Key Points and Summary – USS Harry S. Truman isn’t just a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier—it’s a steady hand in rough seas. In fact, this carrier could be defined by one word: consistency.
-Fresh off a 10-day underway, Truman qualified 45 aviators with 506 arrested landings, including 50 at night, then led the massive UNITAS 2025 exercise with 25 partner nations.
-The ship’s stats impress—nuclear power, 90-jet air wing, 30-plus knots—but it’s the crew’s quiet excellence that stands out, especially after hard lessons: lost jets, a friendly-fire shoot-down, and a near-miss from a Houthi missile.
-Truman’s mantra, “Give ’Em Hell,” feels earned. This is the dependable deck where sailors learn, adapt, and keep the fleet ready.
What’s to Love About the Stalwart Carrier Harry S. Truman
The USS Harry S. Truman is one lovable Nimitz-class carrier.
Named after the colorful, cantankerous, and decisive 33rd president, the Truman always seems to find the best way to serve the Navy. The Truman just had some good news lately. It ended a 10-day cruise on September 26 after qualifying a large number of naval aviators for carrier duty. This was a boost in the arm to aviation commanders who need all the pilots they can get for a new threat environment that includes recent attacks from Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and the power of Chinese anti-ship missiles.
More Aviators Are Now Ready for Combat
Forty-five aviators qualified for carrier operations. They made 144 sorties and 506 landings—50 of those were at night—arguably one of the most difficult feats in the US military. The pilots also negotiated 152 touch-and-goes.
“Every arrested landing and every qualification is more than a milestone—it’s the result of hundreds of quiet, expert actions,” said Capt. Daniel “Prozac” Prochazka, Truman’s commanding officer. “Watching our sailors run the deck, you can’t help but feel thankful to serve with them. They made this happen. In this underway, we qualified aviators; during UNITAS, we led our allies in a group sail. Both efforts showed exactly who they are: skilled, disciplined, and all-in for the mission,” according to a Navy news release.
Leading Ship in Large Naval Exercise
Captain Prochazka referred to the UNITAS exercise in the above quote. UNITAS 2025 is the “world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise.” The Navy said that “8,000 personnel from 25 allied and partner nations, including multiple ships, submarines, and aircraft (fixed wing and rotary)” participated in the drills.
The operations took place off the East Coast of the United States, specifically around Florida and North Carolina. The Harry S. Truman led the exercise.
Quick History of the USS Harry S. Truman
The USS Harry S. Truman was commissioned on July 25, 1998, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, after first launching in 1996. Approximately 5,000 crew members support an aviation wing that comprises up to 90 aircraft.
Its first deployment was in 2000 when the carrier launched 869 sorties, totaling 2,700 flight hours in support of Operation Southern Watch while enforcing a no-fly zone in Iraq for 180 days. It was ready for battle after 9/11 to assist military actions in Afghanistan and the Second Gulf War.
“In 2002, the Truman set an impressive record for the most aircraft landings in a single day, with 335. On December 5, 2002, it departed for its second deployment, where it played a critical role in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan,” according to the carrier history from a museum honoring the president.
Quick Look at Specs
The USS Harry S. Truman has two Westinghouse A4W propulsion reactors, four shafts, and four propellers, which propel it to a top speed of over 30 knots. It is 1,092 feet long with a flight deck of 257 feet. The hull is 134 feet wide. It displaces a gargantuan 100,000 tons with a full combat load. There are four catapults, four arresting cables, and four elevators.
For defensive purposes, the Truman is equipped with two Mk-57 Mod 3 Sea Sparrow missile launchers, three 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS), and two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Systems.
The Harry S. Truman required 60,000 tons of steel and 1,000,000 pounds of aluminum to build. Fun fact: There are approximately 140,000 rolls of toilet paper on board and 600,000 ballpoint pens, according to the USS Harry S. Truman Foundation.
Over the years, the Truman has used the phrase most closely associated with the president: “Give ’em Hell” as a battle cry.
Answering Adverse Conditions
Earlier this year, the Truman endured some difficulties. It lost three F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets due to accidents in 2024 and 2025. One failed to complete a landing due to a problem with the arresting gear. The pilot and the weapons system officer ejected safely. Another F/A-18 F was shot down by friendly fire from the USS Gettysburg cruiser over the Red Sea in December of 2024. The crew was able to survive after ejecting from the aircraft.
Then the carrier had a close call against a Houthi missile that required a sharp turn in April. This unsettling maneuver forced a Super Hornet to fall overboard. Each jet costs around $60 million.
After these incidents, the Truman’s crew remained steadfast in completing their duties despite the misfortune. These are examples of the types of adverse events that can occur to challenge the crew and its leadership team. The sailors and the carrier have since recovered, and it is back to active duty, as exemplified by its last operation, the UNITAS exercise, and training aviators for carrier duty.
Bottom line on USS Harry S. Truman
The USS Harry S. Truman is still one of the best carriers in the fleet. The sailors have high morale due to the “Give ’em Hell” mantra. Sometimes, unfortunate incidents can serve as a reminder for shipmates and aviators to complete their jobs with greater care and determination. Don’t look for any more problems to happen to the Truman. The crew and command team areare made up of quiet professionals who can answer the call in both good and bad times.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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