Thursday, August 02, 2012

USS Abraham Lincoln Concludes Eight-Month Deployment

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is scheduled to arrive in its new homeport at Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 7, following an eight-month deployment to the U.S. Navy's 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

Commanded by Capt. John D. Alexander, Lincoln departed Naval Station Everett, Wash., her home since January 1997, in December 2011 for a scheduled change-of-homeport deployment to Virginia for a four-year refueling complex overhaul (RCOH).

During the RCOH period, Lincoln's nuclear reactors will be refueled, the ship's combat and communication systems will be upgraded and modernized, and the hull, mechanical and electrical systems will be overhauled.

Lincoln deployed as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, commanded by Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker. Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 is comprised of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), and guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).