The United States Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), the fifth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, carried out live-fire exercises and a replenishment-at-sea in the South China Sea last week as part of its ongoing routine operations. The warship began her current deployment in late November, departing San Diego with almost no fanfare. Moreover, the Pentagon did not announce where CVN-72 would operate. However, even as this deployment began, it was expected that USS Abraham Lincoln would relieve USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the fleet. CVN-68 returned home to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash., just before the Christmas holiday, wrapping up what was confirmed to be the 50-year-old carrier’s final deployment. Later this spring, USS Nimitz will head to Norfolk, Va., for decommissioning, followed by the start of recycling the supercarrier. That effort will last several years. USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Eastern Pacific in December, a move that shouldn’t be seen as a surprise, even if no advance notice was given.

Full report : U.S. Navy Supercarrier Is Now Operating In Waters Claimed By China.