USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Sea After Croatia Port Call

The Navy's largest aircraft carrier has been plagued by maintenance issues that interrupted its combat operations.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary aircraft carrier hull silhouetted against a warm, golden sunset sky, with deep shadows cast across the deck, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of military service.As the USS Gerald R. Ford returns to sea after maintenance issues, the carrier's extended deployment highlights the challenges of sustaining global naval operations.Norfolk Today

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford returned to sea on Thursday after a five-day port call in Split, Croatia. The stop came as the ship has experienced various maintenance problems, including a non-combat fire and issues with its plumbing system, that have interrupted its participation in combat operations against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.

Why it matters

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the Navy's newest and largest aircraft carrier, and its operational readiness is crucial for the U.S. military's global force projection capabilities. The ship's recent maintenance challenges raise questions about the reliability of the new carrier class and the Navy's ability to sustain continuous combat deployments.

The details

The release did not specify whether the Ford would be returning to combat operations as part of Operation Epic Fury. The carrier has now been deployed for more than nine months, having departed from its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, on June 24, 2025. It has conducted operations in the Arctic Circle, Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea during that span. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and its strike group also recently departed from Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment, but it's unclear if the Bush will relieve the Ford or act as an additional force amid ongoing combat operations.

  • On March 12, a non-combat fire in the ship's laundry room injured multiple sailors, caused smoke-related issues among hundreds of personnel and damaged 100 sleeping berths.
  • On April 2, 2026, the USS Gerald R. Ford returned to sea after a five-day port call in Split, Croatia.

The players

USS Gerald R. Ford

The Navy's newest and largest aircraft carrier.

USS George H.W. Bush

A Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that recently departed from Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment.

Adm. Daryl Caudle

Chief of Naval Operations, who spoke about the USS Gerald R. Ford's extended deployment at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta

Commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford.

Nicole McGraw

The U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, who met with Rear Adm. Lanzilotta and other group commanders during the USS Gerald R. Ford's port call in Split.

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What they’re saying

“The carrier Ford is likely to reach 11 months deployed by the time it returns home, potentially eclipsing the recent at-sea high of 341 days set by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

— Adm. Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations

What’s next

The USS George H.W. Bush and its strike group recently departed from Naval Station Norfolk, but it's unclear if the Bush will relieve the Ford or act as an additional force amid ongoing combat operations.

The takeaway

The maintenance challenges faced by the USS Gerald R. Ford highlight the importance of ensuring the reliability and readiness of the Navy's newest aircraft carrier class, especially as the service seeks to maintain a continuous global presence and combat operations. The extended deployment of the Ford also raises questions about the sustainability of such lengthy carrier deployments.