USS Spruance sets record deployment amid US Navy maintenance crisis

The Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Spruance has established a post-World War II record for the longest deployment of a US Navy destroyer. Having departed Naval Base San Diego on November 21, 2025, as part of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, the vessel remained at sea even after the carrier group returned to its home port. As of late October, the ship had spent 342 days at sea, significantly exceeding the standard seven-month deployment benchmark for US-based ships.

This unprecedented deployment highlights systemic issues within the Navy, including a massive backlog of surface-ship repairs and inefficiencies at private shipyards. Senior Navy officials have warned that such extended operational cycles could create long-term pressure on fleet readiness and readiness for years to come.

The prolonged mission has also placed a significant emotional burden on sailors and their families. Crew members and spouses have reported growing anxiety and exhaustion due to repeated delays and shifting return dates, which have replaced initial expectations with persistent uncertainty regarding the well-being of those deployed.