Two U.S. Navy Ships Collide at Sea Near South America, Minor Injuries Reported
Feb 14, 2026: Two United States Navy vessels collided on Wednesday during a routine underway replenishment operation near South America, U.S. military officials confirmed, leaving two personnel with minor injuries.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) made contact while the destroyer was taking on fuel and supplies at sea, according to a statement from U.S.
Southern Command. Both injured crew members have been treated and are in stable condition, the command added.
Southern Command said that both vessels have continued sailing safely after the incident, and an investigation has been launched to determine what caused the collision.
The military did not provide an exact location for the mishap, but it occurred within the region covered by the command’s area of responsibility, including the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters off South America.
Replenishment-at-sea is a complex naval operation in which fuel and supplies are transferred between ships traveling side by side at sea.
While generally routine, it can be hazardous due to the precision required to maintain speed and distance between large vessels.
The Truxtun had recently departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on a scheduled deployment and was operating as part of a U.S. naval presence in the region.
The supply ship, operated by the U.S. Military Sealift Command, was supporting the replenishment needs of ships in the area.
This incident comes amid an extended U.S. naval deployment in the Caribbean and South American waters focused on maritime security operations, including counter-narcotics activities.
