US Navy Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln Passes Through Singapore Strait En Route To Thailand After More Than 250 Days At Sea

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) passed through the Singapore Strait on Aug. 29 on its way to Thailand for a planned port visit.

The carrier is expected to visit Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri from Sept. 2 to 6. Thai officials said the visit is for the crew to rest and recover and for logistical support.

They said it is not a joint military exercise and denied reports that the carrier would stop to replenish ammunition.

The visit follows a long deployment in the Middle East. Lincoln spent almost seven months in the U.S. Central Command area and was at sea for more than 250 days without a break.

It has been operating in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area for about a week.

Carrier Seen Passing Singapore

Ship spotters reported seeing Lincoln pass through the Singapore Strait on Aug. 29.

Lincoln and its Japan-based escort, the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), were seen passing through the Strait of Malacca on Friday.

Photos showed aircraft on Lincoln’s flight deck as it passed through the strait.

The carrier’s crew, Carrier Air Wing 9 and some escort ships are expected to visit eastern Thailand. U.S. aircraft carriers have visited the deep-water Laem Chabang port before.

Long Deployment

Lincoln left San Diego on Nov. 21 with about 5,000 crew members.

Its mission was extended after the war with Iran began in February. During the deployment, the carrier supported U.S. military operations against Iran and launched thousands of aircraft for strikes.

The ship spent more than 250 days at sea without a break.

The long deployment has led to concerns from some family members. Reports have mentioned mental health problems among crew members and shortages of food and hygiene products.

U.S. Central Command said reports of increased suicidal thoughts among the crew were false. It also said no one had died aboard the ship.

On Aug. 3, a sailor fell overboard but was later recovered. The Navy is still investigating what happened.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reports about problems on the carrier had been misrepresented.

Jefferson Kelley, whose son Jackson is serving aboard Lincoln on his first deployment, told CBS Mornings that he would travel to the carrier if it meant bringing his son home.

Kelley said sailors should not have to stay deployed for so long. He also said older ships need a lot of maintenance.

Navy Facing Longer Deployments

The U.S. Navy is preparing for longer carrier deployments to support operations in the Middle East.

Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, U.S. carrier deployments have lasted an average of 8.5 months, according to the USNI News carrier deployment database.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman said last week that the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and its families were preparing for a longer deployment.

Perryman said sailors are ready for difficult missions but need to know how long they will be away. He said the Roosevelt crew had been told to plan for eight months instead of seven.

George Washington Replaces Lincoln

The Japan-based USS George Washington (CVN-73) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area earlier this month to replace Lincoln.

It joined USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), which is operating in the Arabian Sea.

Lincoln spent almost seven months in the U.S. Central Command area without a declared port call before moving into the Indo-Pacific.

References: USNI, TOI