The US Navy’s Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ABECSG) returned home Aug. 11, marking the end of a seven-month deployment to US 3rd and 7th Fleet area of operations in Asia Pacific.
The strike group’s flagship, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), arrived at Naval Air Station North Island, while Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) arrived at Naval Base San Diego today. USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) returned to Naval Station Everett, Washington.
Fitzgerald will return to San Diego at a later date.
After departing their homeport in San Diego, the ABECSG conducted dual carrier operations in the South China Sea with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group.
What made this deployment stand out is the fact that Abe was the first aircraft carrier to deploy with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, the first Marine Corps squadron to fly F-35C fighters embarked aboard the carrier.
Abraham Lincoln is also the first carrier to be led by a female commanding officer after US Navy Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt assumed command of the ship.
During the deployment, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, embarked aboard Lincoln, executed more than 21,307 fixed-wing and helicopter flight hours comprising of 10,250 sorties, 8,437 launches and 8,487 aircraft arrestments.
While underway for 220 days, ABECSG sailed over 65,000 nautical miles conducting deterrence and presence operations and multinational exercises, including maritime security operations, integrated training between surface and air units, long-range maritime strike, anti-submarine warfare, information warfare operations, maritime interdiction operations, personnel recovery, air defense operations, multiple ship navigation, formation maneuvering and refueling-at-sea operations.
“Abraham Lincoln Sailors have worked exceptionally hard during this dynamic deployment and should be proud of their accomplishments,” said Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, Abraham Lincoln commanding officer.
“It is incredibly humbling to serve alongside these professionals and observe their dedication to the mission. Every day of our seven month deployment, this talented crew displayed grit, resilience and professionalism in the execution of their jobs. Their hard work made the difference as we operated alongside joint and combined forces to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
While deployed, the strike group operated in some of the most heavily navigated waters of the Indo-Pacific including the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. The strike group successfully completed deterrence operations and exercises alongside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and multiple joint forces over the course of the year.
Notable exercises included joint exercise Valiant Shield in June 2022, and bilateral exercises Noble Fusion in February and Jungle Warfare in March, both with the Japanese Self-Defense Force, and, most recently, the ABECSG trained alongside 26 participating nations during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 in July.
“Over the past seven months, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group served as a flexible and dynamic response option and demonstrated its commitment to partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Rear Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3. “Our strike group conducted a myriad of joint and combined missions and exercises. Throughout the Indo-Pacific, it is clear how significant our relationships are with our allies and partners and how impactful every single Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Sailor and Marine has been since we departed in January.”
The strike group operated alongside other strike groups including the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, led by Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, led by Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2).
