American warship collides with supply vessel

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) has collided with the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (AOE-6) during an underway replenishment, with two personnel reporting minor injuries.

The incident occurred on Wednesday while the two vessels were operating as part of a replenishment-at-sea evolution, a process which typically involves ships sailing in parallel at close distance while fuel and stores are transferred via hoses and cables. US authorities said both ships remained operational following the collision and were able to continue sailing safely.

A statement attributed to US Southern Command said: “Two personnel reported minor injuries and are in stable condition. Both ships have reported sailing safely. The incident is currently under investigation.” It was later confirmed that the injured personnel were sailors.

USS Truxtun is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, displacing around 9,200 tons, measuring 510 feet (160 metres) in length, and operating with a crew of approximately 380. The ship is equipped with the AN/SPY-1D radar, AN/SQS-53 sonar, and an Aegis combat system suite designed for integrated air and missile defence operations. Its main armament includes a 32-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch System, capable of firing weapons including SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and ESSM, alongside a 5-inch Mk 45 gun, Phalanx CIWS, and torpedo tubes.

The supply ship involved, USNS Supply, is the lead vessel of the Supply-class fast combat support ships, designed to sustain carrier strike group operations at sea. The ship displaces roughly 48,800 tons, measures 754.6 feet (230 metres) long, and can reach speeds of around 26 knots, powered by gas turbine engines. It typically carries a combined civilian and military crew and is capable of transferring fuel, ammunition and stores to multiple vessels while underway.

USNS Supply was originally commissioned in 1994 and later transferred to service with the Military Sealift Command, where it continues to provide logistics support to deployed naval forces.

The collision is now under investigation.