Two U.S. Navy Ships Collide in Caribbean Replenishment, Two Injured but Both Remain Underway
An Arleigh Burke–class guided‑missile destroyer, USS Truxtun (DDG‑103), and fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T‑AOE‑6) collided during a replenishment‑at‑sea evolution in the Caribbean Sea near South America, resulting in two minor injuries; Southern Command said both vessels remained able to sail. The mishap — the first reported in a Trump‑era naval buildup in the Caribbean tied to narcotics interdiction and a partial "quarantine" of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers — comes after a recent string of accidents involving the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group in the Middle East.
📌 Key Facts
- The collision occurred in the Caribbean Sea during a replenishment‑at‑sea evolution between Arleigh Burke‑class guided‑missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG‑103) and fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T‑AOE‑6).
- U.S. Southern Command said two personnel suffered minor injuries and that both vessels remained able to sail (remained underway).
- Replenishment‑at‑sea evolutions are complex, routine operations that typically require days of preparation and hours to execute, providing operational context for the mishap.
- The incident is the first known mishap in a larger U.S. naval buildup in and near the Caribbean tied to narcotics interdiction and a partial 'quarantine' on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.
- The collision follows a recent string of accidents involving the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group in the Middle East, including a friendly‑fire missile launch at F‑18s, a merchant‑ship collision, and two lost jets.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 19, 2026
February 12, 2026
7:03 PM
2 Navy ships collide in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in minor injuries
New information:
- Identifies the specific ships involved as Arleigh Burke‑class guided‑missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG‑103) and fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T‑AOE‑6).
- Includes Southern Command on‑the‑record statement confirming two personnel suffered minor injuries and that both vessels remained able to sail safely.
- Places the collision in the context of a larger Trump‑era naval buildup in and near the Caribbean tied to narcotics interdiction and a partial 'quarantine' on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.
- Explains that replenishment‑at‑sea evolutions are complex, routine operations requiring days of preparation and hours to execute, giving operational context for the mishap.
- Notes that this is the first known mishap in the Caribbean buildup but follows a recent string of accidents involving the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group in the Middle East, including a friendly‑fire missile launch at F‑18s, a merchant‑ship collision, and two lost jets.