CVN-72

• USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72): The CVN-72 is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, named after the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. It is the fifth ship of its class. • Commissioned in 1989: USS Abraham Lincoln was commissioned on November 11, 1989, at Newport News, Virginia, and has been a key asset in US naval operations since then. • Operation Desert Storm Arrival: The carrier deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm just months after commissioning, arriving in the Persian Gulf in May 1991. • "Mission Accomplished" Speech: President George W. Bush delivered his famous "Mission Accomplished" speech from the flight deck of CVN-72 on May 1, 2003, after the initial invasion phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. • Homeport Moves: The Abraham Lincoln has had several homeports, including Alameda, California; Everett, Washington; and Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. • Longest Deployment: In 2019-2020, the ship completed a deployment lasting over 295 days, one of the longest carrier deployments since the Vietnam War. • Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH): In 2017, CVN-72 underwent a four-year RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, which included refueling its nuclear reactors and major upgrades. • Carrier Air Wing 2: The Abraham Lincoln is the home to Carrier Air Wing 2, which deploys with a variety of strike fighters, electronic warfare, airborne early warning, and helicopter squadrons. • First Combat Use of F-35C: In 2021, the Abraham Lincoln became the first carrier to deploy with the U.S. Navy's F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter as part of its air wing. • Humanitarian Missions: CVN-72 has participated in several humanitarian missions, including providing disaster relief following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.