USS Harry S. Truman arrives in Europe

US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and ships from its carrier strike group entered the US 6th Fleet area of operations April 18 as part of their deployment to Europe and Africa.

The carrier strike group arrived in European waters after getting underway from Naval Station Norfolk on April 11.

“We are thrilled to have the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group here in the US 6th Fleet area of operations and look forward to having them on our team as we conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations to include working alongside our NATO allies and regional partners,” Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, commander, US Sixth Fleet said. “Our US 6th fleet motto is “Power for Peace,” and there is no more recognizable symbol of American naval power than a carrier strike group. Their presence in this vital region is a reflection of our commitment to a safe, prosperous and free Europe and Africa.”

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group consists of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51).

The US Navy ships are also joined by German Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hessen (F 221) which will be operating as part of the strike group during the initial portion of the deployment. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) are slated to deploy and rejoin the strike group at a later date.

The HSTCSG previously operated in the US 6th Fleet area of operations from June to July 2016. The most recent aircraft carrier strike group to operate in the US 6th Fleet area of operations was the USS George H.W. Bush CSG which conducted combat operations from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea from January 28 to March 9, 2017 and again from July 5-19, 2017.