According to reports from CBS and Reuters, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at a port in eastern Thailand on September 2nd. The carrier had previously spent 286 consecutive days at sea, including a lengthy deployment to the Middle East. Thai officials stated that the visit will last five days, allowing the Lincoln and its crew to rest and recover in Thailand.

 

The Lincoln has reportedly been involved in the US-led conflict with Iran. During this deployment, the carrier set a record for the longest continuous uninterrupted deployment at sea.

 

Reports indicate that the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at Laem Chabang port on September 2nd, with its flight deck filled with helicopters and fighter jets, including the latest F-35 fighter jets.

 

The ship's exterior is noteworthy. Reuters reports that the hull is covered in rust, and the paint near the waterline is peeling and peeling. CBS also pointed out that, judging from the ship's appearance, the USS Abraham Lincoln seems to require at least a repaint: large patches of what appear to be rust are scattered across the hull, particularly noticeable just above the waterline and along the edges of the flight deck.

 

When asked about the ship's condition, Captain Dan Keeller, the USS Lincoln's commanding officer, responded, "This is normal during long deployments, and we will not comment further." When asked about President Trump's comments that the Lincoln's record deployment was "far from long enough," his answer was equally brief. "The president is just expressing his opinion," he said. "That's my opinion." As previously reported, the USS Abraham Lincoln began its planned deployment last November and was transferred to the Middle East in January of this year to participate in Operation Epic Fury against Iran and the US naval blockade of Iran. The sailors on the carrier have experienced living conditions and mental health issues due to the high-intensity operational pace and long deployment. In addition, numerous reports have indicated that the ship suffers from shortages of basic supplies, water pollution, pipeline problems, deteriorating mental health of crew members, deck safety hazards, and mail system disruptions that have resulted in many packages destined for the ship being lost in transit for months.