More than 5,000 US military personnel are expected to arrive in Phuket when the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black make a port call at Phuket Deep Sea Port from 4–9 October 2026.
The USS George H.W. Bush is expected to bring about 4,800 personnel, while the USS Delbert D. Black will have around 320 personnel aboard, bringing the total to more than 5,000.
The visit will take place at Phuket Deep Sea Port in Wichit, Mueang Phuket district, allowing personnel to spend time in the popular Thai tourist destination.
The USS George H.W. Bush is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The 333-metre carrier can accommodate about 90 aircraft and has around 4,800 personnel assigned to the ship and its embarked air wing.
The USS Delbert D. Black is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. The ship is about 155 metres long and is equipped with air-defence and other weapons systems for missions including carrier escort and maritime operations.
The two ships are part of the US Navy’s current overseas operations. Current fleet tracking shows the George H.W. Bush and Delbert D. Black operating with US naval forces in 2026.
The Phuket visit follows the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier at Laem Chabang from 2–6 September, when more than 5,000 US personnel visited Thailand, according to the information provided.
