USS Abraham Lincoln is America's fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The ship was named in honor of our nation's 16th president and is the second ship in the U.S. Navy to bear his name. The ballistic missile submarine Abraham Lincoln (SSBN 602) was in service 1961-81. The carrier's keel was laid Nov. 3, 1984, at Newport News, Va. Four years later the ship was christened and began a series of performance trials leading up to commissioning Nov. 11, 1989, at Norfolk, Va. After completing shakedown and acceptance trials, CVN 72 departed Norfolk in September 1990 for an interfleet transfer from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The ship completed a transit around South America with the naval forces of several South American countries including Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

May 28, 1991 USS Abraham Lincoln made its maiden western Pacific deployment nearly four months ahead of schedule in response to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. While enroute to the Indian Ocean, the ship was diverted to support evacuation operations following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo on Luzon Island, Republic of the Philippines. Operation Fiery Vigil became the largest peacetime evacuation of active duty military personnel and family members in history. Abe led a 23-ship armada that sealifted 20,000 evacuees. The armada moved nearly 45,000 people from the Subic Bay Naval Station to the Visayas Province port of Cebu. With Operation Fiery Vigil completed, the ship took up station in the Arabian Gulf in support of allied and U.S. troops remaining in the region for Operation Desert Storm. CVW-11, the embarked air wing, provided combat air patrol, reconnaissance and support air operations over Kuwait and Iraq. The carrier remained in the Gulf for more than three months.

August 24, An F-18C Hornet from VFA-22 crashed into Arabian Gulf after catapult launch. The pilot ejected safely.

The ship spent early 1992 in a selected restricted availability (SRA) at Naval Air Station Alameda. It deployed again June 15, 1993 for the western Pacific. After a brief port visit to Hong Kong, CVN 72 returned to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, the U.N.-sanctioned enforcement of a "no fly zone" over southern Iraq.

In October 1993, USS Abraham Lincoln was ordered to the coast of Somalia to assist U.N. humanitarian operations. The carrier spent four weeks flying patrols over the city of Mogadishu and surrounding areas, backing American ground troops during Operation Restore Hope. After returning from deployment in December 1993, Abe spent several months in SRA and prepared for the next deployment

October 25, 1994 Lt. Kara S. Hultgreen, the first woman to fully qualify as an F-14 Tomcat pilot, was killed in a training accident while attempting to land on board USS Abraham Lincoln. She was with VF-213 and died just 3 months after she had made her first qualifying landing in an F-14A on board USS Constellation.

In April 1995, USS Abraham Lincoln departed on its third western Pacific deployment. The ship made visits to Hong Kong and Singapore on the way to the Arabian Gulf. In the Gulf, aircraft carrier lent support to Operation Southern Watch in response to renewed Iraqi military posturing. The Abe Battle Group also participated in Operation Vigilant Sentinel. Upon returning from deployment, she left Alameda, Calif., for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. There the ship underwent a one-year comprehensive overhaul including a period in drydock. Following completion of the project, the ship moved to its current homeport of Everett, Wash. Jan. 8, 1997.

In June 1998, USS Abraham Lincoln commenced her fourth deployment, spending three months in the Arabian Gulf during the hottest summer on record. Apparent temperatures on the flight deck at midday sometimes reached 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Port visits enroute to the Gulf included Hong Kong and Singapore. After several visits to Jebel Ali, UAE, between Operation Southern Watch missions, CVN 72 headed home by way of Perth, Australia, Hobart, Tasmania, and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, arriving in Everett before the Christmas holiday.

Following a break, the Abe visited Santa Barbara, California and Victoria, British Columbia, then commenced a six-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) in Bremerton, Wash., in April 1999. After completion of the PIA in September 1999, it participated in Fleet Week '99 in San Francisco. The crew then began a nine-month Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC) during which the ship revisited Santa Barbara and Victoria before participating in RIMPAC 2000, a multi-national exercise conducted off the Hawaiian Islands.

August 17, 2000 USS Abraham Lincoln departed homeport for a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.

September 29, Lt. Bruce Joseph Donald was killed when his F/A-18C, assigned to VFA-25, crashed into the Gulf after the jet lost communication with the aircraft carrier soon after taking off for a routine test on carrier landings.

February 10, 2001 USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Everett after completing the six-month underway period. Carrier air Wing (CVW) 14 aircraft fly nearly 1,500 sorties over Iraq. The ship also visited Hongkong; Singapore; Perth, Australia, and Hobart, Tasmania.

In April of 2001, CVN 72 moved to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a scheduled Planned Incremental Availability. After completing PIA in October, the aircraft carrier began workup exercises for its next deployment.

Sailors and officers aboard USS Abraham Lincoln headed to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in late July 2002. The carrier and crew embarked CVW 14 in San Diego and headed across the Pacific with other ships from the battle group.

Abe relieved the George Washington Battle Group in the Persian Gulf on or about September 11, and conducted operations in support of Southern Watch for nearly three months when it departed the Gulf and transited out of the region after being relieved by the Constellation.

The ship earned the Battle "E" award for 2002, even with turnovers in leadership. Commanding Officer Capt. Kendall Card took command upon entering 5th Fleet in November, three months into deployment. The day after taking command, CVW 14 aircraft launched from his new ship to fly strike missions in the (then) southern no-fly zone over Iraq.

By early-to-mid December CVN 72 had been relieved by the CV 64 and began transiting back to the United States. On December 18 she was in the Indian Ocean headed for Australia. She arrived in Freemantle on December 22 for a port call where she remained until Dec. 26.

In late December reports from the Navy surfaced indicating that a carrier, either the USS Abraham Lincoln or the USS Kitty Hawk would be redeployed to the Persian Gulf in light of escalating tensions between Iraq and the US. At that time it was unclear if the Abe would remain deployed or if they had been just alerted of the possibility. On December 30 the Abe Battle Group was located south of Australia. On December 31, new reports indicated that the Lincoln had indeed been ordered to remain at sea and to redeploy for the Gulf. On January 2, 2003, according to Navy documents, the aircraft carrier was reported to be Northwest of Australia. On January 3, the West Australian reported that the ship would be returning to Freemantle for an extended stay for repairs and maintenance before it would redeploy for the Persian Gulf.

In the first 17 days of OIF alone, CVW 14 aircraft dropped 1.6 million pounds of ordnance in support of the war.

USS Abraham Lincoln SG and Carrier Air Wing 14 began heading home for their respective home ports on or about April 9 following an extended deployment that was the longest for an aircraft carrier in three decades.

May 5, CVN 72 returned to Naval Station Everett after nearly ten-month extended deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Reports from the Associated Press in mid-May indicate that the USS Abraham Lincoln will undergo nearly 10.5 months of maintenance and yard time, in Pudget Sound Naval Shipyard, to recover from the 02-2 deployment. That would make the carrier available as an emergency surge ship no sooner than June 2004.

From June trough September 2004 Abe conducted trainings and CQ's in preparation for next deployment.

October 19, 2004 USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group departed San Diego to support Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet potential contingency operations and theater security cooperation initiatives. This is the first deployment of a carrier air wing without the F-14 Tomcat and the S-3B Viking. This is also the first deployment of an SH-60B Seahawk squadron aboard a carrier; the helicopter is typically deployed on a surface combatants.

November 22, CVN 72 pulled to Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a brief port call.

January 4, 2005 The Everett-based aircraft carrier is currently off the coast of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, participating in Operation Unified Assistance. Helicopters from CVW 2 and sailors from Lincoln CSG are conducting humanitarian operations in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia on December 26.

January 20, Abe is participating in a joint/combined multilateral exercise "Cope Tiger", in Indian Ocean, with more than 1370 people and dozens of aircraft from the United States, Thailand and Republic of Singapore.

February 3, USS Abraham Lincoln departed the northern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The carrier pulled to Pearl Harbor on 23rd for a short port visit.

March 4, USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Everett after an extended deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean. From Jan. 1 until Feb. 4, ALCSG aircraft flew 1,747 missions in support of Operation Unified Assistance, carried 5,711,866 pounds of supplies, including 16,308 gallons of water, and transported 3,043 passengers. Besides OUA involvement, she made port calls to Hong Kong and Singapore, and participated in six community relation projects with 125 volunteers.

May 5, CVN 72 is currently in port undergoing a planned maintenance availability period.

June 1, The Lincoln departed Naval Station Everett for a routine carrier operations.

June 14, USS Abraham Lincoln is currently at sea off the coast of southern California conducting readiness training in support of the Fleet Response Plan.

September 8, Abe departed homeport to conduct training operations as part of the quarterly training requirement to be ready for a possible immediate deployment under the Fleet Response Plan.

September 26, CVN 72 returned to Everett following Quarterly Surge Sustainment training with embarked Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW 2) off the coast of southern California.

November 2, USS Abraham Lincoln rejoined CVW 2 for quarterly sustainment training in support of the Navy's Fleet Response Plan, October 30. While underway this quarter, she will host Fleet Readiness Squadron (FRS) training pilots. After completing training with the FRS pilots, Abe will join up with the crew of CVW 2.

November 14, The aircraft carrier departed San Francisco after a weekend of liberty and Veterans Day celebrations.

January 5, 2006 Abe departed Naval Station Everett, heading to coast of southern California, for a Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspection and the final Fleet Response Plan (FRP) readiness training before a scheduled deployment later this spring.

January 26, CVN 72 returned to Everett from a three-week underway period. This was the final underway before she departs for a six-month western Pacific deployment.

February 27, USS Abraham Lincoln departed home for a scheduled six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

March 3, The Abe departed Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, after picking up members of CVW 2. While en route, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 will be conducting an ASW exercise off the coast of Hawaii.

March 23, CSG 9 concluded a Passing Exercise (PASSEX), in the western Pacific Ocean, with the USS Stethem (DDG 63) and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships including: DS Harusame (DD 102), Hatakaze (DDG 171) and JDS Kirishima (DDG 174). Lincoln and Stethem spent three days conducting exercises with JMDSF and took part in an officer exchange program as part of a passing exercise.

March 27, USS Abraham Lincoln, commanded by Capt. Andrew McCawley, is currently participating in Reception Staging Onward Movement and Integration and Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/FE 06), which began March 26 and runs through the end of the month. The exercise is designed to demonstrate U.S. resolve to support the Republic of Korea (ROK) while improving overall readiness. The ROK and U.S. navies will conduct an officer exchange program during the exercise. Five ROK naval officers will embark Abe to train with the ships' crew.

April 6, The Lincoln pulled to Hong Kong for an scheduled port visit.

April 20, CVN 72 arrived in Laem Chebang, Thailand, for a scheduled port call. This is the first time in history that an aircraft carrier has pulled to Laem Chebang. Previously, carriers visiting Thailand anchored off the coast and used liberty launches.

April 27, The Abe teamed up with the Royal Thai Navy April 24 to conduct a passing exercise (PASSEX) in the Gulf of Thailand. During the exercise, officers from both nations participated in an officer exchange program between ships, in order to get a better understanding of how each navy operates.

May 1, USS Abraham Lincoln got underway from Changi Naval Base in Singapore, after a successful four-day port call to "The Lion City."

May 25, The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier arrived in Sasebo, Japan, for a scheduled port visit.

June 15, USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group participated in a Passing Exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the western Pacific June 10-14. This PASSEX was focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

June 16, More than 300 aircraft and 28 ships from the CVN 72, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Carrier Strike Groups, as well as the Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard, will participate in exercise Valiant Shield 2006, off the coast of Guam June 19-23. The exercise will involve more than 20,000 Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

June 30, Abe pulled to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2006. ALCSG will join units from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Peru, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom as well as other ships from the U.S. Navy for RIMPAC.

July 5, The Everett-based aircraft carrier departed Pearl Harbor, after celebrating 4th of July holiday weekend, to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific.

July 29, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after the final weekend of the biennial Rim of the Pacific 2006 (RIMPAC) exercise. Lincoln served as the command and control hub for the multination task force during the exercise. With embarked 750 "Tigers", friends and family members of the crew, will head for San Diego to disembark the CVW-2.

August 8, Abe returned to its homeport after five-and-a-half month deployment, and 41,000 nm navigation, in the western Pacific. The aircraft of CVW 2 flew 7,871 sorties, with a total of 7,578 catapult launches from the flight deck.

August 29, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Naval Station Everett, to begin a six-months post deployment dry dock maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The ship will be in dry-dock for approximately 105 days as maintenance is being done on various storage tanks and airplane launching catapults. The ship will also receive upgrades to its restroom facilities, and new non-skid material will be applied to the flight deck.

December 18, USS Abraham Lincoln left the dry dock ahead of schedule and under budget because Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) cut the time of ship tank maintenance by more than half.

May 8, 2007 CVN 72 is currently moored at Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton conducting trainings for the ship's return to operational status following a dry-dock availability.

June 26, USS Abraham Lincoln departed for sea trials after nine-month PIA. She returned to Everett June 30.

July 7, The aircraft carrier departed homeport for a scheduled work-up period in the Pacific Ocean.

July 24, After two day spent at Naval Air Station North Island the Abe departed for Tailored Ship's Training Availability off the coast of southern California.

August 20, USS Abraham Lincoln, commanded by Capt. Patrick D. Hall, retuned to homeport after completing TSTA and Final Evaluation Problem (FEP).

September 29, The Abe joined other U.S. Navy ships and aircraft during the annual Port of San Diego Sea and Air Parade. CVN 72 departed Everett on 19th for fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications off the coast of southern California.

October 6, USS Abraham Lincoln returned to homeport after a three-day port visit to Victoria, British Columbia.

October 16, The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier recently departed Everett for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

November 13, All seven crew members were rescued from a crash of a Navy HH-60H Seahawk, assigned to HS-2 "Golden Falcons", off the coast of southern California Nov. 11 and returned safely to the Lincoln with minor injuries. The helicopter crashed at approximately 9 p.m. local time. The Abe returned to homeport Nov. 20.

January 17, 2008 CVN 72 departed homeport for a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), off the coast of southern California, in preparation for the upcoming deployment.

March 13, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Everett for a seven-month deployment in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

April 20, The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier recently departed Singapore after a scheduled port visit.

May 1, The Abe recently arrived in Persian Gulf to relieve USS Harry S. Truman on station in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

July 8, USS Abraham Lincoln recently departed Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, after a scheduled port call, due to 4th of July celebrations. The ship will transit to North Arabian Sea to support Operation Enduring Freedom. June was the deadliest month for foreign forces in Afghanistan since 2001, with at least 45 of them killed, compared with 31 in Iraq.

September 2, CVN 72 departed Central Command AoO after recently relieved by USS Ronald Reagan on station in the Arabian Sea.

September 16, The Lincoln departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, after a four-day port call.

September 30, The Abe pulled to Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a routine port visit.

October 6, Capt. Alton Ross relieved Capt. John Aquilino as CO of Carrier Air Wing Two, during an aerial change of command ceremony.

October 9, Rear Adm. Scott H. Swift relieved Rear Adm. Scott R. Van Buskirk as commander, Carrier Strike Group 9, during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Lincoln at NAS North Island. The carrier arrived in San Diego Oct. 8, after a Tiger Cruise, to disembark the elements of CVW 2 before heading home. The aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 2 flew more than 7,100 sorties, completing more than 22,000 flying hours and dropped 255,963 pounds of ordnance while supporting coalition ground forces.

October 12, USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Everett after a scheduled underway period in the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet Area of Operations.

October 30, The Abe is currently undergoing a regular maintenance period at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

December 10, CVN 72 is currently conducting training and carrier qualifications off the West Coast.

January 20, 2009 The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier recently pulled to Naval Air Station North Island for a scheduled port visit.

January 29, USS Abraham Lincoln is currently underway, off the coast of southern California, for sustainment training and CQ.

February 2, Cmdr. Leif Steinbaugh relieved Cmdr. Brad Jensen, as commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131, during an aerial change of command ceremony.

April 6, The Lincoln departed homeport to conduct an ammunition offload in preparation for a scheduled Planned Incremental Period (PIA) in PSNS.

January 18, 2010 USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Naval Station Everett after a five-day sea trials concluding the nine-month maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (IMF). Thirty berths, 11 heads and the main galley were renovated, and training areas and classrooms were added in the $250 million effort. The 20-year old flattop also got four new screws, updated self-defense weapons systems and a resurfaced flight deck.

January 28, Capt. John D. Alexander relieved Capt. Patrick D. Hall as CO of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

January 29, Rear Adm. Mark D. Guadagnini relieved Rear Adm. Scott H. Swift as Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, during a ceremony aboard the Lincoln.

February 2, CVN 72 departed home for two weeks of training and flight deck certification off the coast of southern California.

February 23, The Abe departed Everett in preparation for a material assessment conducted by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). The multiple-day evaluation began in San Diego Feb. 28.

March 9, USS Abraham Lincoln successfully completed a test firing (PACFIRE) of its new block 1 baseline 2 Close In Weapons System (CIWS), capable to fire 4,500 rounds-per-minute.

April 17, The aircraft carrier departed homeport to conduct Tailored Ships Training Assessment (TSTA) off the West Coast. The Abe returned to Everett, Wash., May 14.

July 15, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Naval Station Everett for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of southern California.

August 7, Capt. John G. Eden relieved Capt. Alton E. Ross Jr. as CO of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, during an aerial change-of-command ceremony.

August 17, The Lincoln returned to Everett after a four-week underway period in preparation for the upcoming deployment later this year.

September 7, USS Abraham Lincoln departed homeport for a scheduled Middle East deployment.

September 11, The aircraft carrier departed Naval Air Station North Island after a brief port visit to embark members of CVW 2.

October 4, USS Abraham Lincoln CSG participated in an anti-submarine warfare exercise, with USS Hawaii (SSN 776), off the coast of Guam Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

October 8, CVN 72 pulled into Port Klang, Malaysia, for a four-day port visit to Kuala Lumpur.

October 20, Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 launched its first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. USS Abraham Lincoln, along with USS Cape St. George (CG 71), arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility Oct. 17.

November 9, Cmdr. Robert N. H. Duong relieved Cmdr. Mike S. Fitzpatrick as CO of the "Sun Kings" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, during an aerial change-of-command ceremony.

November 12, Cmdr. Kenneth A. Strong relieved Cmdr. Clayton W. Michaels as CO of the "Saberhawks" of Helicopter Strike Maritime Squadron (HSM) 77, during a change-of-command ceremony onboard the Abe.

November 18, USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into Khalifa Bin Salman Port at Hidd for a port visit to Kingdom of Bahrain.

December 23, The Abe arrived in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, for a port visit to Dubai.

February 10, 2011 During the ship's current deployment, CVN 72 transited more than 36,000 n.m. and conducted the safe and expeditious completion of 8,500 arrested landings. The aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 flew more than 7,000 sorties, with nearly 2,000 directly supporting ground combat troops, and dropped 900,000 pounds of ordnance.

February 16, USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into Changi Naval Base for a scheduled port visit to Singapore.

March 10, The aircraft carrier arrived in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a four-day port call and to pick up family and friends for a "Tiger Cruise."

March 19, The Abe pulled into Naval Air Station North Island to offload some of its personnel before heading home.

March 24, USS Abraham Lincoln returned to Everett after six-and-a-half month deployment.

May 13, Rear Adm. Troy M. Shoemaker relieved Rear Adm. Mark D. Guadagnini Swift as Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the CVN 72.

June 27, USS Abraham Lincoln departed for a four-day sea trials after completing a minor overhaul at Naval Station Everett.

July 13, The Abe departed homeport for CQ, with the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, off the coast of southern California.

July 25, USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, Calif., to participate in L.A. Navy Week, July 25- August 1.

August 3, The Lincoln is currently off the coast of southern California conducting Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications (FRS-CQ). The aircraft carrier returned to Everett, Wash., August 12.

September 15, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Everett for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the final phase of training before a homeport-change deployment later this year. The Abe will enter Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News shipyard in Summer 2012 for a 36-month refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). CVN 72 returned home Oct. 18.

November 18, Capt. Mark A. Johnson relieved Capt. Carol A. Hottenrott as Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Abe.

December 7, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Naval Station Everett, Wash., for the last time, for a scheduled Middle East deployment and a homeport change to Norfolk, Va.

December 10, The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier pulled into Naval Air Station North Island for a brief port visit to embark members of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2.

January 6, USS Abraham Lincoln pulled into port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, for a four-day visit to Pattaya.

January 19, USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group relieved USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) CSG on station in the North Arabian Sea.

February 5, The Abe departed Khalifa Bin Salman Port after a four-day visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.