In the first half of 2016, Harry S. Truman, as flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8, carried out an eight-month air operation deployment against ISIL from the Eastern Mediterranean as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.[8][9][10][11] The ship has been the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8 since June 2014.[12]
Description
Harry S. Truman (also known as HST within the Navy)[13] is 1,092 feet (333 m) long and 257 feet (78 m) wide, and is as high as a 24-story building, at 244 feet (74 m). The supercarrier can accommodate around 90 aircraft and has a flight deck 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) in size, using four elevators that are 3,880 sq ft (360 m2) each to move planes between the flight deck and the hangar bay. With a combat load, HST displaces almost 97,000 tons and can accommodate 6,250 crewmembers.
The warship uses two Mark II stockless anchors that came from USS Forrestal[14] and weigh 30 tons each, with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds (160 kg). She is equipped with three 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and two Sea Sparrow SAM launchers.
Harry S. Truman cost over $4.5 billion in 2007 dollars to construct.
Propulsion
Two Westinghouse A4Wnuclear reactors are used for propulsion, which means that the ship is capable of steaming more than three million miles before refueling. The ship has four five-bladed propellers that weigh 66,220 pounds (30.04 t) each and can drive the ship at speeds over 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).
Awards
Harry S. Truman has been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing the ship's excellence. They include
The oval seal was designed by the ship's pre-commissioning crew and is primarily blue and gold. According to the ship's history webpage, the coat of arms "characterizes the global on-station capability of the ship and the United States Navy" and "Truman's name forms the shape of a forward-deployed aircraft carrier prepared to uphold and protect American interests".[24] The three flags near the bottom represent the letters "HST". The 33 gold stars surrounding the seal represent Truman's position as the 33rd President.
The Harry S. Truman battle flag was also designed by the ship's crew, and is a variation of the guidons carried by the companies of the 129th Field Artillery Regiment of the 35th Infantry Division, such as Battery D, the battery under the command of then-Army Capt. Harry Truman during World War I. It consists of crossed cannons on a scarlet background with the phrase "Give 'em hell", a reference to Truman's 1948 re-election campaign.
Ship history
Pre-commissioning and construction
A cover for the keel laying of CVN-75 showing her keel was laid as USS United States
Her keel was laid by Newport News Shipbuilding on 29 November 1993 and the ship was christened on 7 September 1996.[24]HST was authorized and laid down as USS United States, but her name was changed in February 1995 at the direction of then-Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton.
Three Newport News ship workers died during construction when a pump room filled with methane and hydrogen sulfide gases during a sewage leak on 12 July 1997. They are commemorated by a brass plaque in the tunnel off Hangar Bay No. 1. The ship was christened on 7 September 1996, launched 13 September 1996, and the crew began moving aboard from contract housing in Newport News in January 1998. The ship successfully completed builder's sea trial on 11 June 1998 after a short delay due to noise issues in one of the reactor closure heads. The ship was officially accepted by the Navy on 30 June 1998 and was commissioned on 25 July 1998 at Naval Station Norfolk.[25]
In August 1998, Harry S. Truman left port for the first time to conduct certifications to test her ability to recover and launch aircraft successfully. That was followed by numerous sea trials that challenged the ship and her crew with various training exercises.[24]
2000–2001
On 28 November 2000, Harry S. Truman began her maiden deployment with Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) on board.[24]
On 26 December 2000, Harry S. Truman transited the Suez Canal "in support of Operation Southern Watch" with Carrier Air Wing Three flying 869 combat sorties, including a strike on Iraqi integrated air defense system sites, in a sanctioned response to Iraqisurface-to-air missile fire against United Nations Security Council coalition forces. Combat operations ended on 27 April. Almost six months later and after 44,000 nautical miles (81,000 km; 51,000 mi) of traveling, she returned to the U.S. on 23 May. She then entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, for her first planned incremental availability (PIA) on 5 September 2001.[24]
2002–2003
A pair of T-45 Goshawks of VT-7 Eagles stand on Harry S. Truman's forward catapults awaiting launch during carrier qualifications in July 2003
On 5 December 2002, HST left for her second deployment, again with CVW-3 embarked,[26] visiting Marseille, France, Souda Bay, Crete and Koper, Slovenia.[27] Between 19 March and 18 April, airwing aircraft flew nearly 1,300 combat sorties from the Mediterranean Sea in the early stages of 2003 invasion of Iraq.[28][29][30] The ship stopped in Portsmouth, England,
before returning to Norfolk on 23 May.
In August 2003, Harry S. Truman began her second PIA at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY).[24]
2004–2005
The ship anchored outside Portsmouth, England, date unknown
On 13 February 2004, Harry S. Truman left under budget and four days early from Norfolk Naval Shipyard.[24]
On 2 June 2004, Harry S. Truman "surged"[31] for Exercise Summer Pulse, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea. The ship called at Naples, Italy, and participated in Operation Majestic Eagle in the eastern Atlantic Ocean before returning to NNSY on 25 July.[32]
On 1 October 2004, as part of a Navy-wide series of redesignations, Harry S. Truman's immediate superior in command changed to Carrier Strike Group Ten. The ship set out from Norfolk on her third extended deployment on 13 October 2004, and visited Souda Bay, Crete, before relieving USS John F. Kennedy on 20 November in the Persian Gulf.
Harry S. Truman and CVW-3 launched 2,577 sorties, totaling nearly 13,000 flight hours, flying combat missions over Iraq and maritime security operations before being relieved by USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf on 19 March 2005. Despite plans to cross the equator and visit South Africa, diplomatic issues caused her, instead, to transit the Suez Canal, stopping in Portsmouth, England, prior to returning home on 18 April 2005.
On 1 September 2005, in response to the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Harry S. Truman set sail for the devastated U.S. Gulf Coast. She arrived in the Gulf of Mexico on 4 September and served as the flagship for the naval task force. While the ship's strike group (Carrier Strike Group 10) commander, Rear Adm. Joseph Kilkenny, was appointed deputy commander of Joint Task Force Gulf Coast (also known as JTF Katrina and Rita), the ship remained anchored in the gulf and provided desalinated water for the relief effort via helicopter (the actual command hub for the JTF was USS Iwo Jima). The carrier also provided support to JRB New Orleans in the form of aviation boatswain's mates and cooks to keep that station in operation.[33]Harry S. Truman returned to home port in October 2005 after five weeks of relief efforts.
In January, Harry S. Truman entered the NNSY for a docked PIA.[34] The ship received many system upgrades, and underwent preventive maintenance to repair minor weld defects originating from the initial construction of the reactor plants. She left the yard in December and continued preparations for surge beginning in April 2007.
2007
On 15 August, an E-2C Hawkeyecrashed after taking off from the carrier, killing all three crewmembers.
On 5 November, Harry S. Truman left Norfolk for her fourth extended deployment with CVW-3 embarked in support of OIF.
2008
HST returned to the U.S. in June.[35] She first pulled into Naval Station Mayport, Florida, to welcome aboard family and friends for a three-day "Tiger Cruise" or Family Day Cruise, before returning to Norfolk Naval Station on 4 June 2008.[36] The ship was awarded her fourth Battle E award for the East Coast (for 2008) in early 2009. Jimmy Buffett visited the ship and performed a concert on 28 January.
2009
In February, HST completed a nearly seven-month PIA at the NNSY in Portsmouth, Virginia.[37]
Harry S. Truman began a seven-month deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations in support of maritime security operations.[39]
On 21 May, Harry S. Truman led a task force of 11 American warships and 5,000 men into the Suez Canal.
On 20 June, the ship visited four ports during her 213 days at sea, including Marseille, France; Dubai, U.A.E; Manama, Bahrain; and Souda Bay, Crete, before returning to the United States on 21 December. During the deployment, Harry S. Truman traveled more than 50,000 nautical miles and flew more than 10,000 sorties in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.[40]
2011
Dry docked
On 2 February, Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet named Harry S. Truman as the Battle "E", award winner, which was her third consecutive Battle "E" award. This was the sixth award in the ship's 12-year history, having previously won the Battle "E" award in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009.[20]
Harry S. Truman entered a docked PIA at NNSY in late March.
On 28 February, the aircraft carrier began her dry-docking PIA maintenance and yard overhaul period at NNSY in Portsmouth (pictured).[41] During this maintenance cycle, Harry S. Truman received a new main mast, an upgrade in her close-in weapons systems, and the installation of the automated digital network system, which provides the carrier with enhanced communications and cooperative engagement capabilities to assess possible threats.[42]Harry S. Truman was expected to complete this DPIA yard overhaul in early 2012 and begin preparations for her sixth overseas deployment.[43] Also, her berthing spaces were also upgraded, installing 2,500 racks, replacing 46,000 square feet of deck and painting 106,000 square feet of spaces.[44]
On 8 November, Captain Tushar Tembe died after collapsing on a pier near the ship.[45] The ship's executive officer (XO) assumed the role of acting command officer, until relieved by Captain Dee L. Mewbourne three days later, and resuming his post as XO.[46]
2012
Harry S. Truman on carrier qualifications in the Atlantic in December 2012: Three C-2A Greyhounds are parked adjacent to the ship's island; behind them is a single SH-60F Seahawk; a second Seahawk is parked on the starboard side aft with an F/A-18E Super Hornet; an X-47B UCAV is taxiing from the port side aft, about to pass a pair of F/A-18F Super Hornets parked on the port side overhang.
On 7 April, Norfolk Naval Shipyard completed the ship's nuclear power plant modernization and testing was to begin to ensure her readiness for sea trials lasting 90 days. Harry S. Truman returned to the U.S. Navy fleet in the summer of 2012.[47]
On 26 November, an X-47B unmanned combat air system was hoisted on board Harry S. Truman in preparation for an unmanned aircraft's first, carrier-based testing. Harry S. Truman was to be the first aircraft carrier in naval aviation history to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Testing on the X-47B was conducted over a three-week period that included in-port and underway demonstrations aboard.[48] The X-47B successfully completed carrier deck tests aboard Harry S. Truman on 18 December 2012.[49]
2013
On 6 February, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the upcoming deployment of Harry S. Truman, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser Gettysburg, and the rest of Carrier Strike Group 10 will be postponed pending the resolution of the upcoming budget sequestration, leaving the carrier John C. Stennis and her carrier strike group as the only carrier force operating in the Persian Gulf region.[50][51] The strike group was originally scheduled to depart Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on 8 February 2013.[50]
On 22 July, Harry S. Truman left for an extended deployment to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, and settled into her mission of supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the coalition of troops on the ground in Afghanistan.
On 23 March, Harry S. Truman was relieved by George H.W. Bush in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, conducting maritime security operations and supporting theater security cooperation efforts.[53]
On 21 December, Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh visited USS Harry S. Truman stationed near the Yemeni island of Berim.[55] On 26 December while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, several unguided rockets fired by Iran landed about 1,500 yards (1,400 m) away from Harry S. Truman, which was traveling with the destroyer Bulkeley and the Provence. Iran had announced over maritime radio it was carrying out tests "only 23 minutes before" and was criticized by the U.S. Central Command for "Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognized maritime traffic lane."[56]
On 29 December, Harry S. Truman began launching strikes against the Islamic State group. By mid-April 2016, aircraft of Carrier Air Wing Seven operating from the carrier had dropped 1,118 pieces of ordnance in operations against the group, surpassing a record of 1,085 pieces that was set by aircraft assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2015.[57]
2016
On 12 January, an unarmed Iranian drone flew directly over Harry S. Truman in international waters and took "precise" photos, according to state television in the Islamic Republic.[58] In the first half of 2016, Harry S. Truman, as flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8, carried out an eight-month air operation deployment against ISIL from the Eastern Mediterranean as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.[8][9][10][11] On 3 June, F/A-18 Hornets launched from Harry S. Truman conducted air strikes against ISIS targets from the eastern Mediterranean. It was the first time the U.S. Navy had conducted strike missions in the Middle East from the Mediterranean Sea since flying operations against the Iraqi military in 2003.[59]
CVW-1 was reassigned to Harry S. Truman. On 25 August, she entered NNSY for her "10-month" PIA that is "expected to be completed" a year after work officially begins on 27 September.[60]
2017
On 21 July, the refit was concluded and was followed by various training exercises placing emphasis on damage control, flight deck operations, and simulated combat at-sea.[61]
2018
Island of Harry S. Truman
Carrier Strike Group 8 began a further scheduled deployment to the Middle East and Europe on 11 April 2018.[62] The carrier returned to Norfolk on 21 July and left again for operations in the Western Atlantic Ocean on 28 August.[63][64]
On 25 October, the carrier took part in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture, which was held in and around Norway.[65]
2019
On 27 February, the Pentagon announced that Harry S. Truman's midlife refueling and overhaul, tentatively scheduled for 2024, may be cancelled and the ship instead retired early as a cost-saving measure. The likelihood of the ship actually being decommissioned more than 20 years ahead of schedule was uncertain, as this would have left the carrier fleet at 10 ships, one below the legally mandated level. The nominated chief of naval operations told Congress he supports "to forgo" the $ 3.5 billion overhaul scheduled for HST.[66] Congress prevented the Navy from taking the same action with sister ship George Washington in 2016,[67] as well as the White House, as President Donald Trump had promised to increase the carrier fleet to 12.[68]
On 1 May, President Trump announced he overrode the decision to decommission USS Harry S. Truman.[69]
In late August, a malfunction of the ship's electrical distribution system was announced as the cause that would prevent her scheduled deployment.[70] The ship's electrical malfunction was repaired in late October and Harry S. Truman departed Norfolk to be deployed in the Persian Gulf. She was reported as entering the 6th Fleet region on 2 December 2019.[71]
2020
In July 2020, USS Harry S. Truman was at NNSY in Portsmouth.[72]
2021
Harry S. Truman, along with CVW-1 and her battlegroup, deployed out to sea on 1 December 2021. She was originally planned to transit the Suez Canal into the Middle East, but in light of the standoff between Russia and Ukraine in late 2021 escalating, the carrier was ordered to stay in the Mediterranean.[73]
2022
An F/A-18E Super Hornet of VFA-211 is launched from Harry S. Truman, March 2022: The pictured aircraft was blown overboard into the Mediterranean Sea in July 2022.
In January 2022, Harry S. Truman and her strike group came under command of NATO's Naval Striking and Support Forces for the first time since the Cold War, for a 10-day exercise patrolling the Mediterranean.[74] From 17 to 23 May, Harry S. Truman and Carrier Strike Group 8 took part in the NATO vigilance activity, Neptune Shield 2022.[75]
The recovered aircraft aboard USNS Mendonca at the Port of Augusta, 16 August 2022
Harry S. Truman returned to Naval Station Norfolk on 12 September.[80][81] On 21 November, the Navy accepted Auxiliary Personnel Lighter 68 (APL68), with around 600 berths, saying it would support the impending Harry S. Truman carrier repair cycle.[82]
2024
Harry S. Truman deployed on 23 September 2024 to the 6th fleet.[83] After completing NATO exercises in the North Sea,[84] she entered the Oslofjord for a visit on 1 November.[85][86]
On 14 December, she transited the Suez Canal and entered the Middle East.[87] She launched her first combat sorties in support of Operation Prosperity Guardian against the Houthi rebels in Yemen on 21 December.[88] On 22 December 2024, an F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-11 was shot down by USS Gettysburg in a friendly fire incident. Both crewmembers of the aircraft survived.[89]
^Evans, Mark L.; Gordon, Dale J. (Summer 2010). "Year in Review 2009"(PDF). Naval Aviation News. 94 (2): 24. 0028-1417. Archived from the original(PDF) on 5 December 2010.
^Finley Jr., David R. (28 February 2011). "Truman Prepares for Yard Period". NNS110228-12. USS Harry S Truman Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
^Blair, Emily M. (18 February 2014). "Harry S. Truman Wins Battle 'E'". Harry S. Truman Strike Group Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
^Mass Communication Specialist Seaman A.O. Tinubu, USN (16 November 2015). "Harry S. Truman Deploys". NNS151116-16. USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
^Manvel, Talbot (March 2019). "Refuel the Truman—It's the Law!". Proceedings. 145 (3). United States Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
^Allison, George (1 November 2024). "Super Hornet refuels British F-35B jet over North Sea". UK Defence Jornal. North Sea. Retrieved 1 November 2024. The operation occurred as part of USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group's deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area, supporting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa's regional objectives.
^Uleberg, Ingrid; Stoltze, Kaspara; Manbari, Zhilwan; Bråten, Jan Kenneth (1 November 2024). "Nå er et av verdens største hangarskip fremme i Indre Oslofjord". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Oslo. Retrieved 1 November 2024. Hangarskipet «Harry S. Truman» har nå ankret opp utenfor Malmøya i Oslo. [The carrier "Harry S. Truman" has now anchored outside Malmøya in Oslo.]
^NTB (1 November 2024). "Gigantskip og tusenvis av soldater på vei til Oslo" [Gigantic ship and thousands of soldiers on their way to Oslo]. Dagsavisen (in Norwegian Bokmål). Oslo. Retrieved 1 November 2024. Ved 9-tiden passerte skipet Fredrikstad [The ship passed Fredrikstad at about 9 o'clock]
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