According to CCTV News, a photo showing the damaged exterior of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) being covered with paint went viral online recently.
In response to this event, the U.S. Navy issued a statement explaining the relevant maintenance arrangements and schedule. According to the statement, the aircraft carrier is expected to enter the RCOH (Refueling and Complex Overhaul) maintenance program within the next 12 months.
According to a report by the U.S. National Interest bimonthly website, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions at U.S. domestic shipyards have forced delays in the construction or maintenance of at least eight U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, including the USS Harry S. Truman. The U.S. Navy stated that the external surface damage sustained by the USS Harry S. Truman during the collision will be repaired during the ship’s upcoming RCOH period.
The project is scheduled to be carried out at the Newport News Shipbuilding. Following the collision, new bulkheads were installed in the damaged compartments while the ship was docked at Souda Bay, Greece, to restore weather-tight integrity.
Public information indicates that the USS Harry S. Truman was damaged in a collision with the cargo vessel M/V Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea off the Egyptian coast in February of this year. Approximately a week after the collision, the USS Harry S. Truman completed Emergency Repair Availability (ERAV) repairs at the Greek port of Souda Bay and returned to sea for routine operations. The ship arrived at Souda Bay on February 16th, completed damage assessments, and resumed operations after emergency repairs.
Photos taken at the time of the incident show multiple large breaches on the overhanging platform near an aircraft elevator on the starboard side of the ship’s stern. At that time, it was not immediately clear whether there was damage to other parts of the ship.
The photographs above were taken on October 5 local time, during President Trump’s visit aboard the USS Virginia in Norfolk, Virginia, to attend the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration. Despite a large banner obscuring the scene, attendees noticed the damaged area had been painted “to match the ship’s hull color.” The photo subsequently circulated on social media, prompting public questions about why the damage had not been fully repaired.
The U.S. Navy responded on Friday, stating: “The U.S. Navy’s ability to rapidly repair combat ships worldwide demonstrates our combat readiness and the synergistic advantages we achieve with allies and partners.” The statement further noted that RCOH is a multi-year overhaul conducted only once during an aircraft carrier’s 50-year service life. This includes bunkering both nuclear reactors and performing extensive repairs, upgrades, and modernization.
Currently, the formal maintenance plan for the USS Harry S. Truman remains in the preparatory phase, with subsequent progress updates to be released in due course.