After more than 250 days at sea fighting the war on Iran – and amid reports of dire conditions on board – the USS Abraham Lincoln is finally set to dock near Pattaya this week, giving more than 5,000 American sailors and Marines shore leave as the Thai resort city hopes they will spend big during their last pit stop before home.
The eastern Thai beach resort, known for its colourful nightlife, has faced a grim low tourist season, driven in part by the economic downturn triggered by the same war that has kept the carrier and its crew in combat.
The Lincoln’s deployment, believed to be a record for a vessel of its size, was extended after it was unexpectedly redirected to the Middle East shortly before the US and Israel launched their February attack on Iran.
It is set to dock on Wednesday in Thailand, allowing the crew up to four days of rest and recuperation before its onwards journey across the Pacific.
The carrier, one of the world’s largest military boats, has also been at the centre of political controversy in the US.