US officials told the Wall Street Journal the carrier USS Washington will rotate
into the Middle East to relieve USS Lincoln under a planned swap. Lincoln has
been on an extended deployment since November with few port calls and was
redeployed to the region in January ahead of operations against Iran. The
carrier and its air wing were central to the US 'Epic of Fury' bombing campaign
and later participated in a blockade of Iranian ports. Lawmakers say the
sustained high operational tempo and prolonged deployment have strained crew
welfare and are pressing the Pentagon for more information on living conditions
and mental-health issues.
