US Navy oiler Big Horn has been damaged while operating off the coast of Oman on Monday, with reports indicating that the Military Sealift Command vessel experienced flooding and rudder post damage.

A Navy spokesman acknowledged Tuesday that the tanker was damaged "while operating in the 5th Fleet area of operations" but declined to detail the extent of the damage, adding only that an inquiry into the event is underway.

"It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of damage at this time," according to the official, who expressed that all crew were safe as the situation continues to be assessed.

The event was reported by the maritime journal gCaptain after many tips and social media posts showed damage to the vessel, a Kaiser-class, single-hulled oiler. The Big Horn had been refueling and replenishing ships from the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group. The strike group landed in the Middle East in August to join the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Groupin support of the Israeli occupation.

The Navy refused to say if the Big Horn was being towed or sailing alone to port. It is likely to be inspected for damage in Dubai.

imagine your US Navy Ship is sinking and you’re taking videos for instagram😭😭😭 grab a bucket lil bro 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/bMdLNapOXc

— krus🪖 (@krus_chiki) September 24, 2024

The ship began operating in 1992. Military Sealift Command operates 14 Kaiser-class boats, including the Big Horn, at least 6 of which will be phased out of service over the next five years to be replaced by the John Lewis class of 746-foot ships capable of carrying approximately 50,000 tons of fuel and cargo.

The Big Horn is the sole US Navy oiler currently operating in the Middle East. According to MarineTraffic, an app that gives real-time and estimated positions for nautical vessels across the world, seven ships in the class are now operating in US waters, five in the Pacific region of operations, and one in Italy.

The Navy source did not indicate whether a replacement vessel will be dispatched or whether the military is considering contracting a civilian ship to resupply the Navy fleet that is presently in the Persian Gulf.

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What threats are the once-dominant US aircraft carriers facing?

US aircraft carriers have been a vital pillar of the US Navy's force for 80 years. However, their usefulness is now questioned owing to increased threats, notably from China, Russia, and the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), according to Brandon J. Weichert. The expensive cost and upkeep of aircraft carriers are also being scrutinized.

In an article on The National Interests' The Buzz blog, Weichert underlines how the main threats the carriers are facing are advancements in unmanned vehicles, "Carrier Killer" missiles, such as the DF-21D and DF-26B developed by some countries like China, hypersonic missiles, advanced surveillance and tracking, and nuclear threats. 

According to Weichert's article in The National Interest, underwater drones can be used to gather data on enemy fleets, conduct real-time meteorological inspections, and deliver explosives for targeted strikes.

The threat posed by unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) is expanding, particularly in areas such as the Red Sea, where the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) have deployed them.

Weichert believes that the biggest threat to an aircraft carrier is not its destruction, which is tough, but rather neutralizing its flight deck, which is critical for launching and retrieving jets. 

In addition, China has created a sophisticated remote-sensing satellite equipped with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. In the summer of 2021, this technology displayed its capacity to follow American aircraft carriers as they traveled.

This satellite technology might improve the DF-26B missile's targeting accuracy, allowing it to successfully attack an aircraft carrier, either by crippling its flight deck or sinking it, posing a serious strategic vulnerability for the United States.

Weichert argues that Russia is the global leader in hypersonic weapon development, with China closely following. The US lags in this technology. Hypersonic weapons, representing a major advancement in missile technology, pose a significant threat to US aircraft carriers.

Unlike conventional missiles, hypersonic weapons travel at extremely high speeds and along unpredictable paths, making it difficult to intercept them. This unpredictability and speed mean that hypersonic missiles could potentially cause catastrophic damage or sink aircraft carriers. Currently, there are no effective defenses against these weapons.

Finally, an enemy may decide to launch a nuclear attack on a carrier. While carriers are well-defended against most conventional kinds of assault, a nuclear attack on a carrier would be disastrous for both the ship and its crew.

Weichert concludes by noting that "the carrier’s days are coming to an end," emphasizing that the US should not "sacrifice these behemoths on the altar of its vanity."