Guard for "Big Abe" July 24, 2000 USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN and HMAS NEWCASTLE. HMAS NEWCASTLE has experienced the rare chance of working in close company with a US Navy aircraft carrier, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The opportunity to see the huge carrier at close quarters came during RIMPAC 2000 when NEWCASTLE was invited to close to within 500 yards of the carrier. CMDR Peter Naughton and the ship's company were able to witness some of the carrier's flying operations from alongside the enormous flight deck. A lucky few sailors from NEWCASTLE were also flown across to the carrier by Seahawk helicopter. They spent the day on the carried, watching flying operations from the viewing platform aft of the bridge and exploring the seemingly endless spaces below. The ABRAHAM LINCOLN is a Nimitz-class carrier commissioned in 1989. She has a ship's company of nearly 6000 with her airwing embarked. She routinely operates with up to 80 aircraft. Story: LCDR Jeremy Butler. Picture: USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN's photographic unit.