Navy Oiler Big Horn Damaged Off Oman Coast Amid Regional Tensions

The US Navy's oiler Big Horn suffered damage on Monday while operating off the coast of Oman, with reports indicating flooding and rudder post damage. A Navy official confirmed the incident, stating the tanker was damaged while operating in the 5th Fleet area of operations, but declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation.

The Big Horn, a 33-year-old Kaiser-class single-hulled oiler built by Avondale Shipyard, had been refueling and resupplying ships in the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group. The strike group arrived in the Middle East in August, joining the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group, amidst rising tensions following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas.

Subsequent strikes on Gaza by Israel, attacks on civilian shipping in the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthis, and mounting Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah have escalated regional tensions. The Navy has not confirmed whether the Big Horn will head to port under tow or on its own power but expects to assess damage in Dubai.

Military Sealift Command operates 14 Kaiser-class vessels, including the Big Horn, with at least six slated for removal in the next five years. They will be replaced by the John Lewis class, 746-foot ships capable of carrying nearly 50,000 tons of fuel and supplies ¹. The Big Horn is currently the only Navy oiler operating in the Middle East.

The USNS John Lewis was last reported in Portland, Oregon, while the Harvey Milk, also a Lewis-class tanker, is in Norfolk, Virginia. The Navy has not disclosed plans for replacing the Big Horn or contracting a civilian ship to perform replenishments for the Navy fleet in the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, Military Sealift Command faces manpower issues and plans to remove crews from ships due to a shortage of qualified mariners.