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.
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.