USS Lincoln Conditions Draw Scrutiny After 200 Days at Sea as Navy Stretches 291-Ship Fleet
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Aug 18
USS Lincoln Conditions Draw Scrutiny After 200 Days at Sea as Navy Stretches 291-Ship Fleet
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Aug 18
Summary
More than 200 days at sea without a port call have put the USS Abraham Lincoln under fresh scrutiny as lawmakers press the Navy over reported plumbing failures, weak water supplies, food shortages and sagging morale.
The pressure comes as the USS George Washington heads to the Middle East to relieve the Lincoln, a move that leaves the U.S. with no aircraft carrier deployed in Asia near China.
Other incidents widened the focus beyond one ship: the destroyer USS Benfold lost power in late July and drifted for days without toilets or air conditioning, while the 5th Fleet denied shortage reports on the USS Boxer.
The complaints land as the Navy says it operates 291 battle-force ships—64 below its legal requirement—after years of shipyard delays, maintenance backlogs and labor shortages.
That strain carries strategic weight because China now fields a larger navy by ship count and enjoys a far stronger shipbuilding base, underscoring how prolonged deployments can erode both readiness and crew well-being.