The world’s largest aircraft carrier is limping toward repairs after a dramatic fire onboard left hundreds of sailors without beds and raised fresh questions about conditions aboard the $13 billion warship.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is now sailing to Crete following a string of mishaps during a long deployment that has stretched for nine months.

The massive vessel, which carries more than 5,000 sailors and crew members, has been heavily involved in recent U.S. military operations around the world. The deployment began with action tied to Donald Trump’s operation against Nicolás Maduro in October.

After that mission, the carrier was sent to the Middle East, where it has been operating during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, now in its third week.

Trump’s biggest warship limps to Crete for repairs after huge fire

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Probably some of the crew going rogue and sabotaging the ship so they don't have to fight Israle's war.

Iran has said that it has hit a US carrier..denied by the US .....and then ??

well we will find out one day.

22 minutes ago, bannork said:

Reports say the vessel has also struggled with ongoing problems involving its toilet system. Clogs and long lines for facilities have reportedly plagued sailors onboard.

A 2020 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office warned the system suffered from “unexpected and frequent clogging”.

Fixing the problem can require acid flushes that cost around $400,000 each time.

Four-hundred grand to unclog one toilet. It's okay, the MAGA base is happy to see good frugal use of their tax dollars. After they unclog the bog, maybe Trump will rename the ship after himself. Afterall, he knows a lot about expensive toilets.

23 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Four-hundred grand to unclog one toilet. It's okay, the MAGA base is happy to see good frugal use of their tax dollars. After they unclog the bog, maybe Trump will rename the ship after himself. Afterall, he knows a lot about expensive toilets.

Actually its not $400k to unclog a toilet. Its $400k to depressurize an entire vacuum system, disassemble and replace whole sections of a system that are buried 24 stories down deep in the vessal, at a place that has no facilities to do such work (Crete), so all the contractors and kit have to be shipped in for the duration.

14 minutes ago, Roadsternut said:

at a place that has no facilities to do such work (Crete)

So then why is it going there? There must be better equipped naval yards in the Med.

4 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

So then why is it going there? There must be better equipped naval yards in the Med.

According to my mate, a shady dude who insists I address him as AI, Crete, specifically Souda Bay, is a major U.S. naval logistics hub in the Mediterranean, allowing for repairs without leaving the area of operations.

21 minutes ago, bannork said:

According to my mate, a shady dude who insists I address him as AI, Crete, specifically Souda Bay, is a major U.S. naval logistics hub in the Mediterranean, allowing for repairs without leaving the area of operations.

Crete is in the Mediterranean and the area of operations is the Gulf of Oman!

It's target areas, such as Tehran are 2500kms in a direct line =over 3Hrs flying time for it's aircraft and many days steaming for the ship.

It's return will be well known and its passage back through the Suez canal will give certain anti US antagonists a perfect sitting duck target during it's transit IF it is to return to the Theatre Of Operations (TOO)!

More than a few disgruntled sailors on board. They've been at sea for 268 days already. Their initial deployment was the Mediterranean, then were redeployed to the Caribbean for the Venezuelan affair, then back to the Mediterranean, and again to the Red Sea. After leaving the Caribbean they were promised they'd be home for March, but that was again extended to at least May. Prior to this incident, sabotage has been reported with a fire in the laundry room, and t-shirts found to stuffed down the toilets, disrupting the ship's sewerage system. Looks like they've finally found a way to get to shore.

This item was written before the latest setback, reported in the OP:

"As of Tuesday, the Ford was on the 266th day of its current deployment, and it will be at least several more weeks before it returns. Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. James Kilby confirmed to lawmakers recently that the Navy did not expect the carrier to return until May...

...The crew was told in the second week of February they would be home by early March, according to the parent of a crew member who spoke to NPR. They did not wish to be identified out of concern for retribution on the sailor.

Less than 12 hours later, the crew was told the carrier was being diverted from the Caribbean back to the Mediterranean, and that they probably wouldn't be home until May. Some sailors have questioned whether they want to stay in the Navy, according to the parent."

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/17/nx-s1-5746006/uss-ford-iran

13 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

More than a few disgruntled sailors on board. They've been at sea for 268 days already. Their initial deployment was the Mediterranean, then were redeployed to the Caribbean for the Venezuelan affair, then back to the Mediterranean, and again to the Red Sea. After leaving the Caribbean they were promised they'd be home for March, but that was again extended to at least May. Prior to this incident, sabotage has been reported with a fire in the laundry room, and t-shirts found to stuffed down the toilets, disrupting the ship's sewerage system. Looks like they've finally found a way to get to shore.

This item was written before the latest setback, reported in the OP:

"As of Tuesday, the Ford was on the 266th day of its current deployment, and it will be at least several more weeks before it returns. Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. James Kilby confirmed to lawmakers recently that the Navy did not expect the carrier to return until May...

...The crew was told in the second week of February they would be home by early March, according to the parent of a crew member who spoke to NPR. They did not wish to be identified out of concern for retribution on the sailor.

Less than 12 hours later, the crew was told the carrier was being diverted from the Caribbean back to the Mediterranean, and that they probably wouldn't be home until May. Some sailors have questioned whether they want to stay in the Navy, according to the parent."

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/17/nx-s1-5746006/uss-ford-iran

I was joking with my sabotage comment loiols like I mightr have been right !

30 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

It's return will be well known and its passage back through the Suez canal will give certain anti US antagonists a perfect sitting duck target during it's transit IF it is to return to the Theatre Of Operations (TOO)!

It might not return. According to some better informed posters here, the repairs are not simple and it will take quite some time. Looks like it is simply out of action. It will be very interesting if the sabotage suggestions turn out to be true. We'll never know.

The crew have been on board for at least 10 straight months ,with

blocked toilets ,who knows what else , seems like someone flipped

out and started a fire so they would have to dock for repairs .

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, ronnie50 said:

So then why is it going there? There must be better equipped naval yards in the Med.

R & R for the disgruntled sailors. Crete is a lovely place to spend time doing nothing.

14 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

R & R for the disgruntled sailors. Crete is a lovely place to spend time doing nothing.

Too short for this sh&t ...

Of course, it was sabotage! Finally, some of the US military growing a spine. Go to war--why?

2 hours ago, bannork said:

The fire damaged around 100 sleeping berths and forced major changes to living arrangements for the crew.

More than 600 sailors reportedly lost their beds after the incident.

Six to a bed?

31 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Six to a bed?

I guess 1 berth may have two or three beds, plus they work/sleep in shifts?

The floating dinosaur didn't last very long.

On 3/19/2026 at 3:17 PM, beautifulthailand99 said:

Probably some of the crew going rogue and sabotaging the ship so they don't have to fight Israle's war.

I heard that idea from somewhere else.

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On 3/19/2026 at 4:57 PM, ballpoint said:

More than a few disgruntled sailors on board. They've been at sea for 268 days already. Their initial deployment was the Mediterranean, then were redeployed to the Caribbean for the Venezuelan affair, then back to the Mediterranean, and again to the Red Sea. After leaving the Caribbean they were promised they'd be home for March, but that was again extended to at least May. Prior to this incident, sabotage has been reported with a fire in the laundry room, and t-shirts found to stuffed down the toilets, disrupting the ship's sewerage system. Looks like they've finally found a way to get to shore.

This item was written before the latest setback, reported in the OP:

"As of Tuesday, the Ford was on the 266th day of its current deployment, and it will be at least several more weeks before it returns. Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. James Kilby confirmed to lawmakers recently that the Navy did not expect the carrier to return until May...

...The crew was told in the second week of February they would be home by early March, according to the parent of a crew member who spoke to NPR. They did not wish to be identified out of concern for retribution on the sailor.

Less than 12 hours later, the crew was told the carrier was being diverted from the Caribbean back to the Mediterranean, and that they probably wouldn't be home until May. Some sailors have questioned whether they want to stay in the Navy, according to the parent."

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/17/nx-s1-5746006/uss-ford-iran

Sounds like a ase of hell no we won't go !

... "Trump’s biggest warship... limps ...to Crete for repairs after huge fire" ...

MSM, what a joke, unless of course, they hang the laundry on deck, to 'sail' the ship.

... "One of the officials said nearly 200 sailors were treated for smoke-related injuries when the fire broke out in the ship’s main laundry area." ...

On 3/19/2026 at 3:17 PM, beautifulthailand99 said:

Probably some of the crew going rogue and sabotaging the ship so they don't have to fight Israle's war.

They probably are suffering collective punishment by being forced to sleep on metal deck plating while the officers are cozy in their wardrooms. I bet morale is in the s**tter on board that vessel among the enlisted, and the **** from the s**tters are all over the decks. I bet these guys and gals have to sign NDAs to get off of the ship. Probably all they can tell their families is that Jesus Christ will be returning anytime soon. He's Trump's secret weapon.

On 3/19/2026 at 6:33 PM, bannork said:

I guess 1 berth may have two or three beds, plus they work/sleep in shifts?

Unless you're an officer.

On 3/19/2026 at 4:28 AM, johng said:

Iran has said that it has hit a US carrier..denied by the US .....and then ??

well we will find out one day.

The dryer caught fire in the laundry room.

12 minutes ago, connda said:

They probably are suffering collective punishment by being forced to sleep on metal deck plating while the officers are cozy in their wardrooms. I bet morale is in the s**tter on board that vessel among the enlisted, and the **** from the s**tters are all over the decks. I bet these guys and gals have to sign NDAs to get off of the ship. Probably all they can tell their families is that Jesus Christ will be returning anytime soon. He's Trump's secret weapon.

You know nothing. The vessel is immense. It is equipped with exercise facilities, rec rooms including entertainment centers. It can easily manage the displacement of some crew to other parts of the vessel. No one is sleeping on metal deck plating. You obviously have no military service experience, let alone leadership of young people. Morale is a function of boredom and a breakdown of discipline. A catastrophic event is an opportunity to work together and to coalesce. The laundry room fire will have united the crew not demoralized it. The vessel is luxurious compared to other USN vessels.

"Trump's warship" .... nah, that would be Cheney's or Obama's

Crew of 4500+ ... I think they can make sleeping accommodations for a mere 200 (4.4%), without them sleeping on the flight deck, or in mop closets.

The hate runs deep with the delusional folks.

The only thing embarrassing is the name of the vessel. They really couldn't think of someone else 🙄

33 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

"Trump's warship" .... nah, that would be Cheney's or Obama's

Crew of 4500+ ... I think they can make sleeping accommodations for a mere 200 (4.4%), without them sleeping on the flight deck, or in mop closets.

The hate runs deep with the delusional folks.

The only thing embarrassing is the name of the vessel. They really couldn't think of someone else 🙄

As presidents go, Ford was comparatively harmless.

I would have thought Ulysses S Grant would be a good pick.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

As presidents go, Ford was comparatively harmless.

I would have thought Ulysses S Grant would be a good pick.

Already have a sub named USS U.S. Grant

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

The dryer caught fire in the laundry room.

The Reichstag Fire was poor Nazi electrics ......