The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier arrived in Crete on June 21, giving its 5,500 crew members a Greek island break after seven months at sea and over 2,000 missions launched against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria.
13 Jun 2016 . Mid Sea, Mid-Sea. Reuters/Baz Ratner
The U.S. Navy extended the Truman's deployment by one month to "keep the pressure" on Islamic State until the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier arrived to take over, Vice Admiral James Foggo, commander of the Navy's Sixth Fleet, said.
14 Jun 2016 . Mid Sea, Mid-Sea. Reuters/Baz Ratner
The 1,096-feet (334-metre) Truman, as long as the Empire State Building in New York City is tall and with a 4.5-acre (1.8 hectare) flight deck, is due back home in Norfolk, Virginia in mid-July.
15 Jun 2016 . Mid Sea, Mid-Sea. Reuters/Baz Ratner
Meanwhile for those who serve on the ship, mail from friends and family - flown in especially - is a welcome treat. Many spend days on end "below the water line," working less glamorous, but equally vital, jobs than the fighter pilots.
14 Jun 2016 . Mid Sea, Mid-Sea. Reuters/Baz Ratner
Those sailors keep the ship's two nuclear reactors running smoothly and prepare munitions. Others cook more than 18,000 meals a day, do laundry, deliver mail and deal with trash for the floating city.