USS Benfold Endures Four-Day Power Outage in the South China Sea

On July 24 the USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, experienced an “engineering casualty involving its generators,” causing a loss of propulsion, air-conditioning, galley services, toilets and potable water. The ship drifted for four days in the South China Sea before contracted tugboats towed it to Subic Bay, Philippines, on July 28. Crew members received food and off-ship lodging beginning July 29, and power was restored on July 30. All repairs were completed by August 8, after which the Benfold returned to duty and proceeded to Yokosuka, Japan.

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The Benfold operates with the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which is slated to relieve the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East amid ongoing U.S. operations against Iran. Navy officials have noted that the incident adds to concerns about the fleet’s workload; a similar power loss affected the destroyer USS Higgins in May within the same Pacific Command area. Analysts and Democratic lawmakers have cited these events as evidence of the Navy being stretched thin by the Iran conflict and global commitments.

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Fleet spokesman Cmdr. He confirmed that other ships in the George Washington strike group supplied meals and that the cruiser USS Robert Smalls provided additional support. The Navy emphasized that no injuries occurred and that the vessel’s systems were fully restored before it resumed operations.

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• Class: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer

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• Length: 500 feet; Displacement: nearly 10,000 tons

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• Crew: 329–359 personnel

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• Fleet Size: More than 70 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are in service, forming the workhorse of the U.S. surface fleet.

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• “The crew was provided food and contracted lodging off the ship beginning, July 29. The ship’s power was restored, July 30, and all required repairs were completed prior to Benfold berth shifting for fuel, Aug. 7,” — Navy Cmdr. Matthew Comer, from fleet spokesman

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