After nearly a year at sea, the USS Abraham Lincoln is returning to its homeport in San Diego following one of the longest aircraft carrier deployments in the modern era.
The flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3 departed San Diego in November 2025 for what was initially planned as a routine deployment in the Pacific. However, in February 2026, the carrier was diverted to the Middle East to support U.S. military operations following the outbreak of war with Iran.
The deployment ultimately lasted 321 days, making it the second-longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam War, behind only the USS Gerald R. Ford’s 326-day deployment.
During the historic mission, the crew spent 265 consecutive days without a port call, an extraordinary stretch that tested the sailors and their families back home.
After being relieved by the USS George Washington, the Lincoln began its journey back toward California, making stops in Thailand and Guam before continuing across the Pacific toward San Diego.
For the sailors aboard the carrier, the return home is about more than the end of a deployment. It is a long-awaited reunion with families and loved ones after months apart.
Among those looking forward to the homecoming are sailors who missed major family milestones while deployed — including the birth of children.
After 321 days away from home, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its crew are finally heading back to San Diego.
photo credit: YouTube NBC4 video
