US Navy destroyer left without power for four days in South China Sea
WASHINGTON: The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was left without power for four days in the South China Sea last month following an engineering failure, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The USS Benfold, a guided-missile destroyer of the Arleigh Burke-class, experienced a significant engineering failure in the South China Sea on July 24, 2026. This incident caused the vessel to lose its power supply for an extended period of four days. Cmdr Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for the US 7th Fleet, confirmed that the power outage did not result in any injuries to the crew.
Despite the absence of essential services like galley services, functioning toilets, and air conditioning, the crew demonstrated remarkable resilience and professionalism. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group provided support to the Benfold during this challenging period. The USS Robert Smalls, a cruiser within the strike group, stepped in to provide meals for the crew. Currently, an investigation is underway to determine the root cause of this unfortunate incident.
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