The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Truxtun collided with the support ship USNS Supply while the two were conducting an at-sea replenishment yesterday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has confirmed. Both ships have continued to sail safely, but two sailors were injured.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the collision, which is said to have occurred somewhere in the Caribbean Sea.
The full statement from SOUTHCOM, as provided to TWZ, is as follows:
“Yesterday afternoon, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG103) and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) collided during a replenishment-at-sea. Two personnel reported minor injuries and are in stable condition. Both ships have reported sailing safely. The incident is currently under investigation.”
No further details have been provided yet about the extent of the damage to either ship.
At-sea replenishment, also known as underway replenishment, is an essential capability that provides a way for warships to receive additional fuel, munitions, and other supplies without having to visit a friendly port. This, in turn, can help ships transit greater distances with fewer interruptions or stay on station longer after arriving in an operating area.
The video below shows the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Barry conducting an at-sea replenishment with the Henry J. Kaiser class oiler USNS Rappahannock.
USS Barry Conducts Replenishment-at-Sea with USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204)
At the same time, by the Navy’s own admission, at-sea replenishment operations, which inherently involve ships sailing closely side-by-side, are complex and potentially hazardous, in general.
“Underway Replenishment (UNREP) is a critical (and often dangerous) operation to resupply ships at sea, and it carries inherent risks that must be carefully managed. The proximity of vessels, adverse weather, fatigue, and loss of situational awareness (to name a few) in this dynamic environment can risk personnel safety and mission success,” a 2024 dispatch from the Naval Safety Center explains. “Seemingly minor mistakes can turn into potential severe mishaps in seconds.”
On February 3, the Navy announced that Truxtun had departed its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia for a scheduled deployment, but did not say specifically where the ship was headed. The ship subsequently returned to port for repairs to an unspecified piece of equipment, but was underway again by February 6, according to USNI News. The destroyer’s last deployment, which had taken it to European and Middle Eastern waters, only concluded in October 2025.
While Truxtun is said to still be sailing safely, it remains to be seen how its current deployment may be disrupted further by yesterday’s collision.
Contact the author: joe@twz.com