August 12, 2024, marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, known in Hebrew as Tisha B'Av. The US fears that Iran may attack Israel with full force on this day after night falls. To aid its ally, the US has dispatched the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and the guided missile nuclear submarine USS Georgia to the Mediterranean Sea.
US Defense Secretary General Lloyd Austin has directed the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, along with the third carrier strike group from Guam, to head swiftly toward the Mediterranean. In addition, he has sent the Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Georgia, which is armed with over 150 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. These will operate under US Central Command.
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The primary objective of this deployment is to intercept any missiles launched by Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, or other Iranian allies. If necessary, the US forces can carry out retaliatory strikes. Let’s delve into the capabilities of the USS Abraham Lincoln, the third carrier strike group, and the Georgia submarine...
USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier...
In service with the US Navy since November 11, 1989, this Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is stationed at the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. Named after a former US president, it is the flagship of the third carrier strike group and has a displacement of 104,000 tons.
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This 1,092-foot-long ship with a beam of 252 feet is equipped with two nuclear reactors, four steam engines, and four shafts. It boasts a maximum speed of 56 km/hr and has an unlimited range, capable of staying underwater for 20 to 25 years. The ship accommodates 3,200 naval personnel and 2,480 airmen, with numbers varying as needed.
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It features 14 advanced radar and sensor systems for surveillance, intelligence, search-and-rescue, attack prevention, and enemy location. Additionally, it is equipped with a countermeasure suite and a torpedo countermeasure. Onboard, it has two Sea Sparrow anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and anti-missile weapon systems.
There are also two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, lightweight infrared homing surface-to-air missiles, and two Phalanx CIWS gun systems that automatically target enemy helicopters, aircraft, missiles, boats, and fighter jets.
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The carrier can deploy 90 fixed-wing fighter jets and helicopters, including F/A-18E Super Hornet, F-35C Lightning II, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Hawkeye AWACS aircraft, MH-60S Seahawk, and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
USS Georgia Guided Missile Submarine...
Another remarkable Ohio-class submarine named after a US state, it's the second of its kind. In service since February 11, 1984, this submarine has a displacement of 19,050 tons, measures 560 feet in length, and has a beam of 42 feet and a draft of 38 feet. It runs on a nuclear reactor engine.
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The submarine has two geared turbines, an auxiliary motor, and a shaft, enabling it to navigate underwater and on the surface at speeds up to 46 kilometers per hour. It can descend to depths of up to 800 feet. The submarine houses 15 officers and 140 personnel and has four 21-inch torpedo tubes and 154 BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles, capable of being launched in any weather condition, effectively thwarting Iran’s plans.
Third Carrier Strike Group: A Fleet of Warships...
This group is centered around a flagship aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln. Active since 2004, its mission is to protect the aircraft carrier and provide a formidable response to any maritime threats.
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The strike group’s fighter jets include the F-18 Super Hornet, F-35C Lightning, MH-60R Seahawk, MH-60S Seahawk helicopters. For electronic warfare, the EA-18G Growler, surveillance via the E-2D Hawkeye, and transport using the Grumman C-2 Greyhound aircraft are employed.
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Details of the Warships...
There are five guided missile cruisers—USS Shiloh, USS Princeton, USS Texas, USS California, and USS Sterett—capable of rapid missile strikes. Additionally, the group includes Destroyer Squadron 21 with six destroyer warships: USS Fitzgerald, USS John Paul Jones, USS Ingraham, USS John Young, USS Ingraham, and USS Gary. Each ship is armed with hundreds of missiles, ready to obliterate enemies.
Attached is Carrier Air Wing 11, comprising various combat systems, aircraft, and surveillance units. Featuring Fighter Squadron 213, 114, Strike Fighter Squadron 94, Attack Squadron 95: A-6E, and KA-6D, and Electronic Warfare Squadron 135. It also includes Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117, Sea Control Squadron S-3B, and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6.
