U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Are on the Move – Like No Other Navy in the World - There will be no white Christmas for the crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) this year, as they'll spend the holiday and likely at least a few weeks into the New Year operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea after U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered a two-carrier presence near Israel as its war against Hamas continues.

This will mark the third time the U.S. Navy's newest and largest supercarrier has seen its deployment extended. Other warships in the carrier strike group (CSG) have also extended their deployments.

The Pentagon had ramped up its military presence in the region after the October 7 terrorist attacks that Hamas carried out on Israel, in which more than 1,200 were killed – while more than 200 were taken hostage, including Americans. The U.S. Navy's warships were deployed to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict. However, Iranian-back militants in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have carried out regular attacks with rockets, drones, and missiles, including on U.S. military installations in the region.

USS Gerald R. Ford had departed Norfolk, Virginia, in early May and was originally scheduled to be back home in early November. The original plan was for the Nimitz-class carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and her strike group to replace the USS Gerald R. Ford in the region.

However, the Pentagon changed course after Hamas carried out its deadly attacks, and extended the Ford's deployment.

CVN-69 had operated alongside USS Gerald R. Ford before being deployed to the Persian Gulf.

U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers are Now Near Yemen?

Reports have emerged over the weekend that that the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group has moved from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen where the country's Houthi rebels are known to operate.

Politico reported on Saturday that top Biden administration officials are actively weighing options to strike back at the Houthis after the Iran-backed group launched fresh strikes on naval and commercial ships in the Red Sea.

To date, the White House has been reluctant to respond militarily against the Houthi rebels out of fear that it could provoke Iran – which also backs Hamas and Hezbollah. Previously, the Pentagon had recommended the administration not to attack the Houthis, but the group has stepped up strikes on commercial vessels.

As a result, Maersk, the world’s biggest shipping company, on Friday halted all shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital passageway for cargo and energy shipments traveling between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Currently, 12 percent of global trade passes through the region, and the International Chamber of Shipping recently called upon "nations with influence in the region to stop the Houthis from attacking sailors and ships."

There are fears that a prolonged halt in shipping could cripple the global economy, and drive up costs – possibly even reigniting inflation. The White House may be forced to respond militarily, and it now appears that the Houthis could face the wrath of possibly two U.S. carrier strike groups!

Another Carrier in Singapore

While the crews of the CVN-69 and CVN-78 are likely on alert, another U.S. Navy carrier – USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and the rest Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 – arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port visit, which demonstrates U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and further enhances relationships with the leaders and the local populations.

Carrier Strike Group 1 departed San Diego for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific on Oct. 12 and recently conducted a trilateral maritime exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea Navy. The exercise provided an opportunity for the three maritime forces to sail together, and conduct enhanced planning and advanced maritime communication operations.

USS Harry S. Truman Has Rejoined the Fleet

It was also this past weekend that USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), the eighth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, rejoined the U.S. Second Fleet after a year-long maintenance cycle at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The recent maintenance cycle saw modernization efforts, structural repair, and preservation work to the weapons elevators, the flight deck and hangar bay, the main mast and exterior of the ship, as well as general repairs to the hull, mechanical, and electrical infrastructure.

Numerous amenities for the crew were also added – including enhanced gyms, barber shops, laundry areas, and entertainment spaces. About 20 percent of the crew's berthings and heads (restrooms) were also overhauled during the maintenance cycle.

"Recognizing the physical and mental well-being of Sailors as crucial factors in personal and professional growth, the ship's force and shipyard personnel worked diligently to create an environment that demonstrates to Sailors that they are our priority," said Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Callaghan, public affairs officer for the Truman.

USS Harry S. Truman will enter a training cycle, during which it will conduct multiple underways over the coming months to prepare for its next deployment.

Author Experience and Expertise

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.