US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Thailand After Months at Sea
Listen to the story
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a huge US aircraft carrier, has arrived in Pattaya, Thailand, on 3 September 2026. Around 5,000 American service members stepped onto land after spending eight to nine months at sea.
Pattaya is a Thai city known as the 'city of sin' because of its nightlife and entertainment. It is a popular place for sailors to visit and unwind after long missions on the ocean.
This kind of stop is known as a port call, when a military ship docks in a city so its crew can rest and enjoy free time. Photos from the arrival showed the massive grey ship covered in rust, a result of many months exposed to salt water.
Sailors on long deployments often spend months without setting foot on land. For many aboard the Abraham Lincoln, this visit to Pattaya was their first chance in nearly nine months to walk on solid ground, eat local food, and simply relax away from the ship.
The arrival of a US aircraft carrier in Thailand also highlights the ongoing military presence of the United States in Southeast Asia. Large warships like the Abraham Lincoln regularly travel through the region as part of longer deployments that can last close to a year.
Local businesses in Pattaya often welcome the arrival of thousands of sailors, since visiting crews can bring a boost to shops, restaurants, and bars. The photos published alongside the story documented the scale of the ship and the excitement of the crew stepping ashore.
Vocabulary10 words
- aircraft carrier
- a huge ship built to carry and launch planes
- service member
- a person who works in the army, navy, or air force
- port call
- a planned stop where a ship's crew can rest in a city
- rust
- orange-brown damage on metal caused by water
- deployment
- a period when military people are sent away to work
- crew
- all the people who work on a ship
- nightlife
- parties, bars, and entertainment at night
- unwind
- to relax after being busy or stressed
- presence
- when something or someone is in a place
- boost
- an increase or improvement in something
Quiz
Answer key
1. Eight to nine months 2. Months at sea in salt water caused damage 3. The city of sin
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a huge US aircraft carrier, has arrived in _____, Thailand.
Around 5,000 American _____ stepped onto land after eight to nine months at sea.
Pattaya is a Thai city known as the 'city of _____'.
It is a popular place for sailors to _____ after long missions.
This kind of stop is known as a port _____.
Photos from the arrival showed the massive grey ship covered in _____.
For many aboard the Abraham Lincoln, this was their first chance in nearly nine months to walk on solid _____.
Large warships regularly travel through the region as part of longer _____.
Local businesses in Pattaya often welcome the arrival of thousands of _____.
Visiting crews can bring a _____ to shops, restaurants, and bars.