A U.S. Navy resupply ship sustained undisclosed damage while operating with the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Middle East this week, Pentagon officials acknowledged Tuesday.
A military source told USNI News that the incident occurred when the USNS Big Horn, a Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler, was anchored off the coast of Oman and experienced an underwater collision to its stern area.
The news outlet said it was unclear if the 42,000-ton vessel, the only one of its kind deployed to the region, was struck by a submerged object or ran aground.
There were no reported injuries or fuel leaks from the accident, and the logistics craft is currently being relocated by contracted tugs to a nearby port for structural assessments.
USNI News also confirmed that pictures published on Monday by the maritime information website gcaptain.com, showing a flooded engineering space and a compromised rudder assembly, were from the Big Horn.
