The USS Harry S. Truman and the USS Jason Dunham of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group arrived at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on 6 February 2025, following two months of combat operations in the U.S. Central Command area.
The working port visit is designed to focus on maintenance and upkeep of the ships and their embarked aircraft, while also affording Sailors the opportunity to enjoy some liberty and experience the rich history and culture of Crete.
In a news update, Capt. Dave Snowden, commanding officer of USS Harry S. Truman, was quoted as saying, “I’m incredibly proud of the dedication and service of this team and their tireless work around the clock. Their efforts keep our ship operating at peak performance and aircraft ready to support combat operations.”
The Strike Group, which entered CENTCOM on 14 December 2024, has been actively involved in multiple self-defence strikes.
These operations targeted areas in Yemen controlled by Iran-backed Houthis and, on 1 February, included airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia in support of U.S. Africa Command, coordinated with the Federal Government of Somalia.
Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, was quoted in a news update as stating, “The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group remains the most adaptable and lethal presence in theater. This port visit provides the opportunity to reset and focus on maintenance for maximum readiness ahead of future operations.”
This marks the third port visit of the deployment for the Strike Group, following previous stops in Oslo, Norway, and Marseille, France.
Capt. Stephen Steacy, commanding officer at NSA Souda Bay, was quoted as saying,
“Team Souda is happy to welcome HSTCSG to Crete. As the crossroads of the 6th Fleet, we are strategically located in the Eastern Mediterranean to support our forward-deployed forces. The hospitality of the local community is unmatched, giving Sailors the opportunity for a much-needed break.”
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group comprises the flagship USS Harry S. Truman, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 with eight aviation squadrons, staffs from CSG-8, CVW-1, and Destroyer Squadron 28, the USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).
Its mission is to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea while maintaining a forward presence through sea control and power projection.
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The only thing wrong with an American carrier strike group is it’s full of Americans. 😉
🫶✌️
And far to many aircraft 😀
Just wondering.. do the Americans actually have hangar decks or do they like their very expensive aircraft constantly getting exposed to salt and spray?
and too far from home instead of minding their own business.
Whose fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers bailed the UK out of two World Wars it was losing and suffered over a million casualties.
Not entirely accurate are you….
Or maybe they just didn’t want to fight until they could see who would win ? It’s a pattern they repeated that worked really well financially.
Well done for falling for the Russian troll👍
Not that old chestnut! The UK was never invaded or even at very serious risk of being invaded, so did we need ‘bailing out’ by the US?
BTW, the USSR forces killed far more Germans than US forces did.
Our forces (BPF, 14th Army, SEAF) in the Far East did a huge amount to aid the US effort in ‘their’ war with Japan, but we don’t bang on about it.
Let’s all be friends (or Allies to use an old fashioned word) and agree that the defeat of the Axis Powers was successfully accomplished by the Allies…all of whom played their part.
Americans and ww1….aw….: less than 100 000 fought, half of casualties died of flu and French/british had to provide training and equipements. The vardar offensive probably did more to won the greta war.
MAGA supporters are literally so dumb, you swallow the Russian troll bot narrative every time.
Well the USSR suffered over 20 million, and most of the German war machine was on the Eastern Front.
So maybe we should be on our knees to them too?
Americans “won the war” crap again.
The RN would have prevented any invasion as long as the Germans did not achieve air superiority.
They didn’t. The RAF won the Battle of Britain and Hitler turned east. So get on your knees.
All sorts of “what ifs” If Hitler had prevailed you might have ended up being Atomic bombed yourself.
and too far from home instead of minding their own business.
I hate seeing just how messy their decks are , much prefer our empty ones.
Remember when the deck of a carrier was like an airshow of numerous types. Now its just hornets here, hornets there, maybe a seahawk, maybe an hawkeye. I remember, A-4s, A-5s, A-6s, A-7s, F-4s, F-8s etc.
Took them a while to leave the red sea, must have been repainting the deck.
I do love the ‘unless you agree with me you’re an enemy trollbot’ brigade.
Iet me just educate you on free speech.
I don’t agree with what you say but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.
I hope that exonerates me from any treachery. 😂🤣😂
Make peace you imbeciles 🫶✌️