Investigations highlight mishaps of USS Harry S Truman deployment in Red Sea region

USS Harry S Truman , shown here at Norfolk Naval Station, was involved in a series of mishaps during its recent deployment. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The US Navy (USN) identified a host of causes and contributing factors that led to four separate incidents causing ship damage and loss of aircraft during deployment of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 anchored by aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) from September 2024 to May 2025 in the Red Sea region, according to USN investigative reports released on 4 December.

“These investigations reinforce the need to continue investing in our people to ensure we deliver battle-ready forces to operational commanders,” Admiral Jim Kilby, vice chief of naval operations, said in a statement accompanying the release.

The first incident investigated occurred on 22 December 2024 when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) shot down an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 in the Red Sea during a ‘friendly fire' incident.

“The investigation … found that a lack of integrated training opportunities between USS Gettysburg and the Carrier Strike Group, lack of forceful backup on the cruiser, and lack of cohesion across the Carrier Strike Group contributed to the misidentification, and subsequent engagement, of the friendly aircraft and near miss of another,” the USN said in a statement, noting there were no personnel casualties or major injuries.

The investigative report pointed out the shootdown occurred about a week after CSG 8 entered the Red Sea “immediately following the HST [Harry S Truman] CSG's first defensive strike against Houthi positions”.

HST CSG air and surface units spent several hours defending the force against Houthi-launched anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) and one-way attack (OWA) drones, according to the report.