As Americans continue to strengthen their military presence in the Middle East, the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush set sail on March 31 from the Norfolk Naval Base for a long deployment.
Announced over a week ago, the departure of the CVN-77 from the United States finally took place. The powerful ship left the Norfolk base in Virginia on the Atlantic coast for a new deployment, the destination of which has not yet been officially specified. However, it is highly likely that the USS George H. W. Bush and its escort, composed of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USS Ross (DDG-71), USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), and USS Mason (DDG-87), are heading towards the Mediterranean to strengthen the American military assets mobilized against Iran.
Currently, the US Navy only has one aircraft carrier engaged in Operation Epic Fury, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), operating from the Arabian Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), initially positioned in the early stages of the conflict in the eastern Mediterranean, then moved to the Red Sea at the beginning of March, but eventually turned back due to a fire that damaged part of its living quarters on March 12. It first retreated to the naval base of La Sude in Crete, before heading to Split, Croatia, where repairs will continue and its crew will relax. The sailors of the CVN-78, like their ship, seemed exhausted, having left the United States on June 24, 2025, operating initially in Europe before being recalled to the Caribbean to participate in operations against Venezuela, then crossing the Atlantic again to return to the Mediterranean and contribute to Epic Fury. Normally, the USS Gerald R. Ford, whose deployment was extended due to the lack of available aircraft carriers to participate in the war in Iran, is scheduled to return to its Norfolk base in May.
It is not yet known if the ship will be able to temporarily resume combat after its stopover in Croatia. In such a case, this would allow the US Navy to temporarily have three aircraft carriers available to strike the Iranians in about two weeks (the time it takes for the Bush to arrive in the operating area and for a second amphibious group to arrive from the Pacific), providing a significant boost to operations and being able to cover a possible amphibious and/or airborne operation if no agreement is reached between Washington and Tehran by then.
The latest evolution of nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, the USS George H. W. Bush, was commissioned in 2009. With a length of 333 meters, a maximum width of 78 meters, and a displacement of nearly 100,000 tons at full load, this ship, manned by 2900 sailors, in addition to the 2700 personnel of the embarked air group, can carry about 70 aircraft and helicopters. Currently on board are nine squadrons composing Carrier Air Wing 7, with F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter-bombers from VFA-83 (Rampagers), VFA-103 (Jolly Rogers), VFA-105 (Gunslingers), and VFA-131 (Wildcats), E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft from VAQ-140 (Patriots), E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aerial surveillance aircraft from VAW-116 (Sun Kings), MH-60 Seahawk helicopters from HSC-5 (Nightdippers) and HSM-46 (Grandmasters), as well as CMV-22B Osprey convertibles from VRM-40 (Mighty Bison).
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