USS Truxtun and USNS Supply Collide During Replenishment Operation
On Tuesday afternoon, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) collided with the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) while conducting a replenishment-at-sea operation in the Caribbean. The incident was confirmed by U.S. Southern Command. Fortunately, two personnel sustained only minor injuries and are currently reported to be in stable condition. Both vessels were able to continue their operations following the collision, which is now under investigation.
The collision occurred shortly after USS Truxtun departed Naval Station Norfolk on February 3 for a scheduled deployment. The destroyer, which carries a crew of approximately 300 sailors along with 26 personnel from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50, known as the “Valkyries,” is part of a larger U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. This deployment follows a significant buildup of warships in the region, including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier group, marking the largest U.S. military presence since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. While the official purpose of this deployment is to combat drug trafficking, it has also been perceived as a move to exert pressure on the Venezuelan government.
