USS Truman Failures: Carrier Collisions & Jet Losses

The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, became the center of intense scrutiny following a series of preventable mishaps during its 2024-2025 deployment in the Red Sea. Investigations released in December 2025 revealed a cascade of leadership failures, training gaps, and equipment malfunctions behind multiple incidents that resulted in the loss of three advanced F/A-18 Super Hornets and a collision with a merchant vessel.

High-Stakes Red Sea Deployment

Deployed from Norfolk in September 2024, the Truman Carrier Strike Group was tasked with Operation Rough Rider—a mission to strike Houthi military targets in Yemen. The deployment stretched nine months, exposing the crew to relentless threats including ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones. Despite these challenges, the Navy emphasized the overall effectiveness of the strike group, which included guided-missile cruisers like the USS Gettysburg (CG-64) and destroyers such as the USS Stout (DDG-55).

Four Preventable Mishaps

Investigators concluded four critical incidents were entirely avoidable:

• December 22, 2024: The USS Gettysburg fired Standard Missile-2s at two returning F/A-18 Super Hornets, causing near-catastrophic friendly fire. Poor communication, inadequate training, and malfunctioning identification systems contributed to the error.
• February 12, 2025: The Truman collided with a merchant tanker in Port Said, Egypt. Leadership failures in navigation protocols and watch-standing were cited as primary causes.
• April 18, 2025: An F/A-18E Super Hornet slid from the carrier’s hangar bay during emergency maneuvers to evade a Houthi ballistic missile. Investigators cited equipment malfunctions and insufficient emergency training.
• May 6, 2025: Another F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed overboard during landing operations due to a combination of pilot error and deck-handling deficiencies.

Root Causes: Leadership, Training, and Equipment

The investigations uncovered systemic issues:

• Leadership Failures: Inadequate integration between the Gettysburg and the strike group. The cruiser operated independently for 85% of its time, with crew members disconnected from joint planning and threat-response protocols.
• Training Gaps: A shortened 2-day group sail (instead of planned 10 days) due to logistical constraints left crews unprepared for complex joint operations.
• Equipment Malfunctions: Critical identification systems on the Gettysburg were either non-functional or deactivated, preventing proper friend-or-foe recognition.

"Across various members of the [combat information center] watch team, they did not understand the timing of the event, the departure and return to force plan, or the potential threat response."

Accountability and Next Steps

While Captain Dave Snowden was relieved of command following the February collision, the Navy declined to disclose full accountability details for other personnel. A senior official stated, "Accountability actions were taken across all operators," ranging from requalification to administrative measures under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

These incidents underscore the risks faced by naval forces operating in contested regions like the Red Sea. As the Navy reviews its protocols, the focus remains on improving joint training, equipment reliability, and leadership cohesion to prevent future tragedies.

Lessons for Naval Operations

The Truman case highlights the vulnerability of even advanced naval assets when human factors and system failures converge. For military strategists, it reinforces the need for rigorous pre-deployment training, real-time communication drills, and aggressive maintenance of critical systems. As the Red Sea remains a flashpoint for regional conflicts, the lessons learned from the USS Harry S. Truman could redefine carrier strike group readiness for decades to come.