After short deployment pause, USS Harry S. Truman returns to US 6th Fleet operations

US Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has resumed operations in the US 6th Fleet area of operations after returning to its Norfolk home in July for a month-long deployment pause.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) initially deployed to the European theater April 11, 2018, and returned to its homeport Naval Station Norfolk July 21, 2018, for what the navy termed as an extended working port visit.

The pause in what was usually a seven-month deployment is part of a new dynamic force employment concept which will allow the US Navy to be operationally unpredictable while remaining strategically predictable.

“We are thrilled to have the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group back in the US 6th Fleet area of operations and look forward to continuing to work with Rear Adm. Gene Black and his team as we conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations,” said Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, commander of US 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy.

The strike group got underway Aug. 28, completing training exercises and carrier qualifications in the Atlantic, to include participating in dual-carrier operations with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and bilateral operations with the Royal Canadian Navy.

The strike group which departed Norfolk, includes the flagship Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1; Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60); and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98). Other Harry S. Truman CSG assets operating in the region include Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) and USS Farragut (DDG 99).