Posted on 02/12/2026 6:23:58 AM PST by BenLurkin
A US Navy warship collided into a Navy supply vessel during a refuel operation, the US military's Southern Command confirmed to the BBC.
Two people reported minor injuries during Wednesday's replenishment-at-sea operation, Southern Command said, and are in stable condition.
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The exact location of the crash between the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply was not immediately clear.
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The exact location of the crash between the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply was not immediately clear.
The USNS Supply ship has been operating in the Caribbean, according to the Wall Street Journal, which is part of Southern Command's area of responsibility. Southern Command is also responsible for parts of the South Atlantic and the South Pacific.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
>>>>near South America<<<<<<
Did they provide map coordinates for this location? lol
DEI at work again?
More than likely a steering failure or a strong cross current that pushed both ships together. Some Captain is about to have a very bad day.
But I imagine someone's career is over.
“during a refuel operation”
It’s not exactly unheard of my friend.
A refueling operation requires supply vessel to be in close proximity to the vessel being resupplied.
Here comes the Blame Game, followed most likely, by the loss of a Commission. Someone is going to quietly resign, and elect to spend more time with his/her family.
The conclusion may not be known for several years.
Our military, any military, can be very insular, self governing and separated from the civilian world when they choose to be.
As a former big deck sailor, this is very common among ships of different sizes. UNREP (Underway Replenishment) isn’t a exact science and I as a simple E-4 had to order the George Washington and Arctic to conduct an emergency breakaway as I saw both ships drawing during a aviation refueling op off Florida.
I was got screamed at by a dozen or more officers and senior enlisted, who wanted to run me up the flag pole. The old Man with 2 stars put a end to that with a few colorful adjectives and Bravo Zulu to me for quick thinking.
In South Atlantic, you tend to have allot of cross currents and then there is the vortexes that both ships create on their own.
It’s hard work to keep on station. Not everything is the fault of DEI.
Indeed. If one has never seen an underway replenishment, they're really something to behold.
I've seen more than I can count.
Exactly! This was a destroyer and a supply ship. Try a carrier and supply ship, its like a slow dance with a cactus.
Okay, I’m kind of expert on this sort thing myself. I was an eye witness to the USS Mars/USS Cook collision in 1979 from the perspective of the forward winch deck on the Mars. The USS Mars was a supply ship, and we did underway replenishment to other ships on a regular basis. Our collision had nothing to do with unrepping, but unrepping requires high levels of coordination. We almost collided with other ships twice during unreps. There is very little on the internet about our collision, but I believe this short video was made by one of my crew mates. I recognize the names of several commenters on the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzdqAspYUn4
Meh, it happens. Two big hulls running in parallel usually only a few 10s of yards apart create a venturi effect that tends to draw them together. Unfortunate that a couple of sailors were hurt, but the real responsibility lies with the respective ships Captains. But I doubt anyone will lose their command.
This old Doc went FMF for his sea duty. I did make it aboard both hospital ships in Vietnam, though. Two weeks each time.
Someone is going to be relieved of command.
Women drivers again...
Is port left and starboard right? Yes, sailor we left port.
And all it needs is a Strong Gust of winc to snap lines and wreak havoc!
Thanks for the perspective of experience.
I’m curious why the ships don’t stop for these operations (other than that would make them sitting ducks in wartime).
Is it easier to control the ships while moving then while stopped? Or is it considered practice for wartime maneuvering.
IIRC, when uboats needed replenishment at sea they were stopped during WWII, but that’s a different animal and a different era.
Could have been any number of factors: currents, steering or other mechanical issues, helmsman, or a failure to account for the hydrodynamic pressure zones properly during approach or breakaway (This will be my guess - likely too close of an approach). Sounds like no injuries at least.
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