Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors, four shafts. Length: 1,092 feet (332.85 meters). Beam: 134 feet (40.84 meters) ; Flight Deck Width: 252 feet (76.8 meters). Displacement: Approximately 97,000 tons (87,996.9 metric tons) full load. Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour). Crew: Ship's Company: 3,200 - Air Wing: 2,480. Armament: Two or three (depending on modification) NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts: (3 on Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower and 4 on Vinson and later ships of the class.). Aircraft: 85

Lincoln's contract was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding on December 27, 1982; her keel was laid on November 3, 1984, at Newport News, Virginia. The ship was launched on February 13, 1988, and commissioned on November 11, 1989. She cost $4.5 billion in 2007 dollars.

Abraham Lincoln was transferred to the Pacific in September 1990, performing Gringo-Gaucho with the Argentine Naval Aviation during her transit. Her maiden Western Pacific deployment came unexpectedly on May 28, 1991, in response to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. While heading towards the Indian Ocean, the ship was diverted to support evacuation operations after Mount Pinatubo erupted on Luzon Island in the Philippines. In support of Operation Fiery Vigil, Lincoln led a 23-ship armada that moved over 45,000 people from the Subic Bay Naval Station to the port of Cebu in the Visayas. It was the largest peacetime evacuation of active military personnel and their families in history. After Fiery Vigil, Lincoln steamed toward the Persian Gulf to run reconnaissance and combat air patrols in Iraq and Kuwait, assisting allied and U.S. troops involved with Desert Storm.

In early 1992, the ship was at Naval Air Station Alameda on Ship's Restricted Availability (SRA) for minor maintenance and refitting. In October 1993, the carrier was ordered to the coast of Somalia to assist UN humanitarian operations. For four weeks, Abraham Lincoln flew air patrols over Mogadishu in support of Operation Restore Hope. Abraham Lincoln was the first carrier to integrate female aviators into the crew after the Combat Exclusion Laws were lifted on April 28, 1993. The ship left San Diego on October 24, 1994, to begin refresher training. The next day, Lieutenant Kara Spears Hultgreen, the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, died when her plane crashed into the sea on final approach due to a combination of engine malfunction and pilot error. Abraham Lincoln's third deployment began in April 1995 when Lincoln was sent to the Persian Gulf, where the ship assisted in Southern Watch and Operation Vigilant Sentinel. During an underway replenishment, Lincoln was hit by USS Sacramento due to Sacramento's steering difficulties caused by a split rudder. The collision damaged the port side of USS Sacramento, partially crushed a female crew berthing area, and punched a large hole in Sacramento’s superstructure. Lincoln was able to continue its mission while Sacramento had to dock at Jebel Ali, UAE, for several weeks for repair.

Abraham Lincoln began a fourth deployment in June 1998. Once again, the ship headed for the Persian Gulf in support of Southern Watch. The ship spent three months in the gulf during one of the hottest summers in recent years, with temperatures on the flight deck reported at 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66 °C). In 1999, the ship participated in several internal Navy exercises and underwent upkeep at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.

The carrier's fifth deployment commenced in August 2000 when Abraham Lincoln again traveled to the Persian Gulf in support of Southern Watch. On this deployment, the carrier, air wing, and battle group ships earned the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Additionally, the ship earned the prestigious Arleigh Burke Award as the most improved command in the Pacific Fleet. Abraham Lincoln was in port on September 11, 2001. She was put to sea on July 20, 2002, to support Operation Enduring Freedom. She took up station once more in support of Operation Southern Watch before making a port visit to Perth, Western Australia. During this time, Lincoln was ordered to the Persian Gulf to take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which forced the Navy to extend Lincoln's stay from January 20, 2003, to May 6, 2003. The news of this extension was delivered to the ship's crew on New Year's morning by the then Battle Group Commander, RADM Kelly, with the famous phrase, "We don't need to be home holding our loved ones; we need to be here holding the line. Get over it!"

The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to port carrying its "Mission Accomplished" banner on May 2, 2003. Abraham Lincoln and the carrier battle group and air wing helped deliver the opening salvos and airstrikes in Operation Iraqi Freedom. During her deployment, some 16,500 sorties were flown, and 1.6 million pounds of ordnance were used. Sea Control Squadron 35 (VS-35), the "Bluewolves," was instrumental in delivering over 1 million pounds of fuel to these strike aircraft, one of the largest aerial refueling undertakings by a carrier aviation squadron in history. The carrier returned home in May 2003, receiving a visit from President George W. Bush before officially ending Lincoln's deployment by docking at San Diego and then returning to her homeport in Everett, WA. Bush delivered a speech that day announcing the end of major combat operations in the War on Iraq. A large sign in the background for his speech read "Mission Accomplished." The White House said their services constructed the banner. As explained by Cmdr. Conrad Chun, a Navy spokesman, "The banner was a Navy idea, the ship's idea. The idea popped up in one of the meetings aboard the ship preparing for its homecoming and thought it would be good to have a banner, 'Mission Accomplished.' The sailors then asked if the White House could get the sign made. The banner signified the successful completion of the ship's deployment," Cmdr. Chun continued, noting that Abraham Lincoln was deployed for 290 days, longer than any other nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in history.

Abraham Lincoln departed for her next voyage on October 15, 2004. The carrier was on a port call in Hong Kong when a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck southern Asia on December 26, 2004. To help with the international relief effort and assist with search and rescue efforts already underway, Lincoln deployed to the hard-hit western coast of Sumatra to provide humanitarian assistance for Operation Unified Assistance. In mid-January 2005, the carrier left Indonesia after the Indonesian government refused to allow fighter pilots assigned to Lincoln to conduct air patrols and training flights. By law, U.S. carrier-based pilots must practice at least once every two to three weeks to remain "fit"; otherwise, they are grounded. Despite the move into international waters, Lincoln continued to provide support to the region until February 4. During the carrier's 33 days on station, she and her strike group delivered 5.7 million pounds of relief supplies. The 17 helicopters assigned to HSL-47 Saberhawks and HS-2 "Golden Falcons," attached to CVW-2, flew 1,747 relief missions along the western coast of Sumatra. The carrier's departure coincided with the arrival of the hospital ship Mercy.

At the end of February 2006, Abraham Lincoln went underway as part of a scheduled "WestPac" deployment. The carrier returned to Naval Station Everett on August 8, 2006, and on August 27, relocated to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an upkeep/overhaul period. On December 18, 2006, the USS Abraham Lincoln left dry dock at the shipyard ahead of schedule and under budget. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) completed ship tank maintenance in less than half the scheduled time. In 89 days, 18 tanks were completed. The Tank Value Stream Team achieved this by partnering with Ship’s Force and the Lincoln Project Team. While in dry dock, the whole ship was painted by the crew at nights and on weekends rather than waiting for contractors to do the job. The refit was completed on March 26, 2007, when Rear Adm. Scott Van Buskirk assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG 9) from Rear Adm. Bill Goodwin.

On March 19, 2008, USS Abraham Lincoln departed Naval Station Everett for a seven-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. The ship returned to Naval Station Everett on October 12, 2008.

In January 2010, Abraham Lincoln departed for another deployment to the Persian Gulf, where she supported operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This deployment also saw the carrier participate in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia.

USS Abraham Lincoln deployed again in December 2011 to support maritime security operations and coalition efforts in the Middle East. The carrier's air wing conducted missions over Afghanistan and supported counter-piracy efforts in the region.

In March 2013, Abraham Lincoln entered Newport News Shipbuilding for a four-year Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH). This extensive maintenance period included refueling the ship's reactors, upgrading combat systems, and refurbishing living quarters and other essential areas. The RCOH was completed in May 2017, significantly extending the carrier's service life.

In April 2019, Abraham Lincoln deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, to the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran. The carrier conducted air operations and provided a visible presence in the region, reinforcing U.S. commitments to its allies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Abraham Lincoln was involved in various exercises and operations while implementing health protocols to safeguard the crew. The carrier continued to play a crucial role in ensuring maritime security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

**2022:**

In January 2022, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) made history by deploying with the first female to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt. The deployment took the carrier to the Indo-Pacific region, where it participated in various exercises and operations aimed at strengthening alliances and maintaining regional security.

During the deployment, USS Abraham Lincoln participated in the multinational exercise RIMPAC 2022 (Rim of the Pacific Exercise), which is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. The exercise involved navies from 26 countries and included complex warfare scenarios to improve interoperability among the participating forces.

The carrier also conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, demonstrating the United States' commitment to maintaining free and open sea lanes in contested waters. This was particularly significant given the rising tensions in the region due to territorial disputes.

Additionally, USS Abraham Lincoln was involved in joint exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Royal Australian Navy, enhancing collaboration and readiness among allied forces.

In early 2023, USS Abraham Lincoln continued its operational activities in the Indo-Pacific region. The carrier conducted numerous training exercises to maintain the proficiency and readiness of its crew and embarked air wing. These exercises included flight operations, damage control drills, and joint training with other U.S. Navy vessels and allied ships.

In March 2023, the carrier made a port visit to Yokosuka, Japan, home to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet. This visit underscored the strong partnership between the United States and Japan and provided an opportunity for the crew to engage with the local community and conduct necessary maintenance.

During the mid-year, USS Abraham Lincoln participated in additional freedom of navigation operations, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to uphold international law and the rights of all nations to access global commons.

In August 2023, the carrier took part in another significant exercise, Talisman Sabre, a biennial exercise between the United States and Australia. This exercise focused on high-end warfighting scenarios, involving complex air, land, and sea operations to enhance the combat readiness and interoperability of U.S. and Australian forces.

Throughout 2023, USS Abraham Lincoln remained a critical component of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed presence in the Indo-Pacific, serving as a deterrent to potential adversaries and reassuring allies of the U.S. commitment to regional stability and security.

By the end of 2023, the carrier had completed its deployment and returned to its homeport, where it began preparations for its next series of training cycles and maintenance periods to ensure continued readiness for future missions.

Overall, USS Abraham Lincoln's activities in 2022 and 2023 demonstrated its versatility and importance in maintaining maritime security and supporting U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.