USS Truman (CVN-75)
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is the ninth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth in the Nimitz class. The keel was laid by Newport News Shipbuilding November 29, 1993, and the ship, named after the 33rd President of the United States, was christened September 7, 1996. The ship was launched September 13, 1996, and delivered to the United States Navy June 30, 1998. USS Harry S. Truman was commissioned July 25, 1998.
In August 1998, TRUMAN was put to sea for the first time as a U.S. Navy carrier to conduct Flight Deck Certifications, an evolution designed to test the ship’s ability to successfully launch and recover aircraft.
Video: Commissioning of the USS Harry S. Truman. July 25, 1998
After an extensive work-up cycle that tested the ship and challenged her crew, TRUMAN embarked on its maiden deployment November 28, 2000.
On February 16, 2001, the TRUMAN team was called into action in support of Operation Southern Watch. In response to surface-to-air missile fire against coalition forces enforcing United Nations Security Counsel Resolutions, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) took part in a sanctioned response and struck Iraqi integrated air defense system sites.
After nearly 180 days and traveling more than 44,000 nautical miles, TRUMAN completed her first deployment May 23, 2001.
TRUMAN entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for her first Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) September 5, 2001. Six months later, TRUMAN began training for her second deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, which began December 5, 2002.
In early February 2003, TRUMAN took up station in the Eastern Mediterranean and waited for word to launch strikes against Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. When the order came in the late-night hours of March 19, 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom was in full swing. TRUMAN successfully launched 1,280 sorties, dropped more than 700 tons of ordnance and helped liberate the people of Iraq. The ship returned to her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk May 23, 2003.
In August 2003, TRUMAN entered NNSY again for her second PIA. On February 13, 2004, the ship pulled out of the shipyard four days early and under budget.
In November 2007, TRUMAN departed Norfolk on a seven-month combat deployment. During the deployment, TRUMAN supported Maritime Security Operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf. TRUMAN also launched 2,459 combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After completing a third successful PIA in February 2009, TRUMAN deployed in May 2010 for seven months. During the deployment, TRUMAN traveled more than 50,000 nautical miles and flew more than 10,000 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. The ship returned to Norfolk December 21, 2010.
TRUMAN underwent a Dry-dock Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) at NNSY and left NNSY in March 2012.
In July 2013, TRUMAN departed Norfolk on a nine-month combat deployment. During the deployment, TRUMAN traveled nearly 50,000 nautical miles, flew more than 9,000 sorties with a 97 percent sortie completing rate in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. TRUMAN returned to Norfolk April 18, 2014.
Following TRUMAN’s return from deployment, the ship entered NNSY for a Carrier Incremental Availability (CIA) and departed NNSY in May 2015. During the CIA, TRUMAN was reassigned from embarked Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW 3) to Carrier Air Wing SEVEN (CVW 7) and from Commander, Carrier Strike Group TEN (CCSG 10) to Commander, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT (CCSG 8).
In November 2015, TRUMAN departed Norfolk on an eight-month combat deployment in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. During the deployment, TRUMAN traveled over 53,000 nautical miles, flew more than 27,000 flight hours and 9,500 sorties. Of those, 1,461 sorties were executed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. TRUMAN returned to Norfolk July 13, 2016.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) has won eight Battle "E" awards: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2016.
On July 21, 2017, TRUMAN completed an on-time, 10-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for maintenance and refurbishment of shipboard systems to prepare for future operations. Over the next six months, TRUMAN completed a robust work-up cycle in preparation for deployment.
On April 11, 2018, TRUMAN departed Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment as part of the ongoing rotation of forward deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operate in international waters across the globe.
On July 21, 2018, TRUMAN returned to Norfolk for a working port visit.
On August 28, 2018, TRUMAN departed to continue their deployment. TRUMAN conducted a variety of missions, including forward naval presence, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation. TRUMAN also participated in numerous bi-lateral and multi-lateral engagements, including Lightning Handshake 2018, Baltic Operations 2018 and Trident Juncture 2018; as well as operations alongside Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Egypt and Norway. TRUMAN returned to Norfolk December 16, 2018.