US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310) arrived in Trieste, Italy, for a scheduled port visit on Saturday.
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), which is also part of the carrier strike group, arrived in Porto di Marghera to the west of Trieste on the same day.
Since arriving to the Mediterranean Sea in December, the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group (HSTCSG), including Truman, Fridtjof Nansen and San Jacinto, have routinely operated alongside the Italian Armed Forces.
“Prior to our visit, we sailed alongside our Italian partners at sea during multiple operations with the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C 550) and several Italian surface ships,” said Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander, Carrier Strike Group 8. “All involved demonstrated our ability to integrate seamlessly.”
Key maritime integration events have included tri-carrier operations among HSTCSG, the ITS Cavour carrier strike group and the FS Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group, as well as Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1’s combined operations with the Italian Air Force. Truman has continued supporting NATO’s defensive capabilities by participating in enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Prior to visiting Italy, the CSG visited Croatia in February, where it spent four days at anchor off Split.
Capt. Gavin Duff, Truman’s commanding officer, emphasized the importance of multinational cooperation demonstrated by routine port visits.
“A significant aspect of this deployment is centered on our longstanding relationships with European allies and partners, to include Italy,” said Duff. “In the same way we have benefited from our training with the extraordinary professionals of the Italian Navy and Air Force, we are grateful for the opportunity to experience the culture, history and generosity of the Italian people.”
In addition to the Norwegian frigate and cruiser San Jacinto, HSTCSG includes desrtoyers USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).
