A U.S. Navy destroyer collided with a supply ship during a routine replenishment-at-sea operation in the Caribbean on Wednesday, an incident captured on video now circulating widely online. Two sailors sustained minor injuries, and both vessels remain operational as the Navy investigates what caused the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun to slam into the much larger USNS Supply.
What does the USS Truxtun collision video show?
The video, first shared on social media and later confirmed by defense officials, shows the USS Truxtun (DDG-103) approaching the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) at an angle too steep for a standard underway replenishment. The destroyer’s bow scrapes along the side of the support vessel, producing visible grinding and metal-on-metal contact before the two ships separate. U.S. Southern Command confirmed the authenticity of the footage and the details of the collision in a statement Thursday. Col. Emmanuel Ortiz said: “The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply collided during a replenishment-at-sea.”
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USS Truxtun (DDG-103) collided with USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) during a refueling operation in the Caribbean. pic.twitter.com/qoQ6uYWfAR
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Who was injured and what is the condition of both ships?
Two personnel reported minor injuries and are in stable condition, Ortiz said. A U.S. official told reporters neither injured sailor required medical evacuation or transport to an off-ship facility. Both vessels continued under their own power. The Navy has reported no damage affecting seaworthiness or mission capability. Southern Command said both ships are sailing safely and remain fully mission-capable.
What is a replenishment-at-sea and why is it risky?
Replenishment-at-sea operations allow warships to take on fuel, food, ammunition, and other supplies without returning to port. The two vessels sail parallel at identical speeds while lines, probes, and hoses are passed between them. The procedure demands precise coordination between both ships’ bridge teams and can take several hours after days of advance planning. Even small errors in speed, rudder angle, or station-keeping can result in contact between hulls.
Why was the USS Truxtun operating in the Caribbean?
The USS Truxtun arrived in the U.S. Fourth Fleet area earlier this week as part of a larger military buildup in the Caribbean and near South America. Since August, warships have been positioned in the region to support counter-drug operations. Those operations include strikes on suspected narcotics smuggling boats and enforcement of a partial quarantine President Trump ordered in December on oil tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan shipments. The USS Truxtun joined roughly a dozen other ships operating nearby, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s largest aircraft carrier.
Is this the first such incident during this deployment?
This marks the first publicly reported collision tied to the current Caribbean mission. The Navy has faced a series of operational incidents in other theaters, however. Between September 2024 and May 2025, the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group in the Middle East experienced multiple serious events. Those included a friendly fire incident in December when a destroyer fired missiles at two F/A-18 fighter jets, a February collision with a merchant vessel, and the loss of two F/A-18 aircraft—one in April and another in May.
What happens next?
Southern Command said the incident is under investigation. The Navy has not released preliminary findings. Both ships remain on station. The Wall Street Journal first reported the collision. The video of the moment of impact has since spread across multiple social media platforms and defense-focused news sites.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
