# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/81 "2026-08-16T21:34:42Z")
I’m not sure we have all the answers, but [Kuwait is pretty goddamn pissed at the US](https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/kuwait-and-future-us-power-projection). Remember, they told the US to go pound sand after we dragged them into this war, and only relented under pressure to allow us to continue operations. For all we know they may be telling the US not to rebuild while they look to other partnerships for security in the region. ---
**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 16, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/82 "2026-08-16T21:43:42Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Can they just make the reactor go critical? Rewire the deflector array and turn it inboard. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > In my day we never had more than 100 woman on board, they shared 1 berthing on the O3 level (just below the flight deck) and had marine guards. Why did foxes and henhouses suddenly pop into my head? ---
**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 16, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/83 "2026-08-16T21:48:46Z")
I guess they decided a few on duty Marines were safer then 5000 sailors, sailors didn’t really have the best rep for these things. Anyway, I doubt it would have been a problem without the guards, but it was still the 80s and many civilians were appalled by women being on Warships. ---
**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 16, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/84 "2026-08-16T21:48:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > > > Was this a serious comment? > > It was. In which case, I will simply note that military logistics is not Minecraft, StarCraft, War Craft, or whatever other “craft” video game (if any) you might be familiar with. You don’t just pick a spot, draw minerals from the surrounding countryside, and then convert the raw materials into complex machinery and food. And as @Chronos noted, building a “depot” is almost beside the point. The problem is stocking it. Oh, and also defending it, because there is nothing that prevents Iran from just blowing up whatever new logistics hub you establish if it is still within range of their missiles or drones. I don’t want to defend the administration here. They’re fucking morons for starting this war and then being shocked that Iran might actually fight back, but let’s not trivialize just how deep of a hole this admin has gotten its military into in the Middle East. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/85 "2026-08-16T21:55:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I guess they decided a few on duty Marines were safer then 5000 sailors Not my experience with the Corps. 😃 ---
**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 16, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/86 "2026-08-16T23:03:09Z")
I know supply ships and tenders already had women on the crew, but we might have been the first combat vessel to let women serve. I believe the first group were part of a reserve squadron. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/87 "2026-08-16T23:04:22Z")
True, although I meant more along the lines of historically the military hasn’t been afraid to do stuff like set up proper logistical preparations because they’re worried that it’ll embarrass the politicians. > [@Chefguy](#): > > **the supply depot in Kuwait was destroyed by Irani missiles**. Bahrain, actually. And not necessarly destroyed, but damaged. Seems like there are lessons to be learned from the way they forward based their logistical hubs and what-not in Bahrain, within accurate ballistic missile range of enemy missiles. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/88 "2026-08-16T23:05:28Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Bahrain, actually. Oopsy. My brain said “it’s got an ‘ai’ in it”. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/89 "2026-08-16T23:08:28Z")
Here’s an article about it. > **[Iran’s Precision Missile Blitz Devastates U.S. Fifth Fleet HQ in Bahrain,...](https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/iran-precision-missile-blitz-devastates-us-fifth-fleet-hq-bahrain-pentagon-reassessment/)** > > Iran’s missile and drone strikes devastated the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, exposing critical American military vulnerabilities and forcing a major Pentagon reassessment of Middle East basing strategy. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/90 "2026-08-16T23:17:43Z")
Why is it Diego Garcia anyway? I thought the US had a large base in Djibouti that they could use, which is both closer and actually American. ---
**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 16, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/91 "2026-08-16T23:26:09Z")
Only a guess, but Diego Garcia is extremely secure. The Djibouti base didn’t exist when I was in. So I know nothing about the base except it exist ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/92 "2026-08-17T00:08:27Z")
Playing around with Google Maps, it’s roughly a thousand miles from Tehran to Djibouti City and that seems to be within range of Iranian drones. That might be a reason not to supply from there? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/93 "2026-08-17T00:55:41Z")
And probably more importantly, it’s in spitting distance of Yemen, with the Iranian backed militias. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/94 "2026-08-17T01:04:49Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’ve always been in awe of the engineering and logistical capabilities of the U.S. military. If they didn’t rebuilt and restock the destroyed depot within a week, there has to be a reason for it, and I’m curious to know what it i The depot is in the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf is on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz. That’s the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/95 "2026-08-17T01:15:43Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > And probably more importantly, it’s in spitting distance of Yemen, with the Iranian backed militias. Yes, that’s probably a better reason not to use the Djibouti base. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/96 "2026-08-17T01:40:48Z")
ISTM right now the main “safe harbor” for the region would be in Diego Garcia and that would require any vessel to withdraw from the immediate operation area to somewhere where you could not just decide they are to launch a strike on a couple hours’ notice. In any case, relief for the _Lincoln_ should have been planned for a lot earlier **anyway** regardless of action status. as of right now one wonders if they would have kept them on station for a year even if no fighting were happening. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/97 "2026-08-17T02:13:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yup, it’d be horribly impractical to supply an aircraft carrier entirely by air. It was also horribly impractical to supply the entire city of Berlin entirely by air. But it was still done. Before we get into the details of why this would be impossible, is this the entire basis of your confidence in the absurd comparision? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/98 "2026-08-17T02:56:40Z")
Well, assuming a Snickers bar weighs 1.86 ounces and has 250 calories, and a VTOL Osprey has a payload of 20,000 pounds, that’s about 43,000,000 calories, providing the 5,000 crew members with 2,000 calories a day for about 4.5 days. Now, the combat radius range of the Osprey is only about 500 miles, but it does have in-flight refueling capacity. The US has over 460 Ospreys, so with a little fine-tuning and timing… ---
**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 17, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/99 "2026-08-17T03:00:21Z")
FWIW, I still don’t know how much of what is in the news is due to unique problems aboard _Lincoln_ vs. how much is just the news out there looking for stories and amplifying what would otherwise be like shouting into the void. As I said, not so elegantly, in another thread, life on a US Navy carrier at sea sucks. It fucking sucks. If you meet anyone who tells you different, slap them in face for me (not literally!). It sucks even more, I imagine, when you’ve been out for 9 months, and more still when you haven’t had a single port visit in months if at all. I would sooner go back to Iraq than back to a US Navy aircraft carrier (at sea or otherwise). And I get to say that because before I went on a period of “limited duty” for PTSD, I begged to be assigned to Iraq or Afghanistan (where my hope was I would either feel better “doing something” even if it was grossly immoral—like a fucking vampire but without the excuse of biological necessity—or just use my easy access to firearms to… never have to worry about going back to a ship again). Anyway, I hate to say mold in the shower, toilets that don’t work, or shitty food is par for the course, but… mold in the shower, toilets that don’t work, and shitty food are par for the course on a US Navy aircraft carrier (or really any oceangoing USN warship). I had better food, better accommodations, and less stress in Iraq, _and I’m still struggling to process my tour in Iraq._ The shit backed up and overflowed into the living spaces fewer times, too. Oh, and people “trying” to go overboard? I feel like a real asshole saying this, but there is no “trying.” You either do, or you don’t. It’s not that fucking hard. Literally you just go to the edge of the ship—doesn’t have to be from the flight deck or anywhere where people are watching, but even if they are watching there’s not a damn thing they can do about it if you are determined—and jump. If you’re really serious, you weight yourself down with any number of heavy objects you can find on a ship. That scene in _Master and Commander_? Pretty accurate, actually. This talking of sailors “trying” to go overboard strikes me more as \*cries for help, possibly with the hope of being sent home. And to be clear, a cry for help that consists of threatening or acting our a suicide attempt is still a sign that someone is likely in severe emotional distress and I wouldn’t brush it aside. But at the end of the fay, if they really wanted to go overboard… THEY’D HAVE GONE FUCKING OVERBOARD. But I digress. Back to the living conditions. Maybe the sailors on _Lincoln_ really are experiencing uniquely (more so than usually) shitty food and living conditions due to logistical challenges. It’s possible. But I am hard pressed to say with confidence whether that is actually the case, or that this is simply a matter of the press out for a story, and amplifying the sort of complaints that are ever-present aboard USN ships at sea, that normally don’t attract any attention beyond those people immediately impacted and their family members. \*ETA: And it kind of reminds me of the infamous “chew pop” (chew for CHU—containerized housing unit—and “pop” in reference to the “desk pop” in _The Other Guys_) one of the guys pulled in my unit. There had been a series of negligent discharges, and the commander announced that the next person to negligently discharge their weapon would be sent packing. Someone took him up on the offer and intentionally discharged his sidearm hoping to get sent home—and he was, albeit with some disciplinary actions along the way. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359/100 "2026-08-17T03:04:48Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Are you really meaning to say that a carrier deck can handle the same amount of traffic as Templehof, even in proportion to the difference in population? In proportion to the population? I’d be shocked if it weren’t so. The population of an aircraft carrier is, basically, the population required to maintain and operate (directly and indirectly) an airstrip. The population of Berlin was operating their airstrips and doing a lot of other things as well. If the Berlin airstrips were enough to supply the entire city, then an aircraft carrier’s airstrips should be enough to supply a carrier. But even if running ships from Diego Garcia is what’s needed: OK, then, run ships from Diego Garcia. Again, supplying a carrier fleet is a solved problem. It’s routine, for a competent military. > [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Oh, and people “trying” to go overboard? I feel like a real asshole saying this, but there is no “trying.” You either do, or you don’t. I’m guessing that what the press is saying is that people actually are jumping, and then getting fished back out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-abraham-lincoln/1032359.md?page=6)