The USS Abraham Lincoln, and its thousands of sailors and their families, will make their new home in Bremerton later this year, according to the U.S. Navy.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier’s permanent change of station from San Diego to Naval Base Kitsap comes after supporting the war in Iran and spending a record 265 days of uninterrupted time at sea.
“Throughout the home port shift process, Abraham Lincoln Sailors and their families will have access to resources which will prepare for the transition,” the U.S. Navy said in a news release. “Home port shifts are part of the Navy's continued commitment to the strategic dispersal of ships.”
The Abraham Lincoln was the second aircraft carrier to endure an unusually long deployment in the war against Iran. Upon the carrier's return from deployment, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bestowed upon the crew the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor a unit can receive, which is typically reserved for significant achievement in combat.
Hegseth said that during the war with Iran, the Lincoln and its strike group executed 3,693 combat missions, delivered 1.37 million pounds of ordnance, launched 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles, shot down 77 one-way attack drones, sank 64 Iranian warships, destroyed 21 anti-ship cruise missiles and defended against four fast attack craft and explosive-carrying ships.
But the aircraft carrier’s long and arduous deployment drew national attention when reports emerged about the crew’s stress and poor mental health, and shortages of supplies like food and hygiene products.
While the military service has downplayed the reports, it told lawmakers that eight sailors had attempted suicide during the deployment.
Sailors reunited with their families earlier in October. Family members said they’d cried and lost sleep after hearing the reports about sailors' struggles aboard the aircraft carrier.
It is unknown when the Abraham Lincoln will make its port in Bremerton, but it has been about 15 years since the aircraft carrier called Washington home after leaving its former home port in Everett.
© 2026 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
