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USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier leaves Middle East amid Iran fight
The Hill ^ | 03/23/26 | Ellen Mitchell

Posted on 03/23/2026 4:34:35 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

The United States’ largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, on Monday reached Crete, Greece for repairs after leaving the Middle East due to a fire onboard.

Photos from AFP show the aircraft carrier arrived at Souda Bay naval base, where it had last stopped in February for food, fuel and ammunition. The ship was damaged due to a fire in the laundry room on March 12 amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

With the Ford now in Greece, the U.S. military only has one aircraft carrier in the war against Iran unless Washington sends another such vessel to replace it, leaving a gap for U.S. forces in the Middle East.

The Navy said the Gerald R. Ford arrived at Souda Bay for maintenance and repairs on Monday but “remains fully mission capable.”

“The port call allows for the ship to undergo efficient assessment, repairs, and resupply. Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group continues its overseas deployment,” it said in a statement.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
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1 posted on 03/23/2026 4:34:35 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Was Chevy Chase the onboard entertainment?


2 posted on 03/23/2026 4:36:55 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. )
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To: MinorityRepublican; Alberta's Child

Welp, that’s one naval vessel that won’t be able to contribute to the Iwo Jima Reenactment (as directed by Lindsey Graham).


3 posted on 03/23/2026 4:38:44 PM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (There is nothing new under the sun.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

He was afraid to meet up with Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Him and Kissinger. At least it was better to name the ship after him than Harvey Milk.


4 posted on 03/23/2026 4:39:33 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Ultra Sonic 007

LOL.


5 posted on 03/23/2026 4:40:52 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (If I leave here, it’s because I’m tired of arguing with geriatric parrots wearing MAGA hats.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

The MSM will play this up as Trump surrendering.


6 posted on 03/23/2026 4:49:30 PM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Laundry room.
Likely set by a traitor.


7 posted on 03/23/2026 4:53:08 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: MinorityRepublican

The Hill is quite lazy. They ever hear of the USS GHWBush and its Carrier Strike Group? What idiots at the Hill. Perhaps someone here will comment to them== but why bother?


8 posted on 03/23/2026 4:53:20 PM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: MinorityRepublican
"leaves the middle east"

LMAO. It traveled 560 miles from Haifa to Crete.

9 posted on 03/23/2026 4:55:34 PM PDT by montag813
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To: MinorityRepublican

Unfortunately, fires aboard aircraft carriers are all to common. Most are contained before they can do major damage.


10 posted on 03/23/2026 4:56:37 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (No Jesus. No Peace.... Know Jesus. Know peace.)
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To: montag813; MinorityRepublican; All

Exactly... not too far and also purposely vague to where else.
Through Suez Haifa (off Haifa, not anchored) then off Crete.

In re: prior just posted here... there will be 3 Carrier Strike groups fairly soon. This is from March 10, without any further opsec concern. 3 Carrier Strike Groups plus the Marine MEU onboard the Tripoli group. The Hill truly are juveniles, lightweight and fairly cognitively impaired.
And minority gopE batting zero-zero.

Here: https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/us-navy-prepares-third-carrier-strike-group-deployment-with-uss-george-h-w-bush-near-iran


11 posted on 03/23/2026 5:04:44 PM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Any mohamedans on board?


12 posted on 03/23/2026 5:06:31 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2
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To: Texas Eagle

Good one


13 posted on 03/23/2026 5:07:10 PM PDT by Palio di Siena (Kralik…..you get the wallet)
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To: John S Mosby

here will be 3 Carrier Strike groups fairly soon. This is from March 10, without any further opsec concern. >>. Don’t you usually stage your strategic stuff closer to the conflict?


14 posted on 03/23/2026 5:09:01 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2
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To: MinorityRepublican

Fire in the laundry, sewage in the halls, catapult that won’t fire. Sounds like the ship is living it’s namesake.


15 posted on 03/23/2026 5:16:12 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Opinions and belly buttons, everybody has one and they get to show them if they want to.)
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To: Sequoyah101

Seems like sabotage to me.


16 posted on 03/23/2026 5:16:54 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Some clown shoe probably threw a fuel contaminated rag or towel in a dryer.


17 posted on 03/23/2026 5:27:08 PM PDT by MrBambaLaMamba (עומד לצד ישראל. The only good commie is one that's dead - Country Joe McDonald )
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To: Mariner

Had heard a rumor regarding morale cratering among at least part of the crew, the suggestion being that the fire was set as a deliberate act of sabotage.

Of course it could be a result of a mistake or series of error made through overwork, fatigue, confusion, you name it.

The investigation had better be thorough.


18 posted on 03/23/2026 5:32:04 PM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: one guy in new jersey
Had heard a rumor regarding morale cratering among at least part of the crew

That's what I heard. They were pissed off that they weren't going home quite yet.

19 posted on 03/23/2026 5:33:25 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

this stuff happens when a carrier is deployed for over 9 months.


20 posted on 03/23/2026 5:33:40 PM PDT by microgood
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