USS Benfold, Navy destroyer, went days without power in the South China Sea
USS Benfold Navy Destroyer Went Days Without Power in South China Sea
Wertynews.com – The USS Benfold Navy destroyer went without electrical power for four consecutive days while operating in the South China Sea, an incident that has drawn renewed scrutiny of shipboard maintenance standards and crew welfare across the U.S. Navy. The guided-missile destroyer suffered a total loss of its engineering plant last month, leaving the crew without running water, climate control, prepared meals, and sanitary facilities. A Navy 7th Fleet spokesperson confirmed the malfunction and stated that no sailors were injured. The episode surfaces against a backdrop of sustained concern over conditions aboard other deployed warships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, now nine months into a Middle East assignment.
What Happened and How the Navy Responded
Commander Matthew Comer, the fleet's public-voice officer, briefed reporters that surrounding air and surface units stood ready to defend the powerless vessel throughout the crisis. Officials told CBS News that no asset would be left exposed to strike, describing the situation as needing to avoid the ship becoming
"like a sitting duck."
The George Washington Carrier Strike Group furnished direct operational support during the outage, while the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls supplied the crew with meals. The Navy kept the episode out of public view for close to thirty days before acknowledging it; USNI News broke the story initially. A formal inquiry into the engineering failure continues, though the fault itself has been corrected.
Recovery Timeline and Return to Service
Contracted tugboats towed the disabled destroyer into Subic Bay, Philippines, where specialists from the Ship Repair Facility – Japan Regional Maintenance Center awaited its arrival on July 28. Beginning the following day, sailors received shore-based meals and were moved into contracted lodging away from the vessel. Electrical power returned to the ship on July 30.
Every necessary repair was completed by August 7. One day later, the destroyer sailed out of Subic Bay with its engineering plant, combat systems, and crew-support infrastructure all operating normally, rejoining routine 7th Fleet duties.
Broader Context: Oversight and Deployment Concerns
The Benfold incident arrives amid growing congressional interest in Navy readiness. On Sunday's appearance on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Republican Rep. Don Bacon urged Congress to exercise its oversight role, demanding that senior Navy leaders appear before the chamber. A U.S. official informed CBS News last week that the USS George Washington is en route to the Middle East to assume the Lincoln's mission. Meanwhile, several family members have voiced alarm over shipboard conditions aboard the extended-deployment vessel, fearing that punishing tempo is aggravating mental-health struggles among sailors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was the USS Benfold without power? Four consecutive days. The engineering-plant malfunction was corrected, and full electrical service was restored on July 30.
Were any sailors injured during the outage? No. Commander Matthew Comer confirmed that no crew members were hurt during the four-day blackout.
Where was the ship when the failure occurred? In the South China Sea, a region the Navy does not classify as friendly waters. Surrounding combat units remained on station to protect the vessel throughout the crisis.
When did the destroyer return to operational status? All repairs were finished by August 7, and the ship departed Subic Bay on August 8, resuming normal 7th Fleet duties.
Why did the Navy take roughly thirty days to disclose the incident? The Navy did not provide a specific explanation for the delay. USNI News broke the story before the official acknowledgment reached the public.