NYT: War Against Iran Strains US Aircraft Carriers
Washington (ANTARA) - The New York Times reported on Tuesday (2/9) that Iranian attacks have disrupted US Navy supply chains in the Middle East, placing a burden on aircraft carriers, destroyers, and amphibious ships that remain stationed in the region for an indefinite period.
The US Navy has a total of only 11 aircraft carriers, and has deployed four of them to the Middle East for the conflict, the report stated.
Several of the remaining aircraft carriers are undergoing lengthy repairs in shipyards and will not be able to be redeployed for several years.
The report mentioned that there are currently two aircraft carriers and 12 destroyers in the Middle East assisting in enforcing a blockade against Iranian ports.
The US Navy has approximately 20 ships in the Middle East, transporting around 20,000 sailors and marines.
“The logistical challenge is immense,” the report said.
Recent reports regarding the replacement of the USS Abraham Lincoln highlight the extraordinary pressure exerted by the prolonged US-Iran war on the aircraft carrier.
As of the end of August, the USS Abraham Lincoln had been deployed for almost nine months, including an extended period of operations in the Middle East.
Reports mentioned shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, safety concerns on the ship’s deck, disruptions to mail delivery, as well as deteriorating mental health among the crew.
The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has lasted much longer than usual, was partly driven by the lack of secure access to logistics hubs and ports in the Middle East following attacks from Iran.
Damage to US Navy logistics infrastructure in Bahrain at the start of the war on 28 February has made the replenishment of supplies and routine maintenance more difficult.
The NYT report added that other ports in the region capable of accommodating aircraft carriers or supply ships are also within range of Iranian missiles and drones, rendering them inaccessible.