The US Navy is rushing to deploy more carriers across multiple theatres as it grapples with delayed construction timelines and a shortage of available carriers.
The United States Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) was set to begin her next deployment in just under a month, as she takes part in the upcoming Northern Edge 2025 exercises off the coast of Alaska. However, the warship may be deployed from her home port of San Diego a bit earlier than previously planned.
According to a report from Naval News on Monday, the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) “awarded an urgent contract to fuel [the carrier] with 1.7 million gallons of JP-5 jet fuel.” Although the carrier’s nuclear reactors provide the warship with unlimited range and endurance, it still requires refueling for its aircraft.
The USS Abraham Lincoln Needs Refueling
Each Nimitz-class supercarrier has the capacity to hold approximately three million gallons of JP-5 fuel in its onboard tanks, which is typically sufficient for refueling 50 aircraft 20 times. However, getting that fuel to the carrier is no small task, especially when time is of the essence.
The base’s fuel depot could theoretically transfer 300,000 gallons per hour, but the issue is compounded by the fact that other ships must also be provided with fuel.
As Naval News further reported, the current “compelling urgency” required the US Navy to exercise “its authority to limit the number of bids and proposals.” In this case, the sea service opted to go with the only California-based firm that could meet its request.
The San Pedro-based Jankovich Company has been tasked with fueling CVN-72 via a pair of barges that can transport the fuel from Naval Base Point Loma (NBPL) to Naval Air Station North Island Berth Lima, where the supercarrier is currently moored. The barges will fuel the USS Abraham Lincoln by shuttling back and forth from the Fuel Depot to NAS North Island. A similar process was used to onload 1.2 million gallons of the same aviation fuel to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) last month. However, it is unclear when CVN-71, which recently completed its Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) maintenance period, will be deployed.
After CVN-72 is fueled up and finally deploys, it will also be under a new captain. Capt. Daniel Keeler took command of the USS Abraham Lincoln at a ceremony last month.
The Navy Cannot Be Everywhere at Once
The United States Navy has only 11 nuclear-powered carriers in service, but its fleet remains stretched thin with two of the Nimitz-class flattops now operating in the Middle East. The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) arrived in the region in early April, replacing the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), which has since returned to the United States in advance of its midlife overhaul.
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) joined CVN-75 last month, while the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the lead vessel of the Navy’s newest class of nuclear-powered supercarriers, is believed to be en route to the Mediterranean.
Since 2023, the Pentagon has rotated numerous carriers to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to deter Iran and its regional proxies. This left the US Navy without a carrier to operate in the Indo-Pacific, as the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) returned to the United States after being the only forward-deployed carrier in the fleet. The USS George Washington (CVN-73) has since taken on that role, and recently made a port visit to Manila, following flight operations in the Philippine Sea.
America Needs More Aircraft Carriers!
The situation may get worse for the US Navy before it gets better, as USS Nimitz is set to be retired next year, while her replacement, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), is not expected to enter service until March 2027. The still-under-construction flattop had been scheduled to be handed over to the Navy this summer, but the timeline has been pushed back as the carrier continues to resolve issues with its systems.
In the meantime, the US Navy will need to continue stretching its carrier deployments and rush to get them returned to service.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-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.
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