(March 18): The US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier is retreating from the Red Sea after a fire broke out in its laundry room, scuttling plans for the 100,000-tonne nuclear-powered vessel to project power in the war with Iran.
Following the incident, which left at least two of the ship’s 4,000 crew members with non-life-threatening injuries, the USS Gerald R Ford will travel to the Greek island of Crete, according to a US official familiar with the matter. The ship had stopped there in late February on its way to the region.
The incident underscores how even the Navy’s most advanced assets are under strain as the US expands its military endeavours. The Ford — the most expensive warship ever built — has spent months beyond a standard deployment at sea.
The US military declined to comment on the details of the fire but The New York Times reported that sailors needed more than 30 hours to put it out and more than 600 crew members lost their bunk space.
When reached for comment, the Navy declined to comment on the carrier’s condition or whether its escort ships would remain in the Red Sea. A defence official who asked not to be identified said the Ford’s strike group will continue to operate in the region. The Ford’s departure leaves only one US carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, to support the Iran campaign.
Aircraft carriers are among the US military’s most in-demand assets. They function as mobile airbases, allowing the US to launch strikes and project air power far from home but only a limited number are available at any given time due to global commitments and maintenance cycles.
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They also come with significant military support: The Ford is accompanied by guided missile destroyers and its associated air wing includes F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets, E-2D airborne early-warning aircraft, MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and C-2A Greyhounds.
The warship was participating in US operations against Venezuela when US President Donald Trump ordered it to the Middle East ahead of the Iran campaign. While a normal tour lasts only six months, the Ford has been at sea since June last year.
Extended tours can sap sailors’ morale and strain their families, a fact that the Navy acknowledged in a press release last month heralding the resilience and readiness of the Ford’s crew during its “extended deployment".
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“Navy leaders acknowledge that extended time away from families carries real and measurable sacrifice,” it read.
The Ford is also struggling with practical challenges. In January, National Public Radio reported that the warship was dealing with a faulty plumbing system that had failed repeatedly while at sea. The Navy acknowledged the issue but said the ship had “processed more than 6 million toilet flushes" and added that sailors were usually to blame.
“In most instances, clogs are the result of items being flushed that should not be introduced into the system,” the Navy said in a press release, citing the Ford’s commanding officer. “When sailors follow proper procedures, the system performs reliably.”
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