The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. Commissioned in November 1989 and named after the 16th U.S. President, this 1,092-foot warship carries a crew of roughly 5,600 personnel and up to 90 aircraft, serving as a major mobile force for naval operations worldwide.
USS Lincoln (CVN-72): What to Know About the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier
USS Lincoln usually refers to USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a massive Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the United States Navy.
The carrier is named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, and has served the Navy since being commissioned in 1989. Today, the USS Lincoln remains one of the Navy's most important aircraft carriers and has been in the news because of its unusually long 2025–2026 deployment.
If you're looking for USS Lincoln, here's the simple answer: it is the USS Abraham Lincoln, hull number CVN-72, a Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier capable of operating dozens of military aircraft around the world.
USS Lincoln at a Glance
| Fact | USS Abraham Lincoln |
|---|---|
| Full name | USS Abraham Lincoln |
| Hull number | CVN-72 |
| Type | Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier |
| Class | Nimitz class |
| Commissioned | November 11, 1989 |
| Builder | Newport News Shipbuilding |
| Named for | Abraham Lincoln |
| Length | About 1,092 feet |
| Speed | More than 30 knots |
| Propulsion | Two nuclear reactors |
| Homeport | Naval Air Station North Island, California |
| Motto | “Shall Not Perish” |
The U.S. Navy identifies USS Abraham Lincoln as its fifth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
What Is the USS Lincoln?
The USS Lincoln is an aircraft carrier, not a battleship.
Its primary purpose is to provide a floating airfield for U.S. Navy aircraft while allowing the United States to project air power far from American shores.
The ship can operate fighter aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, helicopters and other aircraft as part of a carrier air wing.
That makes the USS Lincoln much more than a large ship. It is essentially a mobile military base that can travel across the world's oceans without needing a conventional fuel supply for its nuclear propulsion system.
How Big Is the USS Lincoln?
The USS Abraham Lincoln is enormous.
The carrier measures approximately 1,092 feet long and has a beam of about 252 feet. Its nuclear propulsion system produces enough power to drive the ship at more than 30 knots.
For perspective, three football fields placed end to end.
Its size is necessary because the carrier has to accommodate:
A massive flight deck
Aircraft elevators
A large aircraft hangar
Aviation fuel and weapons
Maintenance facilities
Living quarters
Medical facilities
Command and communications systems
Food and supplies for thousands of people
The Navy's historical records describe the Lincoln as one of the world's largest warships, carrying thousands of sailors and Marines while underway.
How Many People Are on USS Lincoln?
A carrier such as the USS Lincoln operates like a small city at sea.
Its crew includes sailors responsible for navigation, engineering, aviation maintenance, communications, security, medical care, food service and countless other jobs.
The carrier also operates with an embarked air wing and carrier strike group personnel.
Historical Navy records have described the Lincoln as carrying more than 5,500 sailors and Marines while underway, along with approximately 80 combat and support aircraft in earlier configurations.
The exact number of people and aircraft aboard can change depending on the mission and deployment.
What Aircraft Does USS Lincoln Carry?
The USS Lincoln is designed to operate a carrier air wing rather than simply transport aircraft.
Its recent Carrier Air Wing 9 has included aircraft such as:
F/A-18E Super Hornets
F/A-18F Super Hornets
F-35C Lightning II fighters
MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Other aircraft supporting carrier operations
A July 2026 U.S. Naval Institute fleet report identified the Lincoln with Carrier Air Wing 9 and listed F/A-18E, F/A-18F, F-35C and MH-60R aircraft operating from the carrier.
That combination gives the carrier a mixture of fighter, strike, reconnaissance and helicopter capabilities.
Where Is USS Lincoln Now?
This is one of the biggest reasons people are searching for USS Lincoln in 2026.
As of August 13, 2026, the USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for an unusually long period and has been operating in support of U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
Recent reporting says the carrier has been at sea since November 2025. Reuters reported on August 13 that the USS George Washington is expected to replace the Lincoln as part of a carrier rotation.
Because the exact location of an active U.S. Navy carrier can be operationally sensitive and can change quickly, it is better to think of the Lincoln's current operating region rather than expect a precise live position.
Why Is USS Lincoln in the News in 2026?
The Lincoln's unusually long deployment has attracted significant attention.
Reports published in August 2026 have focused on the length of the deployment and concerns raised by lawmakers and others about conditions aboard the ship.
Issues reported in the media have included supply problems, water concerns, mail delays and mental-health worries among some personnel. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disputed reports that conditions aboard the carrier had deteriorated as severely as portrayed.
The situation is important because an aircraft carrier is not designed merely to sail continuously without consequences. Long deployments place substantial demands on sailors, aircraft maintenance, supplies and the ship's overall readiness.
At the same time, the Navy's carrier rotation means the Lincoln is expected to eventually be relieved by another carrier rather than remain deployed indefinitely.
When Was USS Lincoln Built?
The keel of USS Abraham Lincoln was laid at Newport News, Virginia, on November 3, 1984.
The ship was launched in February 1988 and commissioned on November 11, 1989.
The carrier was built by Newport News Shipbuilding, which has constructed many of the U.S. Navy's large nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
Why Is It Called USS Abraham Lincoln?
The carrier is named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.
USS Abraham Lincoln is not the first U.S. Navy vessel to carry the president's name.
Before CVN-72, the Navy operated USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602), a nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine that served from 1961 to 1981.
The name therefore has a long history within the U.S. Navy.
USS Lincoln's Early History
After commissioning, the Lincoln transitioned to the Pacific Fleet.
One of its earliest major operations came during its first deployment in 1991.
The carrier was diverted to support Operation Fiery Vigil after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. The Lincoln participated in a large-scale evacuation operation that helped move thousands of people from the Subic Bay area.
The carrier subsequently supported operations connected with the Gulf region.
Its early service demonstrated something that would become a recurring theme throughout the ship's career: the ability of an aircraft carrier to rapidly move into a crisis area and provide aviation and logistical support.
USS Lincoln and the Iraq War
The carrier became particularly well known during its 2002–2003 deployment.
During that deployment, USS Abraham Lincoln supported operations in the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The White House reported in 2003 that the Lincoln had completed what was then the longest deployment by a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, lasting almost 10 months and covering more than 100,000 miles.
President George W. Bush also visited the carrier in May 2003.
That deployment helped make the USS Lincoln one of the more recognizable U.S. aircraft carriers of the post-9/11 era.
Is USS Lincoln a Nuclear Aircraft Carrier?
Yes.
USS Abraham Lincoln is powered by two nuclear reactors.
Its nuclear propulsion system allows the carrier to remain at sea for extremely long periods without relying on conventional propulsion fuel in the same way a conventionally powered ship would.
The ship still needs enormous quantities of food, aviation fuel, spare parts and other supplies, however.
Nuclear propulsion does not mean the carrier can operate without logistical support.
How Fast Is USS Lincoln?
The USS Lincoln can travel at more than 30 knots.
That is roughly equivalent to more than 34 miles per hour.
For a ship measuring over 1,000 feet long and weighing tens of thousands of tons, that is an impressive speed.
The carrier's speed also matters tactically because an aircraft carrier needs to be able to reposition itself over enormous distances while operating as part of a carrier strike group.
Is USS Lincoln Still Active?
Yes.
USS Abraham Lincoln remains an active U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
The Navy's official USS Abraham Lincoln page identifies CVN-72 as the fifth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Its long service history includes deployments and operations across the Pacific, Middle East and other regions.
What Does “CVN-72” Mean?
The designation CVN-72 is the ship's official hull classification.
The letters and number have specific meanings:
C = cruiser
V = fixed-wing aircraft
N = nuclear-powered
72 = the carrier's hull number
In everyday language, however, most people simply call it the USS Abraham Lincoln or USS Lincoln.
USS Lincoln vs. USS Lincoln County
There is an important distinction if you're searching for “USS Lincoln.”
The name can occasionally lead to results about other Navy ships.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier most people mean when they search for USS Lincoln today.
There was also USS Lincoln County (LST-898), a World War II-era landing ship tank named for counties called Lincoln County.
So if you're looking for the huge aircraft carrier, the ship you're after is USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
USS Lincoln: The Simple Answer
If you only need the basics, remember these five things:
1. USS Lincoln is an aircraft carrier.
Its full name is USS Abraham Lincoln.
2. Its hull number is CVN-72.
That identifies it within the U.S. Navy.
3. It is nuclear powered.
Two nuclear reactors provide its propulsion.
4. It is huge.
The carrier is roughly 1,092 feet long and can travel faster than 30 knots.
5. It is still an active Navy ship.
In 2026, the Lincoln has been receiving particular attention because of its exceptionally long deployment and operations in the Middle Easst.
Frequently Asked Questions About USS Lincoln
What is the USS Lincoln?
The USS Lincoln is the common short name for USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier operated by the U.S. Navy.
How long is USS Lincoln?
USS Abraham Lincoln is approximately 1,092 feet long.
Is USS Lincoln nuclear powered?
Yes. It uses two nuclear reactors for propulsion.
Where is USS Lincoln now?
As of August 2026, the carrier is deployed in the Middle East in support of U.S. military operations. Its precise location can change and may not be publicly disclosed in real time. (Reuters)
How old is USS Lincoln?
USS Abraham Lincoln was commissioned on November 11, 1989, making it more than 36 years old as of August 2026.
What class is USS Lincoln?
USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
What does CVN-72 stand for?
CVN-72 is the ship's hull classification number. The “N” identifies nuclear propulsion.
Who was USS Lincoln named after?
The ship was named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.
The Bottom Line
The USS Lincoln is one of America's most recognizable aircraft carriers.
Officially known as USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), it is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carrier that has served the United States Navy since 1989.
Its enormous size, nuclear propulsion, carrier air wing and global deployments make it a powerful instrument of U.S. military power.
And in 2026, the USS Lincoln is attracting renewed attention because its current deployment has lasted far longer than a typical carrier deployment, putting the ship and its crew under an unusually bright spotlight.
In short: USS Lincoln = USS Abraham Lincoln = CVN-72, the U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier.
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