The US Navy’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Isn’t Going to the Middle East … Yet

It is unclear why USS Gerald R. Ford was redirected from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, or how long it will operate in the region.

Earlier this summer, the US Navy’s newest and largest nuclear-powered supercarrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), departed from Norfolk, Virginia. The carrier was deployed to the US European Command, and in July, transited the Strait of Gibraltar and began operations in the Mediterranean.

Only weeks ago, it was expected that CVN-78 and her Carrier Strike Group (CSG) would head to the Middle East, where the United States Navy has maintained a near constant presence since October 2023. However, the US Navy had other plans.

The USS Gerald R. Ford’s Eventful Last Middle East Deployment

The rotation of US Navy flattops to the region, which began after the Iranian-backed Hamas carried out its terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, began with USS Gerald R. Ford rushing to the eastern Mediterranean.

CVN-78 saw the 2023 deployment twice extended, reaching 262 days by the time the aircraft carrier returned to Norfolk. However, instead of returning to the Middle East region, on Monday, the US Navy announced that the carrier and its escorts transited the Strait of Dover over the weekend and are now operating in the North Sea. This is the first time a US Navy nuclear-powered carrier transited the Strait since USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) last October.

“Gerald R. Ford’s agile transit through the Strait of Dover between England and France is a testament to our power projection capability that supports peace through strength,” said Capt. Dave Skarosi, commanding officer of USS Gerald R. Ford. “Our skilled navigation team ensures that the world’s largest aircraft carrier brings our capability as a forward-positioned force anytime, anyplace, to defend the Euro-Atlantic region from hostile action.”

Where Is the USS Gerald R. Ford Headed Instead?

It is unclear why USS Gerald R. Ford was redirected from the Mediterranean to the North Sea or how long it will operate in the region. The Navy cited the “inherent flexibility” of the carrier and its strike group.

“Carrier Strike Group Twelve is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality, and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests in the region,” the Navy explained.

This follows a similar deployment last year of CVN-75, which took part in joint exercises with NATO partners, including Norway, before heading to the Middle East. The crew of CVN-78 may also expect not to see home again until early 2026 or perhaps even later. Although it is unlikely to reach 262 days, USS Harry S. Truman’s last deployment lasted eight months, concluding in June.

It was quite an eventful time at sea for the Truman Strike Group (CSG-8)—as the warship suffered damage after colliding with a freighter near the Suez Canal, and returned home with three fewer Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters. One was shot down last December in a friendly fire incident, while two others were lost overboard during operations this spring.

USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the oldest US flattop in service, is currently deployed to the Middle East, having made a port call to Bahrain, the first for a US aircraft carrier since 2020. The question is whether the US Navy will end its nearly two-year-long rotation of carriers to the Middle East when CVN-68’s deployment concludes. Or could USS Gerald R. Ford take over the operations, as its current deployment only began in June?

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

Image: Wikimedia Commons.