logo
Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman In Greece For Repairs Following Collision

Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman In Greece For Repairs Following Collision

Yahoo17-02-2025

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is now in port in Greece for repairs following a collision with the cargo ship M/V Besiktas-M this past week. The service is continuing to assess the full extent of damage to the flattop, which is in the middle of a deployment that has already included combat operations in and around the Red Sea.
The Navy announced yesterday that Truman had arrived at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay in Greece for what it has described as an Emergent Repair Availability (ERAV). The carrier had made a port stop in Souda Bay just days before the collision, which occurred on Feb. 12 in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt as it was about to enter the Suez Canal. The incident remains under investigation.
'An assessment team will conduct a full survey of damaged areas and develop a repair plan to be executed immediately following completion of the assessment,' according to an official press release. 'The assessment team includes structural engineers, naval architects, and other personnel from FDRMC [the Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center] and Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). They will be supported by ship's force personnel and local industry partners for the repair effort.'
On Friday, the Navy released a picture showing damage to a sponson on the starboard side of the stern end of the ship's number three aircraft elevator. The service subsequently released additional images, seen at the top of this story and below, showing further damage to the aft end of the starboard side of the hull.
'Damage [already] assessed includes the exterior wall of two storage rooms and a maintenance space. External to the ship, damage assessed includes a line handling space, the fantail, and the platform above one of the storage spaces,' according to the new Navy release. 'Aircraft elevator number three sustained no damage and is fully operational. Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) will lead the pier side ERAV, including an assessment and follow-on repairs to damages sustained.'
The Navy has previously said Truman did not experience any flooding and that its nuclear reactors were safe and sound as a result of the collision. None of the aircraft onboard were damaged and none of the crew were injured.
Details about the full extent of the damage to Besiktas-M remain unclear. There have been no reported injuries among its crew. The Panamanian-flagged cargo ship appears to be continuing on its planned voyage to the port of Constanta in Romania on the Black Sea, according to online ship tracking site Vessel Tracker.
A photo released from one of the crew of #BesiktasM after the collision with #Truman. It appears that Besiktas M hit the Truman with her starboard bow. Note the mooring line cable spool sheared off and the damage to the forward starboard hatch coaming.This damage may indicate… https://t.co/MtXUhg7hSG pic.twitter.com/4I2jCGMrZA
— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping)
(@mercoglianos) February 13, 2025
'Deployed U.S. 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 service has stressed in its latest release about Truman. 'The United States' relationships with Allies and partners provides access to ports around the world, granting the U.S. Navy strategic pier availability and resources critical for operational flexibility.'
'While the ship is fully mission capable and the ship conducted flight operations following the collision, pulling into port for emergent repairs will enable the ship to continue deployment as scheduled,' Navy Capt. Dave Snowden, the carrier's commanding officer, also said in a statement.
At the same time, it remains to be seen how long Truman might be sidelined following the collision. As noted, the ship is in the middle of a deployment that has already included supporting ongoing operations against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen and ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Somalia. There are no other U.S. carriers in the region currently, and the time Truman spends in port now for repairs could still have significant operational impacts.
'The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) units remain operational across geographic regions in support of their component commanders,' Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the strike group, said in a separate statement. 'Our mission has not changed and we remain committed to responding to any challenge in this dynamic and global security environment.'
In addition to the Truman and its embarked air wing, the strike group includes the Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Gettysburg and the Arleigh Burke class destroyers USS Stout, USS The Sullivans, and USS Jason Dunham. In December, Gettysburg shot down an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter assigned to Truman in a separate friendly fire incident that is also still under investigation.
Whatever happens, Truman will now be in port in Souda Bay for at least some amount of time as Navy personnel get a full picture of the damage and determine what repairs are necessary to get the flattop back on station.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Charlotte native serves with the next generation of Navy rescue swimmers
Charlotte native serves with the next generation of Navy rescue swimmers

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Charlotte native serves with the next generation of Navy rescue swimmers

PENSACOLA, FL (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte native serving in the U.S. Navy is learning crucial skills needed to perform rescues in extreme situations. Airman Keira Makkar is a 2023 Myers Park High School graduate, who joined the Navy six months ago. Makkar now serves as a student rescue swimmer at the Aviation Rescue Swimmer School. At the Naval Air Station Pensacola, rescue swimmers learn aviation water survival training and become CPR certified. They're also taught how to execute life-or-death rescues in extreme conditions. 'I joined the Navy looking for other opportunities,' Makkar said. 'I was looking for a positive change that would challenge me and set me up for a better future.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

D-Day anniversary events remember the ‘Bedford Boys'
D-Day anniversary events remember the ‘Bedford Boys'

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • Yahoo

D-Day anniversary events remember the ‘Bedford Boys'

BEDFORD, Va. (WFXR) — The anniversary of D-Day is a particularly somber one for the Town of Bedford, which has been home to the National D-Day Memorial since 2001. The town lost 20 young men while they were storming the beaches of Normandy, giving Bedford, a town of just over 3,200 at the time, the highest per capita death toll from D-Day. Executive Director of the Bedford Boys Tribute Center Ken Parker says 19 of those men were killed within the first nine minutes, without ever having fired a shot. 'They gave up all their tomorrows for our today,' said Parker. 'They perpetually teach us that freedom is not free.' At the National D-Day Memorial, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke in front of hundreds, including 10 of the few surviving World War II veterans. He called on listeners to remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives that day, many of whom, he pointed out, were barely old enough to graduate high school at the time. Clarence 'Bill' Wenzel was one of those men, just 17 at the time he joined the Navy during World War II. On Friday morning, he recalled the moment he was notified that he had been drafted. National D-Day memorial in Bedford commemorates 80th anniversary of D-Day 'I didn't like being drafted to go to war, because I was raised by a pastor,' said Wenzel. 'I was taught to love everybody and now here I'm being trained on how to kill another human being.' Later in the day, dozens gathered outside the Bedford County Courthouse for the annual wreath-laying ceremony for those 20 'Bedford Boys.' On the 10-year anniversary of D-Day, roughly 5,000 met at the courthouse for the dedication of a memorial stone shipped from France to honor the boys. Every year over the next four decades, two of the surviving 'Bedford Boys,' met at the stone to lay an ivy wreath at its base in honor of their fallen brothers. On the 81st anniversary, the town carried on that tradition, as relatives of those two men had the honor of placing the ivy wreath by the stone, while the descendants of the fallen 'Bedford Boys,' looked on. 'It's without a doubt the highlight of our entire year,' said Parker. 'To pay homage and respect to our beloved Bedford Boys.' Finally, at 6:44 p.m., a nod to June of 1944, all the church bells in town rang for one minute, while the bell atop the courthouse rang once for each of the 'Bedford Boys,' that laid down their lives in service of their country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

USS Comstock returns to San Diego after 3-month mission in Indo-Pacific
USS Comstock returns to San Diego after 3-month mission in Indo-Pacific

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

USS Comstock returns to San Diego after 3-month mission in Indo-Pacific

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The USS Comstock returned to its homeport in San Diego on Thursday after a three month mission in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Navy reports. Marines and sailors aboard the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) returned to Naval Base San Diego on Thursday after a three-month mission to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in the Indo-Pacific. The Navy says 115 U.S. Marines and Sailors from Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division also embarked Comstock during the deployment. While in U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy says the Comstock participated in exercises Tiger Triumph in India and Balikatan 25 in the Philippines. 'Our ship's successful completion of Tiger Triumph and Balikatan 2025 is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and skill of our crew,' said Cmdr. Byron Stocks, the commanding officer of the Comstock. 'Together, we strengthened partnerships, honed our readiness, and proudly represented our nation on the world stage.' The Tiger Triumph featured 3,000 personnel, two warships, and seven aircraft, the Navy reports. The Comstock, with embarked U.S. Marines, worked alongside Indian counterparts for two weeks during the exercise. The Navy says the Tiger Triumph gave participating forces the opportunity to refine humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, conduct amphibious beach landings and build relationships and camaraderie through cultural exchanges. 'The tireless work ethic of the U.S. and Indian Armed Forces at all levels directly contributed to the successful execution of the amphibious landing,' said U.S. Marine Capt. Erik Ayala, commander of troops for Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. 'This success highlights the cohesion we currently have with our Indian Partners and will enable us to build on the complexity in the future.' After completing the Tiger Triumph exercise, the Comstock participated in exercise Balikatan 25 from April 25-29 alongside the Philippine Navy and the Japan Maritime Defense Force, according to the Navy. In addition to humanitarian projects and logistics operations, the Navy says the exercise featured a Full Battle Test, which combines all domains — air, land, sea, space and cyber, while the group sail tested maritime maneuvers and validated interoperability of doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures at sea. The USS Comstock (LSD 45) is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship homeported in San Diego. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store