The Daily · Podcast summary
What Went Wrong on the U.S.S. Lincoln?
My colleague John Ismay, a former Navy man, explains what went wrong on the USS Lincoln, how it could impact the U.S. military's war-fighting capability, and what kind of toll it's taken on the men and women in uniform.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 🍔Food quality and quantity on the USS Lincoln have been severely lacking, with sailors receiving meager rations and lacking fresh produce for months.1:39
- 😔The extended deployment and harsh conditions are leading to severe mental and physical exhaustion among sailors, raising concerns about their well-being and safety.2:24
- 🚢The USS Lincoln's deployment has been extended far beyond the typical 6-month period, reaching 270 days without a liberty port, causing significant strain on the crew.7:03
- 💥The destruction of the U.S. Navy's logistics hub in Bahrain by Iran has forced a massive rerouting of supplies to Diego Garcia, extending the supply chain by thousands of miles.17:50
- 📉The limited number of available aircraft carriers means that extended deployments and subsequent maintenance create significant gaps in U.S. military presence in other critical regions.32:25
- 🚫No ports in the region are safe enough for an aircraft carrier to dock without being vulnerable to Iranian missile attacks, forcing ships to remain at sea for extended periods.34:00
Chapters
- 0:29Introduction to the USS Lincoln's Deployment Issues
- 1:54Deteriorating Conditions and Food Scarcity on Board
- 3:21Mental Health and Safety Concerns
- 5:29The Logistical Nightmare: Bahrain's Destruction
- 11:43No Safe Ports and Strategic Implications
- 16:50The Broader Military Impact: A Zero-Sum Game
- 23:46Historical Context and Planning Failures
- 38:38The 'Break Glass' Emergency Plan and Opportunity Costs
- 45:27Sailors' Desire to Go Home
The digest
Rachel Abrams, host of The Daily, speaks with John Ismay, a former Navy man, about the dire conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Family members of sailors on the ship have been raising alarms about the conditions, which include a much longer deployment than expected, trouble getting mail, and insufficient food. The conversation delves into the specifics of these issues, their broader implications for the U.S. military, and the geopolitical context surrounding the deployment.
Unprecedented Deployment Length and Its Impact
Abrams begins by highlighting the unusual length of the USS Lincoln's deployment. Ismay explains that a typical deployment for a warship in peacetime is about six months. While deployments stretched to seven or eight months after 9/11 due to the limited number of aircraft carriers, the USS Lincoln's situation is far more extreme. Having deployed on November 21st, the ship was expected back in San Diego by May but has been extended twice. As of the podcast recording, the USS Lincoln had been at sea for 270 days straight without any liberty port, meaning no opportunity for the crew to step foot on land. Ismay emphasizes that this is akin to working for almost a year without weekends off and without leaving one's office or even one's floor, given the massive, interconnected, windowless metal box that is an aircraft carrier.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 4-minute article, 5 more sections, and every new episode from The Daily and the creators you follow.
- Deteriorating Conditions and Food Scarcity
- Mental Health and Safety Concerns
- The Logistical Nightmare: Bahrain's Destruction
- No Safe Ports and Strategic Implications
- The Broader Military Impact: A Zero-Sum Game
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