About 5,000 US Navy sailors arrived in Phuket aboard the USS Ronald Regan on Sunday for a few days of R&R following humanitarian operations in Japan.

Local press were invited aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier for an inspection tour after the ship dropped anchor off Phuket’s deep sea port.

Phuket is a favourite R&R stop-off for US Navy personnel on ships on their way to other parts of Asia and the Middle East.

The 4.5 billion dollar aircraft carrier was the first nuclear powered warship of any kind to be named in honour of a living former president and has been in operation since 2004.

Measuring over 1,000 feet in length, the ship carries 90 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

Nick Davies
Stretchout Media
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