[REVISION HISTORY]

USS Benfold power failure in South China Sea

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2026-08-19 04:49 UTC → 2026-08-19 20:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, experienced a total power failure lasting approximately four days in the South China Sea starting on July 24. The outage, described by a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesperson as a “technical event involving its generators,” disabled essential systems including air conditioning, galley services, potable water production, and functioning toilets. During the incident, which occurred amid regional temperatures between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius, the USS Robert Smalls provided hot meals to the Benfold crew. The vessel was subsequently towed by contracted tugboats to Subic Bay in the Philippines, arriving on July 28, for emergency repairs. After receiving maintenance from Navy specialists and being provided with shore-based lodging and food, the ship restored power by July 30. Following the completion of technical work, ~~which restored power by July 30,~~ the ~~ship returned to active service and departed for routine~~ destroyer resumed normal operations on August 8, heading toward Yokosuka, Japan. The U.S. Navy reported no crew injuries and has initiated an investigation into the exact cause of the generator failure. Recent reports indicate that while the outage was not publicly disclosed for nearly a month, all engineering, combat, and crew support systems were confirmed to be functioning normally upon the ship's departure. The incident has drawn attention to broader concerns regarding the ~~quality of life and supply chains for U.S. naval personnel, particularly in light of reported hardships aboard~~ operational strain on the ~~USS Abraham Lincoln during its deployment~~ U.S. Navy as it manages multiple global commitments, including ongoing operations in the Middle East. ~~The Benfold was part of the George Washington carrier strike group during the failure. The incident also~~ This event follows a similar loss of power and propulsion experienced by the USS Higgins in the Indo-Pacific in late April.

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