Overview
- The carrier arrived at Laem Chabang on Wednesday after about 286 days deployed with roughly 264 days continuously at sea, and the ship will remain in port for a multi-day rest-and-recovery visit.
- About 5,000 sailors and Marines were granted shore leave in nearby Pattaya, bringing a projected $2.5 million to $3 million boost for local businesses and prompting U.S. and Thai officials to set conduct rules and extra security.
- Journalists on site noted visible rust and peeling paint on the hull, while family members and some crew described food shortages, plumbing problems and mental-health strains during the extended at-sea period.
- U.S. Navy and Pentagon leaders have defended the ship’s condition and called the stop a planned respite, saying the Lincoln had conducted combat operations related to the Iran campaign and was formally relieved in August by USS George Washington.
- The visit has renewed questions in Washington about logistics for prolonged carrier deployments, including supply routing through regional hubs and possible changes to rotation lengths to reduce strain on sailors and sustainment chains.