Full Report
The drone and ship kill marks visualize of the role the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group played in the fight with Iran. The post USS Abraham Lincoln Comes Home With Its Island Superstructure Covered In Kill Marks appeared first on TWZ.
Analysis Summary
# Morning News Roll-up October 8, 2026
## Overview
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has returned to port following a high-intensity, six-month combat deployment centered on "Operation Epic Fury" against Iranian forces. The ship’s superstructure and embarked aircraft now display extensive "kill marks" detailing the destruction of over 100 drones and dozens of maritime vessels, highlighting a significant escalation in kinetic engagements between U.S. naval forces and Iranian-backed threats.
## Top Stories
### USS Abraham Lincoln Returns with Record Kill Marks
- Summary: Upon its return to San Diego, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) revealed a superstructure covered in stenciled kill marks representing the neutralization of 103 one-way attack (OWA) drones and 34 ship kills. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to the strike group, citing the delivery of 1.37 million pounds of ordnance and the launch of 450 Tomahawk missiles during the deployment.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/sea/uss-abraham-lincoln-comes-home-with-its-island-superstructure-covered-in-kill-marks
### Operation Epic Fury: Analysis of Naval Combat Results
- Summary: Detailed combat statistics from the February 28 to August 22 deployment reveal the CSG conducted 3,693 combat sorties. Key targets included Shahed-style OWA drones, fast-attack craft, and explosive-laden wooden sailing vessels. Discrepancies between stenciled marks and official citations suggest additional engagements against Iranian submarines and anti-ship cruise missiles.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/air/all-the-weapons-a-single-navy-fighter-squadron-launched-during-operation-epic-fury
### F-35C and Super Hornet Kinetic Engagements in Mideast
- Summary: Navy Strike Fighter Squadrons, including VFA-41, played a primary role in neutralizing aerial threats. Visual evidence from F/A-18F Super Hornets indicates successful strikes against Iranian submarines, while F-35C Joint Strike Fighters were confirmed to have shot down OWA drones and conducted missions against Houthi targets in Yemen.
- Source: hxxps://www[.]twz[.]com/air/f-35-from-uss-abraham-lincoln-shoots-down-iranian-drone
# Operation Epic Fury / Lincoln CSG Deployment
## Key Points
- **Significant Kinetic Engagement:** The Lincoln CSG neutralized at least 103 OWA drones and 64 Iranian vessels (according to the Presidential Unit Citation).
- **Ordnance Expenditure:** Over 1.37 million pounds of ordnance delivered and 450 Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAMs) launched.
- **Novel Threat Tactics:** Engagement of "explosive-carrying wooden sailing vessels" and fast-attack craft used in swarming or asymmetric naval roles.
- **Multidomain Defense:** The deployment included successful defense against 21 anti-ship cruise missiles and the destruction of Iranian submarine assets.
## Threat Actors
- **Islamic Republic of Iran:** Primary state actor engaging in direct and proxy maritime conflict.
- **Houthi Rebels (Yemen):** Involved in regional escalations requiring F-35C combat missions.
- **Motivation:** Strategic disruption of maritime operations and regional power projection during the "Epic Fury" period.
## TTPs
- **One-Way Attack (OWA) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):** Deployment of Shahed-136 style loitering munitions.
- **Asymmetric Naval Warfare:** Use of fast-attack craft and explosive-laden civilian-style vessels (wooden sailing ships) to mask intent.
- **Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs):** Use of land-based and sea-based cruise missiles to target carrier strike group assets.
- **Submarine Operations:** Deployment of underwater assets to threaten carrier group integrity.
## Affected Systems
- **USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72):** Primary target and platform for defensive operations.
- **F/A-18F Super Hornets & F-35C Joint Strike Fighters:** Primary aerial platforms used for interception and strike.
- **Carrier Strike Group Assets:** Included destroyers and cruisers involved in Aegis-level missile defense.
## Mitigations
- **Aegis Combat System:** Utilized for tracking and intercepting ASCMs and OWA drones.
- **TLAM Strikes:** Preemptive or retaliatory destruction of launch sites and command centers.
- **Combat Air Patrols (CAP):** Constant aerial monitoring using F-35C and F/A-18E/F to intercept drones before they reach the inner layer of fleet defense.
- **Asymmetric Surface Defense:** Use of close-in weapon systems and small-caliber engagement for fast-attack craft.
## Conclusion
The deployment of the Lincoln CSG represents one of the most sustained and high-volume kinetic naval engagements in recent decades. The sheer volume of OWA drone and surface craft neutralizations indicates that Iranian forces are heavily relying on "quantity over quality" swarming tactics to saturate U.S. naval defenses. While U.S. mitigations—ranging from Tomahawk strikes to advanced fighter intercepts—were successful, the high expenditure of ordnance suggests a continued need for cost-effective counter-UAS solutions and robust supply chain management for long-range munitions.