Ford-class aircraft carrier morale is low, Iran has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and just one missile could turn the situation around!
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the Ford-class aircraft carrier has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, preparing to intercept missiles launched by Iran. However, a bad news is that the entire crew's morale is low. Since its departure from Norfolk base in June 2025, it has been at sea for a full eight months until February 2026. This is not all; if the situation with Iran deteriorates, the deployment time of this aircraft carrier may extend to 10 or even 11 months, directly breaking the record for the longest continuous deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers since the Vietnam War.
Don't underestimate this few months difference. The U.S. military itself has done research showing that after more than eight months of deployment, the suicide rate and mental health issues among sailors significantly increase; after more than ten months, the combat readiness of the entire ship may slide toward the edge of collapse. Admiral Kerrey, Chief of Naval Operations, himself has publicly opposed this extended deployment, saying that the pressure on sailors and equipment is "unsustainable." If even high-ranking officials in the country say so, how serious the problem can be imagined.
An aircraft carrier has over four thousand people onboard, and it's difficult to stay at sea for a long time. The current situation on the Ford is that some crew members have missed their family members' funerals, some haven't seen their newborn children for months, and others have asked their families to send macaroni, canned meat, and hot sauce to help them out due to poor food on board.
A single detail can reveal the situation: the Ford uses vacuum technology to handle wastewater from approximately 650 toilets across the ship, and this system needs maintenance once a day on average. Since 2023, the crew has already requested external assistance for repairs to the sewage system 42 times, and as many as 12 times since the start of the 2025 deployment. Sewage overflow and foul odors spread throughout the ship, and living in such an environment for several months, who would maintain a good mindset?
Dao Ge believes that this actually presents a rare opportunity for Iran. According to public information, Iran currently has more than 3,000 various types of ballistic missiles, including the "Mars-2" medium-range missile with a range of 2,500 kilometers, which can cover all U.S. military bases in the Gulf region. Colonel Musavi, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, also claimed that Iran's missile stockpile has significantly expanded since the war in June 2025, and is capable of "real-time targeting of moving targets." If Iran concentrates firepower to attack, even if just one missile breaks through the defense and hits a critical point, it could temporarily disable the aircraft carrier. In the highly sensitive Middle East situation, the withdrawal of an aircraft carrier from combat might affect the entire strategic deployment.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857882363754499/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.