US Navy Ship Sunk

The USNS Patuxent, a Fleet Replentishment Oiler of the Henry J. Kaiser class, was lost at sea this morning, CNN has learned. The Patuxent carried a crew of 104, but there has been no report on the number of casulaties.

Although the Pentagon has still made no official acknowledgement of the collision at sea between the Patuxent and the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, reported to have occurred overnight and first reported by CNN, a briefing has been scheduled for one o'clock at the Washington Navy Yard, where the Navy Sealift Command is headquartered.

This is the first US Navy ship lost in an accident since the USS Scorpion, a nuclear submarine which sunk in 1968 with the loss of all 99 aboard. In 1969, the USS Frank D. Evans struck an Australian carrier and was cut in half. The bow section sank, with the loss of 74 crew.

Tragedy At Sea

The United States aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy collided with a refueling vessel at sea last night, extensively damaging both ships, CNN has learned. Sources inside the Pentagon have revealed that the smaller ship, the USNS Patuxent, was transferring jet fuel to the carrier while both ships were underway. Rougher than expected seas caused the two ships to collide, spilling thousands of gallons of fuel. Reports from fishing boats in the area indicate that the spilled fuel may have caught fire. At daybreak, the Kennedy was seen listing heavily, and the Patuxent was not visible nearby.

The US Navy has refused official comment, and possible casualties are unknown.

Acting President Raul Castro of Cuba has offered to support rescue efforts, and Cuban medical teams have been placed in a state of readiness. It is expected that this offer, like a similar offer after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, will be rejected by the United States.

Observers near the Pensacola Naval Air Station report that aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 17, which had been attached to the Kennedy and based in Virginia, were landing at Pensacola, fuelling speculation that the Kennedy may be too seriously damaged to serve as a platform for aircraft. Aircraft of the 17th Air Wing were seen leaving Virginia Beach early last evening, presumed destined for the aging carrier.

The Kennedy was scheduled to be decomissioned yesterday at Naval Station Mayport, in Duval County, Florida. The decomissioning ceremony was cancelled when reports emerged of the death of Fidel Castro, and by late afternoon, the Kennedy was underway, with plans to form a carrier battle group and air wing as the carrier entered the northern Caribbean.