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USS Abraham Lincoln
Armed GroupUS

USS Abraham Lincoln

Nimitz-class US carrier on Gulf station since blockade's June end; part of a 24-ship build-up.

On 21 August, USS Abraham Lincoln was relieved in the Arabian Sea after a record uninterrupted deployment marked by crew mental-health strain and supply shortages.

Last refreshed: 24 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can Iran's ballistic missiles actually threaten a US carrier strike group?

Timeline for USS Abraham Lincoln

#174 21 Aug

Departed after a record uninterrupted period at sea

Iran Conflict 2026: A fresh carrier, and a worn-out crew
#144 30 Jun

Anchored the US carrier presence in theatre

Iran Conflict 2026: Second Marine unit reaches the Gulf
#131 18 Jun

Remained on station in the Gulf despite MOU immediate-blockade-removal clause

Iran Conflict 2026: Two US carriers stay, blockade runs on
#132 18 Jun

Held station in the Gulf with no CENTCOM drawdown order as blockade enforcement ended

Iran Conflict 2026: The carriers that did not leave
#132 18 Jun

Mentioned in: CENTCOM ends Iran blockade a day early

Iran Conflict 2026
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Background

USS Abraham Lincoln is a US aircraft carrier operated by Carrier Strike Group 9. It is a Nimitz-class carrier homeported at NAS North Island in San Diego.

On 2 March 2026, the IRGC claimed it fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles at Lincoln. Lincoln recorded no hit, and flight operations continued.

On 18 June 2026, Lincoln remained on station with USS George H.W. Bush after CENTCOM halted blockade enforcement and issued no drawdown order. It was commissioned in 1989 and carries more than 60 embarked aircraft. Lincoln's operator is the US Navy, and its homeport is in California.

Key Issues
Carrier rotation

USS Abraham Lincoln ends its deployment

On 21 August, USS George Washington began night flight operations in the Arabian Sea and relieved USS Abraham Lincoln. The handover followed Lincoln's record uninterrupted deployment, which had been marked by crew mental-health strain and supply shortages.

The same 21 August handover Left Asia without a US carrier strike group during the transition. For Lincoln, the relief ended a deployment that had tied the carrier directly to the Iran conflict's demand on US naval availability. It also shifted the Navy's regional allocation.

Common Questions
What is USS Abraham Lincoln?
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier operated by the US Navy. In 2026 it was deployed to the Arabian Sea during the Iran conflict, where it was targeted by four IRGC anti-ship ballistic missiles on 2 March 2026; CENTCOM reported no hits.Source: CENTCOM
Was USS Abraham Lincoln hit by Iranian missiles?
No. The IRGC fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles at the Lincoln on 2 March 2026 in the Arabian Sea. CENTCOM stated the carrier was not hit and the missiles did not come close; flight operations continued throughout.Source: CENTCOM
Can Iran sink a US aircraft carrier?
Iran claims its anti-ship ballistic missiles and Cruise Missiles can threaten US carriers. The 2 March 2026 salvo of four missiles against the Lincoln failed to hit, and CENTCOM said the missiles were not close. The IRGC later claimed to have struck a separate "US destroyer" using Ghadr-380 missiles; the Pentagon neither confirmed nor denied damage.Source: CENTCOM / IRGC
What class is USS Abraham Lincoln?
USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, hull number CVN-72. The Nimitz class displaces approximately 104,000 tonnes and can carry over 60 aircraft.Source: US Navy
What missiles did Iran fire at USS Abraham Lincoln?
The IRGC fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles at USS Abraham Lincoln on 2 March 2026. The specific missile type was not confirmed in the initial CENTCOM statement; the IRGC separately claimed use of Ghadr-380 ballistic missiles (2,000 km range) in a later attack it described as targeting a US destroyer.Source: IRGC / CENTCOM
Why is USS Abraham Lincoln still in the Gulf after the Iran deal?
CENTCOM formally ended the naval blockade of Iran on 18 June 2026 but issued no drawdown order. USS Abraham Lincoln remains on station as part of a wider US theatre build-up of roughly 24 warships and 50,000 personnel, while the Doha diplomatic track stays paused until Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral concludes.Source: Lowdown
What is USS Abraham Lincoln's role in the Iran blockade?
USS Abraham Lincoln was one of two carrier strike groups enforcing the US naval blockade of Iran until CENTCOM formally ended it on 18 June 2026. No drawdown order followed, so the carrier has stayed on station as part of the wider US posture during the paused Doha talks.Source: Lowdown
What class of aircraft carrier is USS Abraham Lincoln?
USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN-72), commissioned in 1989, displacing approximately 104,000 tonnes and capable of carrying over 60 aircraft.Source: US Navy
Where is USS Abraham Lincoln stationed in June 2026?
As of 18 June 2026, USS Abraham Lincoln was on station in or near the Gulf on the day CENTCOM formally ended the naval blockade of Iran. No drawdown order followed, and the carrier remains in theatre as part of a wider US build-up.Source: Lowdown
Source Material
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)