Tag Archives: USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)

More Crazy Numbers from CVW-9

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An update to the tally for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), which just returned from a 322-day deployment to the Middle East, including over 150 days in a combat zone.

These are individual squadron return snippets:

Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet, logged over 4,500 flight hours while executing over 2,400 sorties, including 807 combat sorties. They expended 394,227 pounds of ordnance and successfully destroyed 33 one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles and anti-ship cruise missiles.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Oct. 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist ¬¬¬Seaman Cesar Zavala)

Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133: Flying the EA-18G Growler, the squadron logged 2,284 flight hours across 1,190 sorties, including 720 combat hours.

An EA-18G Growler, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Oct. 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Angel Campbell)

Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 flew more than 2,939 hours and completed 745 carrier-arrested landings while increasing qualifications and experience throughout the command. An amazing accomplishment for a four-aircraft det.

An E-2D Hawkeye, assigned to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 117, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Oct. 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Angel Campbell)

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71: The squadron logged more than 5,800 flight hours across 1,990 sorties, including 1,963 combat hours. The squadron’s maintenance department played a critical role in maintaining the squadron’s operational readiness, completing over 100,000 maintenance hours throughout the deployment to keep HSM-71’s 10 MH-60R Sea Hawks airborne across four warships.

An MH-60R Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, takes off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Sept. 13, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cesar Zavala)

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 logged more than 3,000 total flight hours across 1,032 sorties, including 940 combat flight hours. Their aircraft and crews successfully transferred 900 personnel and 750 critical parts for 12 ships and 88 aircraft in a contested combat environment, while maintaining continuous Search and Rescue (SAR) readiness to support CSG-3 and CVW-9 over 300 days at sea. Over 10 months, the squadron defended the carrier during multiple Hellfire engagements against enemy air and surface threats, moved over 14 million pounds of cargo and ordnance, and transported over 900 personnel within the CSG.

An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, transfers cargo on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during a vertical replenishment with John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207), Sept. 11, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shepard Fosdyke-Jackson)

Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, Detachment 2 (three CMV-22B Ospreys). The squadron successfully executed 269 logistics sorties, transporting critical personnel, high-priority cargo, and mail between the carrier, other ships within the strike group, and shore facilities. The high-performing detachment executed eight complex moves, logging 825 flight hours, 269 sorties, and 159 combat flight hours. The squadron delivered 340,069 pounds of cargo, 1,669 passengers, and 85 distinguished visitors. The detachment also completed the first-ever long-range sortie requiring midair refueling, delivering parts over 1,350 miles on 38 occasions.

A CMV-22B Osprey from Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 embarked aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), returns to its home station at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., following 10 months of operations in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexander Timewell)

Three key squadrons, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, and Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, have not been published.

I will add them if they pop up.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Oct. 1, 2026.  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist ¬¬¬Seaman Cesar Zavala)

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Oct. 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist ¬¬¬Seaman Cesar Zavala)

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Oct. 1, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Angel Campbell)

Welcome back, Big Abe!

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Sure, the Hegseth speech quickly became a Saturday Night Live cold open, but you have to salute the crew of Carrier Strike Group Three’s USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, who just completed 322 days deployed and earned a hard-won Presidential Unit Citation without an aircraft mishap.

She steamed into San Diego on Friday looking good, thanks to a quick five-day touch-up by local yard personnel in Laem Chabang Port, Thailand, on the way home, while her crew got some much-needed Libo at Pattaya Beach.

U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) returns to its home station at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., Oct. 8, 2026, following 10 months of operations in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandon Roberson)

Check out the “scoreboard,” similar to those seen on WWII fleet carriers, including 10 submarines and 33 surface ships, not to mention the drones and cruise missiles.

Sailors man the rails as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3, returns to its home port of San Diego, Oct. 8, 2026. Navy Seaman Edward Martisius 100826-N-LG060-1237

By the numbers:

  • The ship steamed more than 93,000 nautical miles, conducted 72 replenishments-at-sea, and received more than 20.5 million gallons of aviation fuel during the operations.
  • The 322 days nearly eclipse the epic 326-day cruise of USS Gerald R. Ford, which holds that dubious post-Cold War record, and nearly match the Vietnam-era deployment of USS Midway, which topped 332 days.
  • She went 265 days without a port call.
  • Over the deployment, the air wing safely completed 14,037 aircraft sorties and accumulated 31,460 forward-deployed flight hours.
  • Operation Epic Fury saw CVW-9 launch into a 38-day air and sea campaign “to degrade Iranian power projection capabilities and defend our national interests. The air wing destroyed offensive missile sites, production facilities, military infrastructure, and naval combatants before an early April ceasefire.”
  • This included 160 straight combat hours at the start of the operation.
  • CVW-9 expended 1,499 precision weapons, delivering over 1.37 million pounds of ordnance against U.S. Central Command priority targets during the air and sea campaign, “while simultaneously executing robust defensive operations to shield the strike group from attacks.”
  • The strike group shot down 77 one-way attack drones, sank 64 Iranian warships, and destroyed 21 anti-ship cruise missiles.

The nine squadrons in the air wing are:

  • Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 (F-35Cs)
  • Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 14, VFA-41 and VFA-151 (F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet)
  • Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 (EA-18G Growlers)
  • Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 (E-2D Hawkeyes)
  • Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 (MH-60R Seahawks)
  • Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 (MH-60S Seahawks)
  • Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 (CMV-22B Osprey COD)

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group consists of:

  • The flagship Abraham Lincoln with the embarked staff of Carrier Strike Group 3, Destroyer Squadron 21, and CVW-9.
  • The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) serves as the integrated air-and-missile defense commander. She returned home last week and, over 300 days, conducted 45 replenishments-at-sea, sailed over 85,000 nautical miles, safely transferred over 7,544,486 gallons of F-76 fuel and 175,288 gallons of JP-5 fuel, and completed 1,094 hours of flight quarters.
  • DESRON 21’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), which are underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet areas of operations, supporting global maritime security operations.

Lincoln is scheduled to enter a dry dock at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for several months of post-deployment maintenance and a dry dock overhaul, including deep corrosion removal, flight deck resurfacing, and in-depth catapult maintenance.

Lincoln’s place was taken by sister USS George Washington.

For reference, the Essex-class fleet carrier USS Hornet (CV-12) holds the all-time at-sea record, with 495 days deployed in the tail end of WWII (February 29, 1944, to July 7, 1945), taking part in major operations including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and strikes against Japanese forces and ships, including the Yamato.