NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The USS Gerald R. Ford, recognized as the world's largest aircraft carrier, returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday after completing an unprecedented 11-month deployment. This marked the longest deployment for an aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War, and during its time at sea, the carrier was involved in significant military operations, such as supporting the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by two destroyers, arrived back in Virginia with approximately 5,000 sailors eager to reunite with their families after months apart, having not seen them since June. The deployment was not without challenges, as the crew contended with a noncombat-related fire that affected hundreds, leaving many without sleeping accommodations and necessitating extensive repairs while docked in Crete.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the arrival ceremonies and praised the crew, particularly commending the USS Bainbridge for its efforts during the deployment. Hegseth expressed pride in their accomplishments, stating, "You didn’t just accomplish a mission, you made history. You made a nation proud."

Notably, the USS Gerald R. Ford's 326 days at sea have set a new record for the longest deployment of an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years, as reported by the U.S. Naval Institute News. The previous longest deployments were the USS Midway in 1973 that lasted 332 days and the USS Coral Sea in 1965 with 329 days at sea. The extended time at sea has prompted concerns regarding the potential impacts on service members, as well as the increasing wear and tear on the ship and its equipment, compounded by the aforementioned fire incident in a laundry space onboard.

The USS Gerald R. Ford embarked on its deployment from Virginia's coast in June, initially heading to the Mediterranean Sea and later being rerouted to the Caribbean Sea in October. This shift represented the largest naval buildup in the region seen in generations. The carrier played a crucial role in a military operation in January aimed at capturing Maduro and subsequently navigated toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran intensified. The ship participated in the early phases of the Iran war from its position in the Mediterranean before transiting the Suez Canal and entering the Red Sea in early March.

In comparison, while the crew of the USS Nimitz was reported to have been on duty for a total of 341 days between 2020 and 2021, those days included extended periods of isolation ashore within the U.S. to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, signaling a different operational context than that experienced by the crew of the USS Gerald R. Ford.

Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press writers Ben Finley and Konstantin Toropin in Washington.