A video released on 13/2 shows the destroyer USS Truxtun approaching the supply ship USNS Supply as the two vessels prepared for an at-sea replenishment operation. Despite continuous horn signals from the Supply, the Truxtun did not slow down or change direction, colliding with the supply ship.
The Supply then announced over its loudspeakers, "we have been hit on the port side", as the Truxtun listed from the impact. The Truxtun then slowed, separated, and moved behind the Supply.
Photos of the Supply docked at Ponce port, Puerto Rico, after the collision show scratches and dents in two locations on the upper hull above the waterline, but the damage was not severe. The Truxtun has not yet docked, so no photos of its damage from the incident are available.
The collision, which occurred in the Caribbean Sea on 12/2, resulted in minor injuries to two sailors, according to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the agency responsible for US military operations in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Both captains reported their vessels remained safely operational after the incident.
Replenishment at sea, also known as underway replenishment, is the transfer of fuel, ammunition, and supplies from a support ship to a warship. This operation allows warships to avoid frequent port calls, enabling them to travel longer distances or remain in their operational areas for extended periods.
 |
Damage to the hull of the USNS Supply in a photo released on 13/2. Photo: Instagram/Tessaron News 3 |
During refueling at sea, US warships and supply vessels must move parallel at the same speed, maintaining a close distance and connecting via a hose system. Any deviation or negligence by the crew during this process carries a risk of accidents.
The US Navy acknowledges that such close-quarters maneuvers are complex and inherently risky, with factors like adverse weather, crew fatigue, or loss of situational awareness contributing to potential hazards. "Seemingly minor errors can escalate into serious accidents in mere seconds," the US Navy warns.
While collisions between US warships and other vessels are uncommon, several fatal incidents have occurred. In june 2017, the destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with the container ship ACX Crystal about 144 km off the coast of Japan, resulting in the deaths of seven US Navy sailors and injuries to three others.
Two months later, the oil tanker Alnic MC collided with the destroyer USS John S. McCain in the Malacca Strait near Singapore. This accident claimed the lives of 10 sailors aboard the USS John S. McCain and left a large hole in the warship's port side.
In february 2025, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman collided with the cargo ship Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, with no casualties reported. The impact caused a small tear in the Harry S. Truman's hull above the waterline, damaging a protruding sponson on its starboard aft side, adjacent to an aircraft elevator.
Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, War Zone)
