The US Navy ship Big Horn was damaged in the Middle East: details of the incident

The ship played a key role in the US Navy's military logistics in the Middle East, providing fuel to ships and aircraft of the strike group that patrols the Arabian Sea.

The US Navy has encountered an incident that could affect the operational capabilities of allied forces in the Middle East region. The USNS Big Horn, the sole refueling vessel supporting the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, ran aground off the coast of Oman. As reported on September 25 by the CBS News channel, the damage to the vessel was significant, which led to its partial sinking.

Big Horn was eventually towed to port for further evaluation. There were no reports of injuries or fuel leaks, but the incident left the strike group without its primary refueler. The fact is that Big Horn played a key role in fueling the ships and aircraft of the strike group that patrols the Arabian Sea in support of Israel and to protect American interests in the region.

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Despite the nuclear installation of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, the other ships in the group, as well as the aircraft on board the aircraft carrier, require regular refueling. But now the fleet and air force will have to adapt operations by refueling in ports. Despite the fact that there were no fuel leaks and no casualties, the steering system and the stern of the ship were damaged, which led to the need for repairs in the port of Duqm.

Tanker USNS Big Horn

USNS Big Horn ( T-AO-198) — a Henry J. Kaiser-class refueling tanker in service with the United States Navy under the Sealift Command (MSC). Commissioned in 1992, the ship supports naval operations by transporting fuel, dry cargo and other supplies for warships directly at sea.

The ship's displacement is approximately 42,000 tons, and its cargo capacity — around 180,000 barrels of fuel, enabling it to refuel aircraft carriers and the strike groups that accompany them during extended missions.

The grounding incident highlighted MSC's existing logistical problems, raising concerns about readiness and reliability of the aging fleet of US Navy refueling tankers.