# USS Abraham Lincoln **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 15, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359 "2026-08-15T21:31:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/402 "2026-08-21T21:27:38Z")
I’m waiting for the USS _Robert S. McNamara._ ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/403 "2026-08-21T21:45:10Z")
I’m fond of the name USS Esses. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/404 "2026-08-21T22:35:04Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > All available info supports that The Washington was not supposed to relieve the USS Lincoln. Carrier Strike Group 5 (USS George Washington, cruiser USS Robert Smalls, and destroyer USS Shoup) was in the middle of a planned South China Sea patrol deployment, which included Port Calls in Vietnam and the Philippines and continued patrol of the South China Sea after participating in the Valiant Shield 2026 multinational exercise. Of course, Carrier strike groups can and have been reassigned at any time to address emergent political crises. But if Hegsbreath or anyone from CENTCOM says this was a planned relief all along, I would say they are lying. I’m happy that the _Lincoln_ sailors get to go home, but has anyone asked how the crew of the _Washington_ feel about this? “Hey, guys, you’re on your way to an assignment that caused untold misery for the crew of the previous ship. Don’t know how long you’ll be there, but when things get awful enough to make the news, we’ll start looking for another carrier to come take your place.” From your description, it sounds like the _Washington_ was in the middle of a deployment when they got the call to head to the Strait of Hormuz. That means the crew has already put in weeks or months at sea, and the ship didn’t have a chance to stock up on soap and all the other things the _Lincoln_ ran out of. In six months, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start hearing about the crew of the _Washington_ trying to jump overboard. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/405 "2026-08-21T22:53:28Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > …but has anyone asked how the crew of the _Washington_ feel about this? This is the first thing that I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/406 "2026-08-22T01:10:37Z")
Much as it disgusts me, TFG is going to get an aircraft carrier named after him. With only a few exceptions, they’re named after former presidents nowadays. They’ve never been named after living former presidents, so there’s always some hope for a silver lining if it’s built on schedule (wink wink nudge nudge). What’s truly ironic though is the speculation that CVN-81 will be renamed after TFG comes from his executive order linked in the CNN article where he is directing the Navy to look into redesigning CVN-81 to remove the electromagnetic catapults and replace them with steam, and does not use the name Doris Miller, instead only referring to the ship as CVN-81: > Sec. 2. Restoring Steam and Hydraulic Systems to Carriers. Within 60 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of War, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, shall provide to the President, through the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA), a plan on the required measures to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Weapons Elevators with steam and hydraulic systems for the construction of CVN-81, including timelines and resourcing requirements. If that happens, at least it’ll plaster his name on pointless, useless, wasteful graft, which would be a proper legacy for him. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/407 "2026-08-22T01:23:27Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > They’ve never been named after living former presidents, so there’s always some hope for a silver lining if it’s built on schedule (wink wink nudge nudge). There’s one who would beg to differ: > **[USS George H. W. Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_H._W._Bush)** > > USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) is the tenth and final Nimitz-class supercarrier of the United States Navy. She is named for the 41st president of the United States and 11th director of central intelligence George H. W. Bush, who was a naval aviator during World War II. The vessel's callsign is Avenger, named after the TBF Avenger aircraft flown by then-Lieutenant Bush in World War II. Construction began in 2003 at Northrop Grumman, in Newport News, Virginia, and was completed in 2009 at a cost ... ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/408 "2026-08-22T01:36:17Z")
There is no USS Nixon and no plans for one. I’m surprised there are plans for a USS Clinton, not a fan of that. There should never be a USS Trump. The Carter is a sub of course by his own request. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/409 "2026-08-22T01:52:57Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Much as it disgusts me, TFG is going to get an aircraft carrier named after him. With only a few exceptions, they’re named after former presidents nowadays. Right, _former_ presidents. Not the sitting president who has a huge conflict of interest in that all of the people making these decisions serve at his pleasure. So that is bad enough, but to steal the honor from a decorated Black Navy war hero who died in the service of his country is both unconscionable and disgusting. I’m sick to my stomach just thinking about it. So of course he is going to do it, or at least try to. But CVN-81 is not going to be commissioned until well after Trump leaves office (expected in 2034). So unless the U.S. devolves even further into a despotic hellhole, there is a good chance the renaming will be reversed before the ship sails. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/410 "2026-08-22T04:46:37Z")
A bit of light humor for this serious thread: > **[Navy Announces Trump class of Aircraft Carriers](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/21/800087449/community/n/)** > > Today the US Navy revealed the concepts of a plan to build the Trump Class of Aircraft Carriers. The lead ship, USS Donald J Trump will be clean beautiful coal powered and will feature multi level… ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/411 "2026-08-22T11:43:23Z")
Needs more sand traps. Lots more. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/412 "2026-08-22T13:52:35Z")
How big is the penalty for putting the ball in the ocean? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/413 "2026-08-22T14:03:59Z")
You have to retrieve it. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/414 "2026-08-22T14:10:28Z")
“He wasn’t trying to commit suicide; he was merely shagging golf balls.” ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/415 "2026-08-22T14:24:30Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Much as it disgusts me, TFG is going to get an aircraft carrier named after him. If he was an entity with even a molecule of honor and self awareness he would decline the honor. I’m glad I don’t have to defend him bumping the Black hero to fluff himself. That’s an unpolishable turd. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/416 "2026-08-22T14:27:55Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > You have to retrieve it. “Play it where is lies.” ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/417 "2026-08-22T17:06:21Z")
> [@robby](#): > > _former_ presidents. Not the sitting president who has a huge conflict of interest in that all of the people making these decisions serve at his pleasure. I was never really enthusiastic about naming ships of any sort after President but it started with the 1775 _[Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Washington_(1775))_ and [continued intermittently](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._military_vessels_named_after_presidents) since then, with a number still alive when their namesake was commissioned. However what was named can be renamed with a stroke of the pen by the Secretary of the Navy. Best course would be to promise to name the lead ship of the _Trump_-class BBG 'cause it’ll never be built. I could get behind renaming _Doris Miller_ after him then, leaving all the Trump-inspired decorations and accoutrements on board, renaming it USS _Felon_. Miller can get a subsequent _Ford_-class carrier named after him, one that has not been sullied. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/418 "2026-08-22T17:35:03Z")
Not the same issue, but Carriers should have retained the old naming system like Enterprise. There should be a Yorktown as an example. Somewhat disgraceful there is not. At least a coalition of Navy History Buffs & Trekkies convince that Navy Dept there should be a 3rd carrier named Enterprise. If you do name them after people, they should be important to the Navy or Presidents that served in the Navy like Teddy and JFK. Nimitz was of course a great choice. Doris Miller is a somewhat odd choice, he was a sailor and a hero but it seemed like a level of fame amplified mainly by a movie. Naming a Destroyer after him makes sense, a Carrier, not so much. John Paul Jones has a DDG named for him, he seems like a figure that should have a carrier, or at least use Ranger again as they were named after one of his ships. (John Paul Jones is generally considered the father of the US Navy). President Ford was and Papa Bush were Navy that served on Carriers. Bush as a pilot. Nixon need not apply, disgrace and all. Johnson was a Commander in WWII and Carter requested a Submarine be named for him instead of a Carrier as he was a Nuke Engineer on Subs. FDR was also an Asst Sect Nav like Theodore. I don’t really like Carriers named for Generals. The John Adams would be fine, he ordered the 6 Frigates that restarted the US Navy. Many hate him, but Reagan did oversee the largest peacetime Navy in world history. So I think he is worthy. I feel like Brigadier General [William “Billy” Mitchell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchell#Promoting_air_power) has been overlooked far too long. Never had a carrier named for him, not even in WWII when we had a 100+. He championed Air Power at sea. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/419 "2026-08-22T18:00:15Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Many hate him, but Reagan did oversee the largest peacetime Navy in world history. So I think he is worthy. He also served in the military, sort of, he made propaganda films but he was in uniform. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/420 "2026-08-22T18:02:50Z")
But most importantly, he set the GOP on a path to MAGA. Fuck’em. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/421 "2026-08-22T18:10:37Z")
I’d give that dishonor to Nixon (who served on a Navy ship during WWII but didn’t see action). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359.md?page=22)