A US aircraft carrier and its crew have fought Houthi attacks for months. How long can it last?

[sl8]

https://apnews.com/article/american-aircraft-carrier-houthi-attacks-red-sea-87e18d297b24e173da01b0ae1182ab6c

(more links at source)

A US aircraft carrier and its crew have fought Houthi attacks for months. How long can it last?

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR AND JON GAMBRELL
Updated 6:58 AM EDT, June 19, 2024

[...]

As the jet sits on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, its markings illuminate the enemy targets that it’s destroyed in recent months and underscore the intensity of the fight to protect commercial shipping from persistent missile and drone attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

But they also hint at the fatigue setting in, as the carrier, its strike group and about 7,000 sailors close in on their ninth month waging the most intense running sea battle since World War II. That raises difficult questions about what comes next as U.S. military and defense leaders wrangle over how they will replicate the carrier’s combat power if the ship returns home to Norfolk, Virginia.

Already, the carrier’s deployment has been extended twice, and sailors post dark memes around the ship about only getting one short break during their steadily growing tour. Some worry they could be ordered to stay out even longer as the campaign drags on to protect global trade in the vital Red Sea corridor.

[...]

U.S. officials say that they’re weighing all options and that a decision is expected in the coming weeks.

[...]

[oldsoftie]

1. Unless we start hitting them like they deserve it, it'll continue indefinitely

We are simply NOT taking them out at the level we need to. I know we're trying to not "inflame the situation" but this has gotten ridiculous. its making it look like a bunch of rebels can stand up to us. THey're raising prices on everything because most shipping is now avoiding the area and going "around the horn". That costs a LOT more.

Hit these idiots HARD and take out everything & everyone associated with these attacks.

[FBaggins]

2. Seems like a long article to state the obvious

Just send one of the other carriers. There are usually four active at any given time. There aren’t four other missions currently more important

[sarisataka]

3. Extended deployment suck

But it comes with the job.

My friend's dad served in WW2. His ship left Pearl Harbor for three weeks in February 1942. The next time he saw Hawaii it was 1946.