The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), arrived in Marseille on 4 August 2025 alongside the guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), marking a high-profile U.S. Navy port visit in southern France.
Both vessels are part of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, currently deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to bolster the readiness, lethality and interoperability of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. The visit follows the strike group’s participation in Neptune Strike 25-2, a multinational vigilance exercise involving Finland, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
“The visit of the USS Gerald R. Ford to Marseille is symbolic of the Franco-American alliance,” said U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner. “This ship embodies America’s excellence in the defence industry… and the 4,500 dedicated service members aboard embody the Administration’s commitment to peace through strength.”
Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, said the French port call followed a demanding series of operations across the Mediterranean. “After a fast-paced and successful Neptune Strike activity… we are so thankful for the warm welcome from France, our oldest naval ally,” he said.
Prior to arriving in France, the strike group operated in the Atlantic Ocean before transiting the Strait of Gibraltar in cooperation with the Spanish Navy’s Canarias (F86) and Italy’s ITS Spartaco Schergat (F598).
While docked in Marseille, personnel from both ships will tour French cities including Paris and Monaco, and will host official engagements aboard the Gerald R. Ford.
The port call comes during ongoing negotiations among NATO members over defence spending and procurement, with the carrier’s presence highlighting U.S. interest in strengthening European industrial cooperation.
The USS Gerald R. Ford serves as the deployed flagship of Carrier Strike Group Twelve. The group includes Carrier Air Wing Eight and Destroyer Squadron Two, comprising USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Mahan (DDG 72), and Winston S. Churchill. U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa has maintained strategic partnerships with allies in the region for over 80 years, supporting freedom of navigation and regional stability through persistent maritime engagement.
An SSBN is more powerful. Semantics but true.
But is that a ship? Semantics indeed.
Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear or SSBN. :->
Both are referred to as boats.
A ship is only as strong as it’s weakest link which obviously includes it’s command structure.
The USS Ford can only operate 4th generation aircraft for the next ten years, I don’t think it can be referred to as the most powerful warship in the world. With 24 F35B the Queen Elizabeth class is far far more capable than a Ford Class with 48 F18’s.
F35 is demonstrating a consistent kill ratio of over 30 to 1 against F18 and other fourth generation aircraft.
One could argue that the Charles de Gaulle with nuclear weapons is the most powerful aircraft carrier.
Otherwise I’d have to go with one of the Nimitz class CVNs that has an F-35C squadron in their airwing, like the Carl Vinson, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or (very recently) the Theodore Roosevelt. The synergy between F-35s, F/A-18s, EA-18Gs, and Hawkeyes is impressive.
“F35 is demonstrating a consistant kill ratio of over 30 to 1 against F18”.
Christ, has America decended into Civil war again ?
Next thing, they will be invading Capitol Hill. 👀👀👀
Isn’t Capitol Hill in London?
Quite possibly, I tend to avoid going there personally.
I was referring to Capitol Hill, Washington DC, more specifically the scene of the riots which bore all the hallmarks of another American Civil War.
(It was just my sarcastic/humourous mindset when Jim said F35’s were killing F18’s). (I know both are flown by other countries but it just struck me as sort of a fun thing).
(I know hardly anyone on here likes that sort of thing but I can’t help it !).
(I got told off a while back for this sort of thing, apparently this is a serious comments section, I have toned it down recently to try to fit in but it just seems to attract some seriously angry types so I much prefer being a “halfwit” as only another “halfwit” would choose to argue with one !) (I have a feeling i’m not welcome here, It was the same on the TVR site, that’s where I got the name !).
Sorry, I went a bit off topic there, this London Capitol Hill, what happens there ?
Your F-35Bs have a shorter range than the Super Hornets and lack a long-range AAM. Plus, your carrier wing lacks a credible AEW capability.
And, with 24 aircraft, how many can deploy for offensive operations? You’ll probably need a squadron just for CAP patrols. Which would leave a dozen for offensive operations.
The Super Hornets are now equipped with the AIM-174B, which is reportedly good for 250 kilometers. And, my guess is the Hawkeye will spot you long before you’re within missile range.
Whence why the RAF is ordering F35B/A in preference to more Typhoons,finally someone gets it.
That is not true, completely made up F 35 propaganda. By the Americans! I know that the F 35 has been shot down many times in simulated combat scenarios in red flag meetings and doesn’t have a superiority rating again for example the Rafale, in fact the Rafale has a better rating that any other fighter aircraft. I am ex-air force.
lol
It’s no good saying LOL, before I left the French air force { I am an aircraft engineer, I now work for AIRBUS}, I was part of the French contingent at quite a few Red Flag meetings, so I know what happened at the meetings I attended. What I stated before in my last post is true. You can believe it or not, but the facts are facts, I know the Americans don’t like to admit defeat about the F 35 but again what I said still sticks and the French air force knows the truth.
It’s never been confirmed or denied if US aircraft carriers have nuclear warheads aboard. So maybe?
4,500 must include the air component as well?
I’d be interested to know what the size of QEC crews really is with embarked fast air and cabs. I’m betting around the 2,000 mark. I don’t really believe that a crew of 700 was ever realistic just to sail her without embarked air.
Even with all the automation on QEC there are just so many jobs to do on such a vast ship. 50 people would look utterly lost on that massive flight deck or even working in the hangars – which I suspect is much more than that anyway. Then allow for watches to allow 24/7 operations.
Presumably, there is a USMC component on board as well.
Hi SB,
In regard to your question about a USMC detachment aboard the Gerald R. Ford, The USN does security aboard CVNs now, and the Ford doesn’t currently have any USMC squadrons attached to her airwing.
USS Abraham Lincoln does have a USMC F-35C squadron (VMFA-314 “Black Knights”) assigned. More Marine F-35C squadrons are coming on line, while I’m not sure how many plan to participate in Tactical Aircraft Integration with the big CVNs, I suspect we will see more.
Why no mention that USS Winston S Churchill is the ONLY USN vessel named after a foreign Head of State? When serving in HMS MARLBOROUGH, we received the USN exchange officer, a Lieutenant USN, Garrick Miller. The RN exchange officer was Lt (then) Essenigh. Lt Garrick Miller, USN, even played cricket for the ship when we beat the Dubai expats, taking a catch at Long On, although he did complain about not having a mitt? He then batted and scored.
Sorry, but every US aircraft carrier is the most power ship in the world.
Back in July ’21 the USN CNO Adm. Michael Gilday conceded that the service’s choice to include almost two dozen new technologies on Ford carriers was a mistake, view expressed after visiting the Ford ammunition elevators and saying they an exceptional example of a painful process over the past four or five years.
Hornets are not 5th gen. We don’t know how potentially v good f35b is. Obviously the yank carriers can deliver massive punch and have awareness supplied by Hawkeyes.