South Korean media: Humiliation of the US's strongest aircraft carrier ... Ford-class aircraft carrier's laundry room caught fire and withdrew from the Middle East

¬ Burned for 30 hours, crew members took short naps on the deck, heading to the U.S. military base in Greece for repairs ... or deploying the Bush-class to fill the gap

On the 17th, The New York Times (NYT) quoted military sources reporting that the U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, which served as a naval base for the U.S. in the war with Iran, has sailed to the U.S. military base on Crete Island, Greece, and will undergo about a week of repairs. On the 12th, a fire broke out in the laundry room of the Ford, causing the fire to spread and damage multiple facilities. Although the reactor and other core equipment were not affected, after 30 hours of firefighting, the living conditions of the crew deteriorated sharply, forcing them to take short naps on the deck or tables.

The Ford was commissioned in 2017, with a cost of 13 billion U.S. dollars (about 19 trillion South Korean won), making it the largest aircraft carrier in the world. Its length is approximately equal to three football fields, and its height is about equivalent to 25 floors. It features many spaces for over 4,500 crew members, and is called a "naval fortress." Additionally, it is equipped with the most advanced weapon systems owned by the U.S. military. However, it has been plagued by frequent malfunctions, especially since 2023, when the toilet pipes have continuously had problems. In January, it was reported that 70% of the 750 toilets were clogged, and sailors had to wait up to 45 minutes to use the restroom.

According to NYT, the Ford had already been deployed at sea for 10 months before being used in military operations against Iran, which is unusually longer than the deployment time of one aircraft carrier. Usually, aircraft carrier crews work on board for six months and then take a six-month break on shore, but currently, the crew has been working continuously for almost a year without a shift change, leading to low morale. Additionally, the George H.W. Bush-class, which is currently undergoing repairs along the coast of Virginia, may be deployed to the Middle East by the end of the month to fill the gap left by the Ford.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original: toutiao.com/article/1860066649982154/

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