USS George H.W. Bush Arrives in Phuket for Rest After Six-Month Middle-East Deployment

On Oct 4, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush entered the waters off Phuket, Thailand, with roughly 4,800 service members aboard. The carrier and its strike group anchored offshore while sailors were expected to disembark through Phuket Deep Sea Port and spend time on the island through the first week of October. The visit marks the carrier’s first port call since departing its home ports in Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, in March 31.

The Straits TimesA U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the resort island of Phuket: nearly 5,000 military personnel will go ashore, while local authorities estimate the revenue UsNews and World ReportTask and PurposeThe Jerusalem Post

The carrier was dispatched to the Middle East in late March to join a larger U.S. naval force already engaged with Iran. Over the subsequent six months, the ship supported Operation Epic Fury and participated in a U.S. naval blockade aimed at securing maritime security and stability in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which spans more than 10 million sq km and includes vital sea lanes, flight corridors, pipelines, and overland routes.

The Straits Times

The Phuket stop follows a five-day port call by the USS Abraham Lincoln at Laem Chabang in early September, during which about 5,000 sailors and Marines were ashore. Local officials estimated that each service member from the Lincoln could spend up to 3,000 baht (? $89) per day. Thailand remains the United States’ sole treaty ally on mainland Southeast Asia.

The Jerusalem Post

• Personnel aboard George H.W. Bush: ~4,800

Task and Purpose

• Previous carrier visit (Abraham Lincoln): ~5,000 sailors/Marines

Task and Purpose

• Estimated daily local spending per service member (Lincoln): 3,000 baht ($89)

The Jerusalem Post

• Operation duration: Six months of Middle-East support (March 31 – Oct 4)

A U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the resort island of Phuket: nearly 5,000 military personnel will go ashore, while local authorities estimate the revenue

The U.S. Navy announced that the carrier’s strike group would engage in cultural and community activities, including sightseeing tours and a U.S.–Thailand soccer match. A Navy statement highlighted the ship’s role in “securing maritime security and stability” in the region.

The Straits Times

Capt. Justin T. Issler, commanding officer of the George H.W.

Task and Purpose

• Strike-group composition: Task & Purpose notes that the current strike group includes destroyers USS Mason, USS Ross, and USS Donald Cook, but it is unclear which of these vessels will dock at Phuket.

Task and Purpose

• Departure notification: Neither U.S. Central Command nor the Navy’s 5th Fleet publicly announced the carrier’s exit from the Middle East, leading to reports that the ship “quietly left” the region.

Task and Purpose

• Future disposition: Sources differ on whether the George H.W. Bush will return to the United States or remain in the Pacific, leaving the carrier’s next movements uncertain.

Task and Purpose

• “Our crew has performed exceptionally while underway, demonstrating discipline, resilience, and unity,” — Capt. Justin T. Issler

Task and Purpose

Thai media expect the port call to continue through early October, after which the carrier’s itinerary remains unspecified. The U.S. 7th Fleet has not confirmed the duration of the visit or the next destination for the George H.W. Bush or its accompanying destroyers.

Task and Purpose