
The USS Gerald R. Ford is sailing for repairs in Crete after a damaging onboard fire and a deployment that has tested the endurance of its crew and raised questions about the Pentagon's handling of the war in the Middle East.
The $13 billion (£9.73 billion) aircraft carrier has been at sea for nearly nine months. It has supported strikes against Iran from the Red Sea and previously participated in operations in the Caribbean. Now its crew faces long-delayed maintenance and growing frustration.