U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln Leaves Thailand After 5-Day Port Visit

The U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln left Thailand on Sunday after a five-day port visit, the U.S. Navy said.

The visit gave its crew a short break after an extended deployment including operations in the Middle East.

The nuclear-powered carrier has about 5,000 personnel on board. It arrived in Thailand early Wednesday with other U.S. Navy ships.

The Lincoln had taken part in the U.S. naval blockade and combat operations during the war with Iran.

Democratic lawmakers said the carrier’s deployment had set a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea.

“We would like to thank the people of Thailand for their incredible hospitality,” U.S. Navy Captain Dan Keeler, the carrier’s commanding officer, said in a statement.

Sailors visit Pattaya

Soon after the ships docked, buses carrying sailors and Marines in civilian clothes arrived at a hotel in Pattaya.

Pattaya is a resort city about 150 km southeast of Bangkok. Many sailors smiled and waved as they arrived.

The port visit was planned for five days. Thai officials had said the carrier would arrive on Wednesday and leave on Sunday.

Thailand is the United States’ only treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia.

Lincoln had been at sea for an extended period

U.S. Navy deployments usually last six to nine months, but they can be longer during a conflict.

The Abraham Lincoln had been on an extended deployment including operations in the Middle East. During the war with Iran, it took part in the U.S. naval blockade and combat operations.

Lawmakers said the carrier had spent a modern-day record number of consecutive days at sea.

The five-day visit to Thailand gave the crew a break from that deployment before the carrier left the country on Sunday.

The Abraham Lincoln and the other U.S. naval vessels that arrived with it have now left Thailand and continued their deployment.

The U.S. Navy did not provide further operational details in the information available.

References: Reuters, Independent