Collision Involving Two US Navy Ships Near South America

Thu Feb 12 2026 23:57:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A US Navy warship collided with a supply vessel during a replenishment operation, resulting in minor injuries among crew members. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Two US Navy ships collided during a refueling operation near South America, leaving two crew members with minor injuries. Both vessels, a guided missile destroyer and a supply ship, have continued operations post-incident. The Southern Command is investigating the cause of the collision, although details surrounding the exact location and circumstances remain unclear.

A US Navy warship collided into a Navy supply vessel during a refuel operation, the US military's Southern Command confirmed to the BBC.

Two people reported minor injuries during Wednesday's replenishment-at-sea operation, Southern Command said, and are in stable condition.

The vessels - a guided missile destroyer and fast combat support ship - have both continued sailing safely from the site of the incident near South America.

Southern Command did not disclose what caused the collision, stating the incident is currently under investigation.

The exact location of the crash between the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply was not immediately clear.

The USNS Supply ship has been operating in the Caribbean, according to the Wall Street Journal, which is part of Southern Command's area of responsibility.

Recently, US President Donald Trump has ordered a military buildup in the Caribbean targeting drug trafficking, amid other military actions in the area.

Notably, two individuals died on Thursday after the US military struck an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific, contributing to a total of at least 38 lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the region since Trump resumed office.

The military presence is also being used to enforce sanctions against Venezuelan oil, further beefing up the US stance in the region.