The U.S. Navy has released images showing visible damage to the USS Harry S. Truman after its collision with the cargo ship Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt on February 13.
The photos, published on February 14, reveal tears and dents on the starboard aft section of the aircraft carrier, near the aircraft elevator. It remains unclear whether the ship sustained additional damage elsewhere.
"The photo was taken from a speedboat alongside the ship and shows external damage," the U.S. Navy said in a statement. "The USS Harry S. Truman, the flagship of its carrier strike group, is operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet’s area of responsibility, protecting American, allied, and partner interests in Europe and Africa."
Extent of the Damage Still Unclear
According to USNI News, citing two unnamed defense officials, the impact punctured the hull and left a small tear above the waterline. However, the damage to this area is not visible in the photos released by the Navy.
The Navy has not disclosed the estimated cost or timeframe for repairs or whether the damage will affect the carrier’s operational capabilities.
Military analyst Joseph Trevithick from The War Zone noted that aircraft carriers are built to withstand combat damage, suggesting that the incident caused only minor structural harm. However, it remains uncertain whether USS Harry S. Truman will continue its mission or return to port for repairs.
Navy officials previously stated that the collision did not breach the ship’s watertight integrity, no water entered the hull, and the nuclear reactor was unaffected. There were no reported injuries, and all aircraft onboard remained undamaged.
Cargo Ship Also Sustains Damage
Additional images released the same day show visible damage to the bow of the Besiktas-M on its starboard side, but the ship’s crew was unharmed, according to reports.
USS Harry S. Truman’s Mission in the Region
Commissioned in July 1998, the USS Harry S. Truman is the eighth Nimitz-class supercarrier. It measures 333 meters (1,092 feet) in length, has a displacement of 105,000 tons, and was built at an estimated cost of $5.8 billion.
The aircraft carrier and its escort ships are currently deployed as part of U.S. operations against Houthi militants in the Red Sea. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, Houthi forces have repeatedly attacked cargo ships linked to the U.S. and Israel, claiming the strikes are in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
(Sources: TWZ, AFP, AP)
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