Cheyenne Suarez

World's biggest aircraft carrier to leave Red Sea after ship blaze

Article (news)

ussgeraldford

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RKieouROpOI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>WASHINGTON - The USS Gerald R. Ford -- the world&#x27;s largest aircraft carrier -- is playing a key role in the US-Israeli war against Iran, but has suffered problems during its extended deployment.</p><p>The carrier has now been at sea for almost nine months and will reportedly soon set sail for the island of Crete for repairs after a blaze broke out aboard the ship last week.</p><p>Below are some key facts about the aircraft carrier.</p><div><strong>- Middle East deployment -</strong></div><p>The withdrawal of the Ford would leave a significant gap in US forces in the region, where the dozens of warplanes it carries have taken part in more than two weeks of strikes against Iran.</p><p>But the New York Times quoted a military official as saying the Ford will probably be relieved by another carrier -- the USS George H.W. Bush -- which is preparing to deploy to the Middle East.</p><div><strong>- Massive warship -</strong></div><p>The ship is the first Ford-class carrier -- a new design that will gradually replace older Nimitz-class ships -- and was commissioned by President Donald Trump in 2017. The $13-billion vessel embarked on its first deployment five years later in 2022.</p><p>The carrier -- powered by two nuclear reactors -- displaces 100,000 long tons when fully loaded, is more than 1,100 feet (335 meters) long and can sail at more than 34 miles (55 kilometers) per hour.</p><p>The ship is crewed by more than 4,000 sailors and is accompanied by multiple guided missile destroyers.</p><div><strong>- Nearly nine months at sea -</strong></div><p>The Ford has been at sea for more than eight months -- a deployment that has already seen it take part in US operations in the Caribbean, where Washington&#x27;s forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, interdicted sanctioned tankers and seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.</p><p>A fire broke out in a laundry room aboard the carrier last week, injuring two sailors and causing major damage to some 100 beds.</p><p>&quot;There were about 100 beds that were significantly damaged,&quot; a US defense official said Tuesday, while adding that it had not impacted the carrier&#x27;s operations and all sailors have a place to sleep.</p><p>The carrier has also reportedly suffered significant problems with its toilet system while at sea, with US media saying clogs and long lines for restrooms on the ship.</p><p>The issue is not new -- a 2020 report from the US Government Accountability Office said the ship&#x27;s toilet system was subject to &quot;unexpected and frequent clogging&quot; and requires acid flushes on a regular basis to clear it, at a cost of $400,000 each time.</p><p>The Navy acknowledged the reports of toilet problems in a statement last month, but cited ship leadership as saying that &quot;clog incidents are addressed promptly by trained damage control and engineering personnel, with minimal downtime.&quot;</p><p>Senator Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday sharply criticized the extended deployment of the ship.</p><p>&quot;The Ford and its crew have been pushed to the brink after nearly a year at sea, and they have been paying the price for President Donald Trump&#x27;s reckless military decisions,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>wd/md</p>

<p>The USS Gerald R. Ford -- the world's largest aircraft carrier -- will reportedly soon set sail for the island of Crete for repairs after a blaze broke out aboard the ship last week.</p>

The USS Gerald R. Ford -- the world's largest aircraft carrier -- will reportedly soon set sail for the island of Crete for repairs after a blaze broke out aboard the ship last week.