[By Observer Net, Wang Shipu] According to a report by the US Naval Institute website on June 24th, after six months of maintenance, the US Navy's "Ford" aircraft carrier (CVN-78) "on schedule" left Norfolk Naval Base and headed to Europe for its second combat deployment in eight years of service.

Notably, with the general retirement of the US Navy's "Ticonderoga" class cruisers, this deployment marks the first time that a US East Coast aircraft carrier battle group has used an "Arleigh Burke" class missile destroyer as an air defense command ship. The "Winston Churchill" destroyer (DDG-81) will serve as the air defense command ship, and the rank of its commanding officer has been upgraded from O-5 to O-6.

The "Ford" aircraft carrier left Norfolk Base on June 23rd, USNI

In addition to Churchill, Ford also deployed with four "Arleigh Burke" class missile destroyers under the command of the Second Destroyer Squadron and the 8th Carrier Air Wing.

Captain Paul Lanzilotto, commander of the 12th Aircraft Carrier Battle Group, told reporters at Pier 11 of Norfolk Naval Station that after Ford picks up the 8th Carrier Air Wing later this week, it will cross the Atlantic to the European theater.

He said, "We are going to the European operational area. This is our first stop, and we have strong mobility. We can go to where the target is and then respond."

However, the aircraft carrier battle group commander did not mention whether the Ford would go to the Middle East. But he said he did not think (our plan) had changed much from previous plans.

These destroyers are the "Mitchell" (DDG-57), "Mahan" (DDG-72), "Bainbridge" (DDG-96), and "Forrest Sherman" (DDG-98). The "Forrest Sherman" left Norfolk Naval Base on May 6th and is currently in the Red Sea.

In May 2023, the "Ford" aircraft carrier left Norfolk Naval Base and deployed to Europe. This was the first normal deployment of the "Ford" aircraft carrier.

However, the "Ford" coincidentally encountered the turmoil in the Middle East. After the "Al-Aqsa Flood" incident, the "Ford" was redeployed to the eastern Mediterranean, and its deployment plan was extended three times, finally reaching a total deployment duration of 261 days, with 239 days spent at sea.

Last January, the "Ford" returned to its home base in Norfolk, ending its first normal deployment.

USNI commented that since the Israel-Palestine conflict, the US Central Command has increasingly needed aircraft carriers from the East Coast. According to the USNI News Aircraft Carrier Deployment Database, by 2024, the Middle East commitment accounted for 41% of the aircraft carrier deployment days, higher than 8% in the previous year. Among them, the "Truman" and "Eisenhower" aircraft carriers from the East Coast have been fighting with the Houthi rebels during their deployments.

On May 27th this year, after losing three aircraft, the "Truman" ended its combat mission against the Houthi rebels in Yemen and returned to the United States. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotto said they had learned from the experience of the "Truman" battle group.

In addition to the East Coast aircraft carriers, aircraft carriers deployed in the Asia-Pacific region have also been redeployed to the Middle East to replace American aircraft carriers. Currently, the US Navy's "Carl Vinson" (CVN-70) is deployed in the North Arabian Sea, and the "Nimitz" (CVN-68) is en route to relieve the "Carl Vinson". This is also the last deployment of the "Nimitz" aircraft carrier.

This article is an exclusive work of Observer Net. Without permission, it cannot be reprinted.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7519730103450960434/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion below with the [up/down] buttons.