In Case you missed this When an F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet slides off the side of an aircraft carrier it makes a $60 million dollar splash. While we can’t bill the Houthis for it directly you can bet Pete Hegseth will take it out of their hide somewhere.
Jet overboard
On Monday, April 28, the Navy reported that a “F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet has been lost at sea.” It fell off the side of the USS Harry S. Truman as they were taking evasive action over incoming missiles.
The fighter was being towed across the deck at the time in a routine procedure. Media relates that the pilot managed to jump to safety before it went over the side.
According to a Pentagon official, “initial reports from the scene indicated the Truman made a hard turn to evade Houthi fire, which contributed to the fighter jet falling overboard.”
The Iranian mercenary forces based in Yemen confirmed they had “launched a drone and missile attack on the aircraft carrier.”
The Truman has been operating in the Red Sea, specifically as part of the campaign to bomb the Houthi rebels into submission. There’s always a pilot at the controls when a jet is moved around the hanger bay.
The one aboard this one was able to jump out before the plane went over the side but was injured in the leap.
Investigation underway
Even though it’s pretty clear exactly what happened, a full investigation is underway. “The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft and tow tractor were lost overboard.”
The important thing is that nobody was seriously hurt as the jet cut loose. “Sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard. An investigation is underway.”
Losing a single jet isn’t going to affect readiness aboard the carrier even though the price tag stings. Instead, the incident underscores how much power the huge floating cities have behind them.
Our carriers are “the world’s largest warships at nearly 1,100 feet long and with a displacement of almost 100,000 tons.” They’re also “surprisingly maneuverable for their size.”
Two independent nuclear reactors spin four propeller shafts. “Nimitz-class carriers like the Truman can reach speeds in excess of 34 mph.” That’s zipping right along for watercraft. They slant over hard when they make high speed turns.
“The exact details of the turn the Truman made to avoid the Houthi fire have not been released, but photos and videos of the ship and other Nimitz-class carriers on the Defense Department’s website show the massive vessels can take on a substantial list in a high-speed turn.” It’s easy to see how the jet could fall off.
