Summary

  • USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returns home after 275-day deployment in the Red Sea battling drones and missiles.
  • Carrier Strike Group 2 comprised 4 ships, 9 squadrons, and 6,500 sailors, with Eisenhower leading the way.
  • IKE’s historic deployment included air raids against Houthi targets in Yemen and countering drone attacks.

The aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) (aka Ike), and the other Carrier Strike Group 2 ships finally arrived at homeport at Norfolk, Virginia. They have completed an extensive 275-day deployment in a combat zone in the Red Sea. The Eisenhower has battled drones, missiles, and other threats to merchant shipping in the Middle East for months. The increasing drone threat has caused the US Navy to seek bids for cheap and effective ways of countering the drones.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returns to port

The Carrier Strike Group comprised four ships, nine squadrons, and some 6,500 sailors (around 4-5,000 were onboard the carrier). Other ships included the cruiser USS Philippine Sea and the destroyer USS Gravely. Deployed on the carrier were the “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7.

“I cannot even tell you how many lives they saved, but I can say I have never been more honored to serve with such a fine group of warriors in my entire life – they proved that the mighty Ike is the best damn ship in the Navy,” Captain Chris Hill, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The DoD stated, “IKE supported some of the most critical strategic operations at sea since the Tanker Wars of the 1980s, delivering exceptional naval power in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO for nearly seven months.

The Eisenhower is one of the oldest carriers in service in the US Navy. She is scheduled to be replaced around 2029 by the Ford-class USS Enterprise (CVN-80) – although her service life may be extended. Her age means she may never operate a fleet of F-35Cs (carriers are retrofitted to operate F-35Cs when they go in for midlife overhauls). Her air wing is primarily made up of F/A-18 Super Hornets.

F/A-18 Super Hornet performs a demo

Photo: BlueBarronPhoto l Shutterstock

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Ike’s historic deployment

The Eisenhower has seen the longest combat deployment for a carrier since Vietnam. During her deployment, she took part in air raids against Houthi targets in northern Yemen and countered many drones fired at merchant shipping in the important straits. These attacks took place in the context of the Israel-Hamas war. The Houthis claimed multiple times to have hit and even sunk the Eisenhower – only for the ship commander to counter the claims by posting pictures of the crew baking cookies or it being Taco Tuesday onboard the mighty ship.

The Eisenhower started out on her deployment on October 14 and had her deployment extended twice. Most of her time was spent in the Middle East in combat operations. She conducted over 10,000 aircraft launches and recoveries. IKE successfully executed the launch and recovery of over 13,800 sorties, accumulating over 31,400 flight hours. She also launched hundreds of missiles and escorted 28 vessels.

According to the US Naval Institute, the USS Eisenhower will be replaced in the Red Sea by USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) (which is currently en route in the Indian Ocean).

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