After nine demanding months at sea, the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln is set to get a brief break as the aircraft carrier docks in Thailand on Wednesday.
The nuclear-powered carrier, carrying about 5,000 sailors and Marines, has spent months without regular days off while facing repeated missile and drone attacks. Reports have also highlighted supply shortages and worsening mental health among members of the crew.
The warship will dock near Pattaya, a popular beach destination known for its vibrant nightlife and red-light districts. The crew is expected to remain on shore leave until Sunday, when the carrier will leave Thailand for its home port in San Diego.
Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet disclosed the plans after meeting with US officials. He welcomed the arrival of the American service members and said the city was prepared to accommodate the large number of visitors.
Chonburi Province, where Pattaya is located, receives about 28 million visitors annually, according to the mayor.
“Handling 4,000 to 5,000 people is actually routine for Pattaya,” Mr. Poramet said. “We are not worrying, and we are glad to welcome them because we are confident they have high purchasing power.”
The port visit comes after an extended Middle East deployment for the Lincoln, which has emerged as a symbol of the strain placed on the US military by the war in Iran.
The carrier departed San Diego on November 21 and made a brief stop in Guam in December before later travelling to Oman to obtain supplies.
Keeping the massive warship adequately supplied became increasingly difficult after Iran destroyed a key US Navy base in Bahrain during the early stages of the fighting.
The challenges faced by the Lincoln’s crew have included sustained operations at sea, exposure to attacks and difficulties obtaining essential supplies.
Its arrival in Thailand will therefore provide thousands of sailors and Marines with a short period away from the pressures of their deployment before they begin the final leg of their journey back to San Diego.
