The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy. Named after the 16th U.S. President, it is the second Navy ship to bear his name. The ship was built by Newport News Shipbuilding, with its keel laid in November 1984, launched in February 1988, and commissioned in November 1989. The initial cost was $2.24 billion, which equates to $6.82 billion in 2024. It's homeported at NAS North Island, San Diego, California, and operates within the U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of Carrier Strike Group 3.
As a Nimitz-class carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln has a displacement of approximately 104,300 long tons. It measures 1,092 feet (332.8 meters) in overall length, with a waterline length of 1,040 feet (317.0 meters) and a beam of 252 feet (76.8 meters). The carrier is powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, which drive four steam turbines, generating 260,000 shaft horsepower and enabling speeds exceeding 30 knots (35 mph). It can carry up to 90 aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, F-35C Lightning II, EA-18G Growlers, and E-2D Hawkeyes. The ship accommodates a crew of 3,200 sailors and an air wing of 2,480 personnel. Armaments include Sea Sparrow and Rolling Airframe Missile systems, and Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems. As of January 2026, the USS Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the Middle East amid regional tensions.
