In this article:
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is underway conducting routine flight operations in the US Sixth Fleet area of operations after departing Souda Bay, Greece, following completion of an emergent five-day repair availability (ERAV).
“Our ship remains operationally ready to complete deployment with mission and purpose on full display by the entire crew,” said Capt. Chris Hill, commanding officer of Harry S. Truman, in a US Navy news release. “We are out here launching and recovering aircraft, ready to ‘Give ‘em Hell’ with combat credible power.”
Hill, commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), is temporarily serving as Harry S. Truman’s interim commanding officer after Capt. Dave Snowden, commander of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) since December 2023, was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.
The relief occurred after Truman was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M on Feb. 12, while operating in the Mediterranean Sea in the vicinity of Port Said, Egypt.
According to USNI News, the collision was the second incident to befall the strike group. Shortly after it arrived in the Red Sea, Gettysburg‘s crew accidentally shot down an F/A-18F assigned to the carrier. Few details about how the friendly fire incident occurred are publicly available, with the Navy saying it remains under investigation.
As already reported, Harry S. Truman arrived at US Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Greece, to conduct an Emergent Repair Availability (ERAV) on the ship’s starboard quarter following the mishap.
Damage assessed included the exterior wall of two storage rooms and a maintenance space. External to the ship, damage assessed included a line handling space, the fantail, and the platform above one of the storage spaces. Aircraft elevator number three sustained no damage and is fully operational. Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) led the pier side ERAV, including an assessment and follow-on repairs to damages sustained.
An assessment team conducted a full survey of damaged areas and develop a repair plan to be executed immediately following completion of the assessment. The assessment team included structural engineers, naval architects, and other personnel from FDRMC and Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). They were supported by ship’s force personnel and local industry partners for the repair effort.
Deployed US Navy ships routinely undergo planned and emergent maintenance periods such as mid-deployment voyage repairs and ERAVs, allowing forward-deployed ships to sustain maximal operational readiness.
The US Navy’s ability to rapidly repair its warships anywhere in the world is a testament to the service lethality and the warfighting advantage of relationships with Allies and partners.
In an all-hands effort, Sailors worked with FDRMC personnel, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and local industry partner Theodoropoulos Group to assess damage, develop a repair plan, and restore weathertight integrity to the ship following the collision on Feb. 12.
“FDRMC is focused on keeping our forward-deployed naval forces mission-ready across 5th and 6th Fleets, maintaining critical combat readiness for the ships and their Sailors,” said Capt. Mollie Bily, FDRMC commanding officer. “The rapid repair effort on Truman was a testament to our expeditionary maintenance expertise and the exceptional collaboration with our Norfolk Naval Shipyard teammates and industry partners.”
Since deploying, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 has flown over 5,500 sorties, including two self-defense strikes into Houthi-controlled Yemen territory and a large force strike against ISIS-Somalia targets in Northeast Somalia in coordination with US Africa Command. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group continues to provide maritime security and regional stability in support of its component commanders.
CVW-1 consists of eight squadrons and one detachment: VFA-11 (Strike Fighter Squadron 11) Red Rippers (F/A-18F Super Hornet), VFA-136 (Strike Fighter Squadron 136) KnightHawks (F/A-18E Super Hornet), VFA-143 (Strike Fighter Squadron 143) Pukin Dogs (F/A-18E Super Hornet), VFA-81 (Strike Fighter Squadron 81) Sunliners (F/A-18E Super Hornet), VAW-126 (Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126) Seahawks (E-2D Hawkeye), VAQ-144 (Electronic Attack Squadron 144) Main Battery (EA-18G Growler), VRC-40 (Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 Det. 2) Rawhides (C-2A Greyhound), HSC-11 (Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11) Dragon Slayers (MH-60S Seahawk), HSM-72 (Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72) Proud Warriors (MH-60R Seahawk).
The carrier strike group includes the flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); CVW 1, with eight embarked aviation squadrons; staffs from CSG-8, CVW-1, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28; the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64); and three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55), USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).
Photo credit: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Gomez / U.S. Navy
Naval Warfare
