A video captured the intense moment when a US Navy destroyer collided with a supply ship, causing waves to crash against the vessels. The incident, involving the USS Truxtun and the USNS Supply, led to two sailors sustaining minor injuries but both were in stable condition. The collision occurred during a supply transfer maneuver near South America.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, but initial reports suggest that the USS Truxtun was receiving supplies when the collision occurred while the ship was being refueled by another vessel. Typically, such maneuvers involve ships sailing parallel at a close distance while transferring supplies.
The USS Truxtun, part of the US naval presence in the Caribbean, departed from Norfolk, Virginia, in early February after a brief port visit for equipment repairs. This collision, a rare occurrence for warships, is reminiscent of a previous incident in February 2025 when the USS Harry S Truman collided with a merchant vessel near the Suez Canal.
In a separate tragic event, a Marine identified as Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka E. Oforah fell overboard from the USS Iwo Jima and tragically passed away despite an extensive search and rescue operation. This marks the first publicly announced death of a service member during recent US military operations in the region.
