Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman Completes Sea Trials

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) returned to Naval Station Norfolk July 10 after completing sea trials, a four-day underway period to test the carrier’s systems and overall mission readiness. Sea trials were a part of Truman’s 16-month docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY).

“The crew did an absolutely fantastic job in getting the ship underway for the first time in more than a year,” said Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne, Truman’s commanding officer. “This was a huge undertaking, but we prepared thoroughly to ensure a safe underway.”

Sea-worthiness assessments aboard Truman ranged from a high-speed engine run and rudder swing checks to catapult and combat systems testing.

“As we came to the end of sea trials, we tested all of our equipment to make sure everything was working correctly,” said Cmdr. Daniel Rossler, Truman’s chief engineer. “We are out of the shipyard, stepping into the phase where we maintain the ship ourselves.”

Truman is scheduled to conduct flight deck certification and carrier qualifications as part of its rigorous work up cycle in preparation for its next deployment.

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, July 12, 2012; Image: navy.mil