The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) returned to Norfolk May 30, upon completion of 18-days of sea trials and carrier qualifications.
“Truman’s performance during sea trials and carrier qualifications was outstanding, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in both training and material readiness—exactly what you would expect from the crew who won the Battenberg Cup," said Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh, Truman’s commanding officer. "I’m constantly impressed with their skill and professionalism, and I’m very excited to see what they can do during the rest of this basic phase.”
Sea Trials is a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the ship’s systems are in working order after a maintenance availability period. Truman completed a large number of successful evolutions during sea trials, including small boat recoveries, aqueous film-forming foam sprinkler system testing, high speed turns, catapult testing and a replenishment-at-sea alongside the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188).
“The Truman sea trials were led by the ship in conjunction with our Norfolk Naval Ship Yard partners,” said Cmdr. Matt Tharp, Truman’s operations officer. “As a result, the coordination for events and planning factors were all completed by the ship instead of an outside maintenance activity. The success of sea trials was true a testament to the hard work and cooperation across the entire ship.”
Since Truman’s Extended Carrier Incremental Availability maintenance period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Truman’s crew has also successfully passed rigorous testing on their abilities to perform in damage control, deck seamanship, and flight deck operations, simulating real scenarios that can occur at sea.
Truman’s flight deck crew conducted 1,040 arrested landings, about 200 more than normally completed during sea trials. Truman also achieved flight deck certification.
"I commend our Sailors for showing significant growth over these past few weeks,” said Cmdr. Nick Hampton, Truman’s air officer. “Coming out of the ECIA, a substantial amount of our Air Department personnel had either never been to sea or had not been underway for a considerable amount of time. However, at the completion of these certifications they were operating at a combat execution level."
Following a 10-month Extended Carrier Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Truman is in the basic phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan.
For more news from Truman, visit www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn75/, www.facebook.com/cvn75, or www.twitter.com/ussharrystruman