US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) has departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, for a regularly scheduled deployment.
The carrier and its carrier strike group, which included ships deploying from Mayport, Florida, got underway on December 1.
Elements of the strike group include USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, staffs of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56).
In addition, the strike group will include the guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28 commanded by Captain Todd Zenner which include, USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gravely (DDG 107), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).
In a first for Norway, the Royal Norwegian Navy Fridtjof-Nansen class frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) will join the strike group, and operate as part of the strike group throughout the entire deployment.
“HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen is ready and excited to embark upon this important deployment. The hospitality and professionalism (the) US Navy has provided during our harbor stay and sea periods have been excellent ensuring that we are an integrated asset of Carrier Strike Group 8. It is truly an honor for us to be the first Norwegian cooperative deployer in history. And this marks yet another milestone in the overall defense cooperation between Norway and our most important ally, USA,” said commanding officer Ruben Grepne-Takle.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group will be conducting operations to support maritime security and stability in international waters across the globe.
USS Harry S. Truman deployed after completing an overhaul earlier this year, which took longer to complete than initially planned. Truman had initially been expected to depart NNSY in February this year, after seven months of work, but the repairs took three months longer due to material challenges, and were completed in May.
Carrier strike groups have a wide-range of capabilities to respond wherever and whenever required through a variety of mission sets. Additionally, strike groups possess the flexibility and sustainability to fight major wars and ensure freedom of the seas.
The deployment follows months of intense training and preparation to include the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) as well as various international maritime exercises such as Group Sail and Composite Training Unit Exercise, an intense multilateral combined exercise that assessed the strike group’s abilities to conduct military operations at sea and project power ashore in late October.
“The team within the strike group has come together in an impressive manner these last few months,” said Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander, CSG 8. “They have become an integrated, multi-mission team capable of conducting the full spectrum of combat operations to ensure security in the maritime. I have no doubt that we are prepared for any challenge while on this deployment.”
