike group to be overworked and the morale of naval forces to decline, shaking the foundation of U.S. maritime hegemony.