The U.S. Navy reported on September 24, 2024, that one of its oil tankers, the USNS Big Horn, experienced significant damage while operating in the Middle East. This incident has raised concerns about the Navy's ability to maintain its deterrence mission in the region, where tensions between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah have been escalating.
The USNS Big Horn, a Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler capable of carrying up to 180,000 barrels of fuel, encountered an unspecified emergency on September 23. The Navy has initiated an investigation into the incident, which occurred in the Arabian Sea, a part of the northern Indian Ocean bounded by India, Pakistan, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula.
While the entire crew of approximately 80 personnel is reported safe, the extent of the damage remains unclear. The vessel is currently being towed to a port for evaluation and repairs. Navy officials have ruled out a collision with another vessel but are considering various possibilities, including grounding in shallow water or a collision with an unidentified object.
This incident could potentially impact the Navy's ability to conduct sea-based refueling operations in the region. The U.S. Navy, which operates approximately 290 ships as of 2024, has maintained a significant presence in the Middle East for the past year, with an armada of vessels deployed to bolster its deterrence capabilities.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1989, has been operating in the area along with several other warships. While the Abraham Lincoln relies on nuclear propulsion and can operate for over 20 years without refueling, its fighter jets and accompanying vessels require regular fuel transfers.
The situation in the Middle East remains complex, with ongoing tensions stemming from the conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt since 2007. Hezbollah, founded in 1985 during the Lebanese Civil War, has pledged to continue attacks on Israel unless a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
"Hezbollah has pledged to continue attacking Israel unless a cease-fire is reached in Gaza"
Additionally, Yemen's Houthi movement, which emerged in the 1990s, has been disrupting commercial traffic in the Red Sea, a crucial waterway connecting to the Indian Ocean. The U.S. Navy's presence in the region aims to protect commercial shipping and defend Israel's interests.
In response to the evolving situation, the Navy deployed the USS Harry S. Truman, another Nimitz-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1998, along with three additional warships from their home port in Virginia on September 23. These vessels are expected to join the U.S. 6th Fleet, which was established in 1950 and oversees operations in European waters, including the Mediterranean Sea.
The U.S. Navy's operations in the Middle East span multiple strategic waterways, including the Gulf of Oman, which connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial passage through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes. The Navy's 5th Fleet, responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea, has been active in the region since its establishment in 1944.
As the situation continues to develop, the U.S. Navy faces the challenge of maintaining its deterrence strategy in the Middle East while addressing the logistical complications arising from the USNS Big Horn incident. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the impact of this event on the Navy's operational capabilities in this volatile region.