The grounding of USNS Big Horn left the Lincoln carrier group without its assigned oiler. Half the escorts had to be sent away while the Navy arranged commercial tanker support. Nuclear propulsion did not remove the carrier's need for aviation fuel. Disabling supply ships can force a combat fleet to withdraw without defeating its warships directly.
Notable Point · 13:59-16:34
USNS Big Horn reveals the fragility of carrier logistics
The grounding of USNS Big Horn shows how losing one oiler can disrupt a carrier group and force improvised commercial support.