USS Theodore Roosevelt Changes Homeport And Helps Move 3,000 Sailors – And Their Cars

US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt has helped military families – and their cars – move after the ship changed its homeport.

The US Navy tweeted a picture of hundreds of cars belonging to personnel and their families on its deck as the Nimitz-class carrier departed San Diego Bay on Monday, saying: "Aircraft aren't the only machines this carrier transports..."

The move to its new home of Bremerton, Washington, will see about 3,000 sailors and their families relocated.

In September, USS Theodore Roosevelt will undergo a refit at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

This will include a system retrofit to accommodate for F-35C Lightning II mission capabilities, as well as upgrades to the carrier's self-defence system and Mk 38 25mm machine gun.

The ship's hull, rudder, propulsion shaft, anchor and 25 berthing spaces will also be refurbished and preserved. 

In May 2020, more than a dozen sailors on the carrier tested positive for coronavirus – including some for a second time.

This came after nearly 3,000 sailors on board the vessel were taken off following a coronavirus outbreak the month before. 

Cover image: Cars on board the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (Picture: US Department of Defense).