CBS quoted the US Navy as saying that the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman collided with a cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea, near Egypt, on the night of February 13 (local time). Fortunately, there were no reports of casualties or flooding after the incident.
The collision occurred near the port of Said, Egypt, while the USS Harry S. Truman was approaching the Suez Canal to move from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Currently, the cause and responsibilities of the parties are still being investigated.
According to a US Navy official, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman was damaged above water levels but did not affect the nuclear reactor. However, it is unclear whether the ship needs to enter the port for repairs. The ship is still in the Mediterranean.
Previously, the aircraft carrier combat group USS Harry S. Truman had spent about 2 months conducting military operations in the area of responsibility of the US Central Command, including the Middle East. On February 1, the task force conducted airstrikes against the terrorist group IS in Somalia.
On February 8, the USS Harry S. Truman docked in Greece for maintenance and preparation for further missions. According to Rear Admiral Sean Bailey, commander of the attack group, the aircraft carrier is still the "most flexible and deadly force" in the region.
The USS Harry S. Truman left the base in Norfolk, Virginia, in September 2024 and visited the ports of Oslo (Na Uy) and Marseille (France) on its journey.
The US Navy has not yet provided official information about whether the incident will affect the ship's combat schedule.
The US Navy's Harry S. Truman is one of 10 Nimitz-class nuclear warships. The ship is named after the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, who is known for his tough foreign policy in the post-World War II era.
The ship began construction in 1993, and was launched in 1996, and was put into service in 1998. The ship has 2 Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, 4 steam turbines, and 4 duck feet. The crew of about 5,000 people, including sailors and pilots.
Although it mainly relies on fighters on ships for defense, the USS Harry S. Truman is still equipped with modern weapons systems such as RIM-7 Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) defense missiles, and the Phalanx CIWS anti-aircraft artillery system.
The USS Harry S. Truman can carry more than 70 aircraft, mainly the F/A-18 Super Hornet main fighter, the EA-18G Growler electronic fighter, the E-2D Hawkeye aerial early warning aircraft, and the MH-60 Seahawk multi-purpose helicopter.
