USS George Washington heads to Middle East to relieve USS Lincoln
What's new: The replacement carrier could reach Oman around Aug. 22, leaving no US aircraft carrier in the Pacific.
The USS George Washington is sailing to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln after reports of food shortages, poor sanitation and severe strain on sailors during the Lincoln’s extended deployment. BBC tracking analysis said the George Washington, recently near Malaysia, could reach Duqm, Oman, around Aug. 22. The Lincoln has been at sea since Dec. 11 on a mission initially expected to end in May. Relatives of sailors told US media that some crew members had considered or attempted jumping overboard, while the Navy acknowledged supply problems but rejected claims of a broader mental health crisis. President Donald Trump confirmed a replacement carrier was en route but dismissed concerns that the deployment had lasted too long.