Overview
- The carrier docked near Pattaya on Wednesday for a five-day rest-and-repair stop and sailed from Laem Chabang on Sunday after the visit concluded.
- Crew members and media reports say an unusually long deployment of more than eight months led to dwindling supplies, rationed meals, clogged plumbing and shortages of basic toiletries.
- Navy leaders have disputed reports of a suicide spike, sent counselors and social workers to the strike group, and said many issues were addressed while the ship remained at sea.
- Pattaya officials estimated the 5,000-strong crew spent as much as 100 million baht locally, and local police carried out stepped-up security and crackdowns on sex work during the visit with no major incidents reported.
- Lawmakers, families and commanders have demanded briefings and independent reviews of carrier sustainment and rotation plans after reporting tied some supply delays to damage at Bahrain facilities and rerouting through distant hubs such as Diego Garcia.