US Navy Destroyer and Supply Ship Collide
US Navy ships collide Caribbean February 2026
Two U.S. Navy vessels deployed as part of a massive military buildup in the Caribbean Sea collided on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, during a routine but delicate resupply operation. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed on Thursday that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply made contact during a “replenishment-at-sea” (RAS) maneuver. The collision, which occurred while the ships were sailing parallel within hundreds of feet of each other to transfer fuel and supplies, resulted in minor injuries to two personnel. Both sailors are reported to be in stable condition, and officials stated that both vessels remain seaworthy and are continuing their missions under their own power.
The incident comes at a time of unprecedented naval activity in the region following the Trump administration’s launch of Operation Absolute Resolve in early January. The mission, which began with a surprise nighttime raid to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has since transitioned into an intensive “oil quarantine” designed to prevent sanctioned Venezuelan crude from entering global markets. The USS Truxtun, which only recently departed its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 6, is one of 12 U.S. Navy ships currently operating in the Caribbean. This fleet includes the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and several amphibious assault ships carrying thousands of Marines.
The collision underscores the high operational tempo and inherent risks of the U.S. military’s efforts to control Venezuela’s oil production and distribution. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently vowed that “none of those [sanctioned ships] are getting away,” a policy that has led to a series of high-stakes interceptions across the globe. Just days before the collision, U.S. forces boarded the sanctioned tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean after a “cat-and-mouse” pursuit that began in Caribbean waters. Since the ouster of Maduro, the administration has seized at least seven tankers as part of a broader strategy to generate revenue for rebuilding Venezuela’s infrastructure and to cut off oil supplies to Cuba.
While naval collisions are statistically rare, this event follows a string of incidents during a period of rapid deployment. In February 2025, the USS Harry S. Truman collided with a merchant vessel near the Suez Canal, an event later attributed to “unsafely high speeds.” SOUTHCOM officials have launched a formal investigation into the Wednesday collision to determine if mechanical failure or human error played a role during the resupply. As the U.S. continues to enforce its maritime blockade, the “gunboat diplomacy” approach has drawn both praise for its decisiveness and condemnation from international critics who view the intervention as a violation of sovereignty.
