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Captain relieved one week after collision

Capt. Dave Snowden was fired just over a week after the USS 'Harry S. Truman' had been in collision with the 'Besiktas M' at the mouth of the Suez Canal as the carrier prepared to return to the Red Sea. Snowden was relieved by Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, which includes the USS 'Harry S. Truman' . The official reason given by the Navy was a loss of confidence in Showden’s ability to command: “The U.S. Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standard and takes action to hold them accountable when those standards are not met. Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their Sailors and their ships,” according to the Navy release. The Truman is expected to continue its mission after completing repairs. Snowden will be temporarily assigned to Naval Air Forces Atlantic. He was a former executive officer on the USS 'Harry S. Truman' . He became captain in December 2023 after completing a tour as captain of the amphibious transport dock ship USS 'San Antonio'. His interim replacement is Capt. Chris Hill, who commanded the Norfolk-based USS 'Eisenhower', whch is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

Inspectors started evaluating structural integrity

Navy inspectors have started evaluating the structural integrity of the USS 'Harry S. Truman'. The assessment, which began no Feb 16 at th e Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on the island of Crete, will cover the hull and bulkheads to ensure they can bear weight. A small slash penetrated the ship’s hull high above the waterline. It was too soon to say how long the inspection will take and when a comprehensive damage assessment will be available. The evaluation won’t include the flight deck. The carrier conducted flight operations on Feb 15, days after the Feb. 12 late-night collision with the 'Besiktas M' near the Suez Canal. There were no injuries in the collision, which damaged a line handling space, the fantail and a platform above a storage space. The exterior walls of two storage rooms and maintenance space also were included in initial damage assessments. The ship’s nuclear propulsion plants were unaffected. The inital assessments likely mean the ship could be patched up and soon resume its deploymen. The maintenance capabilities at Souda Bay should be able to provide temporary repairs that should carry the ship through the rest of its deployment to the point where permanent repairs can be made. nless more significant problems are discovered, the Navy likely will keep the carrier on station. A shortened deployment and return to Norfolk, Va., could complicate a tight maintenance and deployment schedule for the service’s other 10 carriers. The mishap remains under investigation. Report with photos: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-02-19/truman-collision-repairs-souda-bay-16881858.html Source - Stars and Stripes

Emergency repair in Souda Bay

The USS 'Harry S. Truman' has arrived in Souda Bay, Crete for emergency repairs after the collision with the 'Besiktas M' damaged her starboard quarter on Feb 12 at 11.45 p.m.. The impact caused minor damage to the hull and several exterior structures, but the impact was comparatively limited. While the ship remained fully mission capable and the ship conducted flight operations following the collision, the emergent repairs will enable it to continue deployment as scheduled. The hull damage - all above the waterline - includes the exterior bulkheads of two storage rooms and a maintenance space. Externally, the impact damaged a line handling space, a part of the fantail, and the platform above a storage space. The aircraft elevator located in the same area sustained no damage, and was fully operational. Forward-deployed maintenance units in Souda Bay are carrying out an assessment and repair process to fix the damage. The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) units remain operational across geographic regions in support of their component commanders. The mission has not changed and the group remained committed to responding to any challenge in this dynamic and global security environment. In the collision, the starboard bow of the 'Besiktas M' made contact underneath the deck overhang on the carrier's starboard quarter, tearing a mooring winch free of the bulker's forecastle. Report with photo: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/after-collision-carrier-uss-harry-s-truman-pulls-into-souda-bay