The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) arrived at the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Crete, on February 16 to conduct an Emergent Repair Availability (ERAV) following a recent collision that caused damage to the starboard side of the ship.
According to the initial assessment, “the damage includes the exterior walls of two storage rooms and a maintenance space. Externally, a line-handling area, the ship’s fantail, and a platform above one of the storage spaces were also affected.”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”. Importantly, Aircraft Elevator Number Three sustained no damage and remains fully operational.
The repair process will be led by the Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC), which will conduct a full assessment and oversee the restoration of the affected areas. The assessment team consists of structural engineers, naval architects, and personnel from FDRMC and Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). The repair efforts will be supported by the ship’s crew and local industry partners.
Despite the damage, USS Harry S. Truman remains fully mission-capable and continued flight operations following the incident. The ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Dave Snowden, emphasized that stopping in Souda Bay for emergent repairs will ensure the carrier remains on schedule with its deployment.
Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson, commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, highlighted the strategic importance of FDRMC’s ability to quickly mobilize resources for repairs, while Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG), assured that the mission of the strike group remains unchanged, with units continuing to operate across multiple geographic regions.
The carrier strike group includes the flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); Carrier Air Wing (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).
Souda Bay serves as a key strategic naval base for Hellenic Navy and support hub for the U.S. Navy, providing critical infrastructure and technical capabilities to ensure the operational readiness of U.S. forces deployed in the Mediterranean region.