US aircraft carrier to dock near Thai beach resort Pattaya after record 250 days at sea
The USS Abraham Lincoln is docking in Thailand for a crew break after a record-breaking 250 days at sea. The deployment was extended due to military operations in the Gulf, leading to reports of crew stress and logistical challenges.
Why it matters
Highlights the strain on US naval personnel during extended deployments and the geopolitical impact of US military presence in the Middle East.
Image source, Getty Images By Jonathan Head South East Asia correspondent , Reporting from Pattaya, Thailand Published 45 minutes ago After a record 250 days at sea without a port stop, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is preparing to dock in Thailand, giving its nearly 5,000 crew members a much-needed break.
The ship is docking close to the beach resort of Pattaya, known for its raucous nightlife and for sex tourism. For the US it also carries strong historical echoes.
When the weary sailors walk into the city's bars and restaurants, they will literally be treading in the footsteps of the hundreds of thousands of US troops who came here for R&R – rest and relaxation - during the Vietnam War.
They transformed it from a sleepy fishing village to one of the world's most famous and frenetic party towns.
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