Navy carrier strike group is weirdly deploying without its aircraft carrier

Ships from the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group are deploying without their carrier and accompanying air wing after the flattop suffered an unexpected electrical problem that required maintenance, the Navy revealed Sept. 12, 2019.

The destroyers USS Lassen, USS Farragut, and USS Forrest Sherman, along with the cruiser USS Normandy, will set sail from their homeports in Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, in the near future. These ships will be accompanied by helicopters from Helicopter Maritime Squadron 72 out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, however, will remain behind.

The move is unusual. Normally, if a carrier is down for maintenance or some other reason, it will simply be replaced with another carrier. But, the East Coast carrier fleet is currently short a suitable alternative in the inventory due to maintenance backlogs and delivery delays, among other issues.

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) underway in the Atlantic Ocean.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas Gooley)

In late August 2019, the Truman aircraft carrier experienced an "electrical malfunction within the ship's electrical distribution system requiring analysis and repair," US Fleet Forces Command spokesman Capt. Scott Miller told USNI News, which first reported the news of both the electrical issue and the unusual deployment.

US 2nd Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis characterized the latest developments as "unfortunate" in talks with USNI News. "The situation with Truman frankly is unfortunate," he told the naval affairs outlet. "Obviously, we're working really hard to fix it, and we will fix it, but it's unfortunate — nobody wanted that to happen certainly."

The Navy said Sept. 12, 2019, that "repairs are progressing and all efforts are being made to deploy the carrier and air wing as soon as possible." But, as there are still a number of unknowns surrounding the issue, it is unclear when the Truman will again be ready to sail.

USS Harry S. Truman in drydock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

"Not having the aircraft carrier," Lewis explained to USNI News, "it does detract from the symbolism and the deterrent effect, no question."

"The aircraft carrier is a behemoth beast with an amazing capability, it shows up off your shores, and if you're not our friend you become our friend quickly if you know what's good for you. There is no question that that effect is lost with smaller ships."

The deploying ships have formed a Surface Action Group, and the admiral insists that these ships bring the kind of capability to confront both low- and high-end threats.

Explaining that the ships have anti-submarine, air-and-missile defense, and strike warfare capabilities, he insisted that this is a "very capable group" that is ready "to do the nation's bidding in this great power competition," an apparent reference to 2nd Fleet's role in countering a resurgent Russia.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.