Key Points and Summary: The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) aircraft carrier collided with the Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, late Wednesday night.
Key Point #1 – Fortunately, there were no injuries, no flooding, and no damage to the carrier’s nuclear propulsion system.
Key Point #2 – Both ships were moving at the time of impact, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
USS Harry S. Truman Aircraft Carrier Involved in Collision
The U.S. Navy has announced that the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has collided with another vessel.
The crash happened Wednesday night at approximately 11:46 p.m. local time in the Mediterranean Sea near Egypt, reports said.
The accident caused no deaths or injuries and no compartments on the Harry S. Truman were flooded or affected negatively.
What Happened to the USS Harry S. Truman?
The collision took place near Port Said, Egypt. The USS Harry S. Truman was sailing with the 6th fleet in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.
The merchant vessel is named Besiktas-M and it is a bulk carrier flagged out of Panama.
No injuries were reported on this ship either. Both ships were in motion at the time of the wreck.
A Navy spokesperson told CBS News that the Truman was heading for the Suez Canal to transit from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
The wreck is under investigation.
What Were the Damages?
There was visible damage above the waterline, the Navy said, but it isn’t clear if the carrier will have to stop its mission for repairs.
There is no indication about which ship was at fault and no damage to the carrier’s nuclear-powered propulsion system.
Aircraft Carriers Have Been Busy in the Middle East
The Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is a Nimitz-class carrier. The ship had been operating in the Middle East since September. It is patrolling in case there is some more extensive flare-ups between Israel and Iran.
Its eventual mission may have also been to counteract Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been firing missiles at civilian merchant ships and Naval vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
U.S. ships and aircraft have retaliated against the Houthis in the past – targeting their missile-launching systems and buried ammunition dumps, plus air defenses and radar.
More Details About the USS Harry S. Truman
The Truman had completed a port-of-call in Greece during its deployment. The carrier is nearly 1,100 feet long and 257 feet wide. It displaces over 100,000 tons and can hit a top speed of over 30 knots.
There are two nuclear reactors on board. The Truman is the ninth nuclear-powered carrier and eighth in the Nimitz-class. The keel was laid in 1993, and the ship was launched in 1996.
A Closer Look at the Facts
While it is too early to speculate about this incident, there are some facts that stand out.
The crash happened at night, and it is not clear how much visibility and illumination there was in the darkness.
Both ships were moving and that may mean that the damage could have been more extensive than what is reported. The good news is that there were no casualties on either ship, no flooding, and no problems with the carrier’s nuclear reactors.
Let’s hope the Truman has only suffered minor damages and can continue with its mission.
If not, it may be out of action indefinitely for repairs. We will continue to add details to this story as they become available.
USS Harry S. Truman: A Photo Essay
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 6, 2018) The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) participates in a composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). Truman is underway as a part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) performing COMPTUEX, which evaluates the strike group’s ability as a whole to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea, ultimately certifying the HSTCSG for deployment.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 4, 2018) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 sits on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is deployed as part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rebekah A. Watkins/Released) 180704-N-UJ486-0313
Super Hornets from VFA-34 embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman.
(June 4, 2020) The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transit the Atlantic Ocean, June 4, 2020, marking the first time a Ford-class and a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier have operated together underway. Gerald R. Ford is underway conducting integrated air wing operations and the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group remains at sea in the Atlantic Ocean as a certified carrier strike group force ready for tasking in order to protect the crew from the risks posed by COVID-19, following their successful deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ruben Reed/Released
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 9, 2012) The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator taxies on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. Harry S. Truman is underway supporting carrier qualifications.
American Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman is pictured during flying operations in the company of HMS Somerset in the Mediterranean. HMS Somerset was perforing anti-submarine duties for the immense vessel at the the time.
The Blue Angels, flies over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on May 20, 2020. US Navy Photo/
(June 15, 2015) Lt. B. J. Burnham signals to launch an F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is underway conducting Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA) off the east coast of the United States. TSTA is the first combined training event of a ship’s inter-deployment training cycle that tests and evaluates shipboard drills, including general quarters, damage control, medical and firefighting. Upon successful completion of TSTA, Truman will be considered proficient in all mission areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class K. H. Anderson/Released)
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
