USS Harry S. Truman CVN 75

Length of Flight Deck: 1,096 feet (as long as the Empire State Building is tall)

Width of Flight Deck: 251 feet at its widest point

Height, Waterline to Masts: 20 stories

Area of Flight Deck: 4.5 acres

Armament: Two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers; four 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts

Water Displacement: 97,000 tons

Propulsion: 2 nuclear reactors

Number of Screws: 4 (5 blades each, 21 feet across)

Weight of Screws: 66,200 pounds each

Top Speed: Exceeds 30 knots

Number of Catapults: 4

Number of Aircraft Elevators: 4

Size of Air Wing: Eight squadrons and one detachment, with more than 80 aircraft

Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia

Crew Size: More than 5,200 with embarked air wing, more than 3,000 without air wing

Meals served daily: 18,150

Number of compartments: 2,700

Number of Anchors: 2, from USS Forrestal (CV 59)

Weight of Anchors: 30 tons each

Length of Anchor Chain: More than 1,000 feet, with 684 links each weighing 365 pounds each

Number of Telephones: 2,000

Tactical Aircraft: F-14 Tomcats, F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, S-3B Vikings, E-2C Hawkeyes, SH-60 Seahawks, C-2A Greyhounds

.....USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is the ninth nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth in the Nimitz class. The keel was laid by Newport News Shipbuilding November 29, 1993 and the ship, named after the 33rd President of the United States, was christened September 7, 1996.

.....The ship was launched September 13, 1996 and delivered to the U.S. Navy June 30, 1998. Truman was commissioned July 25, 1998.

.....In August 1998, Truman got underway for the first time as a U.S. Navy carrier to conduct flight deck certifications, an evolution designed to test the ship’s ability to successfully launch and recover aircraft.

.....In August 2000, Truman participated in its first Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), followed in October with the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). This varsity-level training was the carrier’s final step down the road to its first deployment. This historic maiden deployment began November 28, 2000.

.....February 16, 2001, the TRUMAN team was called into action in support of Operation Southern Watch (OSW). In response to surface-to-air missile fire against coalition forces enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 3 took part in a sanctioned response and struck Iraqi integrated air defense system sites.

.....During the Truman team’s involvement in OSW, the air wing flew 869 combat sorties, totaling more than 2,700 flight hours. Truman’s participation in Operation Southern Watch concluded April 27, 2001.

.....After nearly 180 days and traveling more than 44,000 nautical miles, Truman completed an impressive maiden deployment May 23, 2001.

.....TRUMAN entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its first Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) September 5, 2001. During PIA, Truman underwent improvements to the chill water supply system, flight operation support systems and almost all of the fuel tanks on board.

.....In June 2002, Truman began training for its next deployment with Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA) I/II. In August 2002, Truman got underway for TSTA III and the carrier’s final evaluation period. During the same underway period, Truman wrapped up its second COMPTUEX, certifying the carrier and battle group to take their place on the front lines in the war on terrorism.

.....Following the intense work-up cycle, Truman embarked on its final training phase. Operating off the coast of Florida, Truman participated in JTFEX 03-1. After successfully completing the exercise, the crew enjoyed a liberty port visit to Key West, Florida.

.....Truman embarked on its second deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom December 5, 2002. Tensions with Iraq were at an all-time high as the Truman team prepared itself for the possibility of conflict.

.....In early February 2003, Truman took up station in the eastern Mediterranean. Their skills sharpened, the Truman team waited for word to launch strikes against Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. When the order came in the late-night hours of March 19, the mission was no longer training. Truman successfully launched 1,280 sorties and dropped more than 700 tons of ordnance in support of special operations forces in northern Iraq and helped liberate the people of Iraq.

.....Truman was relieved of its duties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom April 18, 2003.

.....The ship returned to a hero’s welcome at Naval Station Norfolk May 23, 2003, with more than 20,000 loved ones waiting on the pier to welcome the crew home.

.....In August 2003, Truman entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its second Planned Incremental Availability. The crew donned hard hats and safety glasses to perform the necessary repairs and quality of life upgrades that would enable the ship to reenter the war on terror. On February 13, 2004 the ship pulled out of the shipyard ahead of schedule and got underway once again for sea trials, where the ship’s seaworthiness was successfully tested.

.....After completing the yard period early and under budget, Truman returned to its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia , in February 2004 to begin its first work-up cycle under the Fleet Response Plan. In April 2004, the ship left its homeport for a month at sea to conduct its third TSTA and COMPTUEX. The ship then got underway June 2, 2004 for Summer Pulse ’04, as one of seven carriers worldwide to participate in the exercise which demonstrates the Navy’s Fleet Response Plan.

.....After crossing the Atlantic for the first time since Operation Iraqi Freedom, Truman reentered the Mediterranean Sea and pulled into Naples, Italy, for a five-day port visit. On the return trip, the ship took part in Exercise Majestic Eagle off the coast of Morocco. Majestic Eagle brought 20,000 men and women from 10 allied nations together with 30 ships, including four aircraft carriers from three different countries and more than 350 aircraft.

.....On October 13, 2004, the Harry S. Truman and Carrier Air Wing 3 Team departed Norfolk yet again on a deployment to the Persian Gulf. During their time in the Gulf, they provided support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and other maritime exercises in the region.

.....March 19 marked the end of Harry S. Truman's presence in the Persian Gulf, turning over with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).