Rust From Bow To Stern: What 286 Days At Sea Did To USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Abraham Lincoln sailed into a Thai port on Wednesday looking nothing like the warship that left San Diego last November. Its hull, nearly 1,100 feet long, was streaked with rust from one end to the other.The sight surprised onlookers, but naval experts say it was only to be expected. The aircraft carrier had just completed 286 days at sea, according to the Navy, including months of combat and blockade duty against Iran in the Middle East.Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, told CNN, "Rust along the waterline is not unusual on a ship that has spent 60 days or more of operations continuously at sea."Photo Credit: AFPRead: After Battling Iran For Months, US Soldiers' 'Mani-Pedi' In ThailandHe explained that fixing the problem is simply not possible while a ship is still at sea, particularly during active combat.