Collision: the USS Hartford
US vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz
A US Navy submarine collided with a Navy amphibious ship today in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving 15 sailors slightly injured, according to the commander of the US Fifth Fleet.
The submarine, the USS Hartford, collided with the USS New Orleans about 1 am local time in the strait, which runs between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the busiest commercial routes for oil tankers.
Oil shipments have not been disrupted by the incident.
Fifteen aboard the Hartford were injured but returned to duty, according to a news release.
Both vessels are operating on their own power.
The nuclear propulsion plant on the 362-foot-long sub was not damaged, but "New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank, which resulted in an oil spill of approximately 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel marine," the release said.
The New Orleans is capable of carrying almost 1100 troops and crew. The Hartford carries about 145 sailors.