US Carrier Captain Ousted After Devastating Collision at Sea

The captain of a U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier that collided with a merchant ship at sea last week was stripped of command.

Capt. Dave Snowden, the USS Harry S. Truman’s commander was relieved of his duties on Thursday due to a lack of confidence in Snowden’s ability to lead. Naval Institute News cited a notification from Congress that it had been reviewed and confirmed by a Navy Official.

The collision occurred on February 12 near the entrance of the Suez Canal, off the coast of Egypt. Both vessels were uninjured. According to reports, the merchant ship was owned by Synergy Ship Management of Turkey and sailed under Panama’s flag.

According to USNI News, the collision caused a hole in Truman’s starboard quarter above the waterline. It also damaged the sponson (a flight deck extension) located behind the starboard elevator. There were no reported injuries. The carrier, which deployed from Norfolk, Virginia in September, is currently in Souda Bay, Greece for inspections and repairs.

In a Sunday statement, the U.S. Sixth Fleet of the Navy said that the damage assessed included the exterior walls of two storage spaces and a maintenance area. Damage to the ship’s exterior includes the fantail, a space for line handling, and a platform over one of the storage areas. Aircraft elevator No. Aircraft elevator No.

Snowden graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996. A career fighter pilot, Snowden graduated from the U.S. He was also the executive officer of the USS San Antonio and Truman’s commander before he took command.

The Navy said Capt. Christopher “Chowdah” Hill, commander of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, also a Nimitz class nuclear-powered carrier, will be interim commander of the Truman, according to USNI News. Hill commanded the Eisenhower during an extended deployment to support Operation Prosperity Guardian, a U.S.-led, multinational coalition established to counter attacks by Houthi terrorists in Yemen on merchant and naval vessels in the Red Sea.