Navy finds operations against Houthis contributed to Truman Strike Group accidents

A recent Navy investigation has revealed that the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier's loss of an F-18 in May, caused by a malfunctioning arresting wire, occurred during an especially demanding deployment connected to operations against Houthi forces in Yemen.

The Navy noted that its review of multiple accidents involving the Truman strike group examined "how a Carrier Strike Group prepares for and responds to adversity during combat operations."

From March 15 to May 6, the carrier took part in Operation Rough Rider, aimed at countering Houthi attacks on merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships. During this operation, the carrier's aircraft were active for 52 days, including 72 hours of nonstop flight missions. Flight crews carried out over 1,000 air strikes using more than one million pounds of ordnance.

Over the course of its full deployment from September 2024 to May 2025, the strike group faced several incidents: a friendly fire event in December when a destroyer mistakenly fired on two F-18s, a February collision with a merchant vessel, and the loss of two F-18s, one in April and one in May.

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jim Kilby stated that "the Navy is committed to being a learning organization," emphasizing that the investigations highlight the importance of investing in personnel to maintain combat-ready forces. Kilby confirmed that "appropriate accountability actions have been taken," though details were redacted regarding timing and specifics of these measures.

The report attributed each incident to multiple contributing factors and recommended that service members adhere more closely to Navy procedures, particularly in combat settings. A Navy official described all the mishaps as "avoidable, whether combat-related or not."

No fatalities occurred, though there were dangerous situations. During the friendly fire incident, one F-18 narrowly avoided a missile from the USS Gettysburg, passing just "one to two plane lengths" behind it. The other aircrafts crew ejected safely and were rescued by helicopter. In the February collision near the Suez Canal, eight personnel were working about 10 feet from the impact zone. Investigators noted that a 100-foot difference in the collision's location could have endangered 120 sailors sleeping aboard the carrier.

The cumulative financial impact of these incidents was approximately $164 million, including the cost of the F-18s and repairs. The friendly fire event resulted in the loss of an estimated $67 million F-18. Temporary repairs after the February collision cost about $685,000, with full repairs scheduled post-deployment. The April and May F-18 losses were valued at $36,141,169 and $60,259,238, respectively, including damage to associated equipment.

Author: Caleb Jennings