War Weary: The USS Lincoln's Thailand Port Call Exposes Naval Maintenance Conundrum The USS Abraham Lincoln, its hull streaked with rust and paint weathered from months of combat operations in the Middle East, arrived in Thailand last week.
For 286 days at sea, the carrier has been an extension of America's military might, but also a testament to the logistical strain of maintaining warships on extended missions.
Rust along the waterline is not uncommon after prolonged periods at sea, but the sheer scale of the Lincoln's wear and tear raises questions about the sustainability of US naval operations.