SAN DIEGO, — Newly published photographs of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln show markings representing targets destroyed during its 321-day Middle East deployment, including approximately 103 one-way attack drones, 34 surface vessels and 10 submarines. These figures differ from those announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the U.S. Navy has not publicly explained the discrepancies.
On October 7, Hegseth stated that the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group shot down 77 one-way attack drones, sank 64 Iranian warships and destroyed 21 anti-ship cruise missiles. He also reported 3,693 combat sorties, 450 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles launched from escort ships, 1.37 million pounds of ordnance delivered and defensive actions against four fast-attack craft and explosive-carrying vessels, as detailed in our previous report.
The markings on the carrier’s superstructure include symbols for drones, surface vessels and submarines. Some reports have also identified markings for anti-ship missiles and other targets. The reasons for the differences between the painted markings and the officially announced figures remain unclear.
Carrier Air Wing 9 Reports 14,037 Sorties
The U.S. Navy reported that Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) completed 14,037 sorties and 31,460 forward-deployed flight hours during the deployment. During the 38-day Operation Epic Fury campaign, the air wing expended 1,499 precision-guided munitions and delivered more than 1.37 million pounds of ordnance against missile sites, production facilities, military infrastructure and naval combatants.
CVW-9 comprises nine squadrons: three F/A-18E/F Super Hornet squadrons (VFA-14, VFA-41 and VFA-151); Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA-314, operating the F-35C Lightning II; Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-133, equipped with the EA-18G Growler; Airborne Command and Control Squadron VAW-117, operating the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye; helicopter squadrons HSM-71 and HSC-14; and logistics squadron VRM-30.
Individual aircraft also display operational markings. An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to VFA-41 carries a submarine kill symbol, and the squadron reportedly expended 421 missiles and bombs during the operations. An F-35C assigned to VMFA-314 displays markings representing a tanker, submarines, a surface combatant, a drone and ground-based systems.
USS Abraham Lincoln Completes 321-Day Deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, and returned to Naval Air Station North Island on October 8, 2026. After reaching the U.S. Central Command area in late January, the carrier strike group participated in Operation Epic Fury, supporting major combat operations before an early April ceasefire. It later took part in maritime blockades of Iranian shipping.
The deployment included more than 260 consecutive days at sea without a port call. The strike group’s escort ships included the guided-missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy.
During a ceremony on October 7, Hegseth presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the strike group. The Navy has not publicly reconciled the differences between the carrier’s displayed target markings and the officially announced operational figures.
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