The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet has confirmed that the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold endured a four-day power loss in the South China Sea last month, forcing its crew to go without essential services such as toilets, air conditioning, hot meals, and running water.
The outage began on July 24 following what the Navy described as an "engineering casualty" in the Indo-Pacific region. The ship, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer equipped with the Aegis Combat System, anti-aircraft missiles, and anti-submarine rockets, was left incapacitated at sea.
No injuries were reported among the crew, and a 7th Fleet spokesman, Cmdr. Matthew Comer, praised the sailors' response, saying they "demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness." The crew received support from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, including meals from the cruiser USS Robert Smalls.
The USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operating in the region, was later ordered to the Central Command theater to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has faced scrutiny over poor living conditions and extended deployment.
The Benfold was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines on July 28, where repair teams from the Ship Repair Facility – Japan Regional Maintenance Center began work. The crew was provided food and off-ship lodging starting July 29. Power was restored on July 30, and all required repairs were completed by August 7, allowing the destroyer to refuel and depart on August 8 with all systems functioning normally.
Comer commended the crew and repair teams for their quick recovery, noting that "every effort was made to ensure the crew was supported on arrival in Subic Bay." The incident is under investigation, and the 7th Fleet did not explain why the information was not released earlier.
The Benfold's outage comes amid broader concerns about the state of U.S. naval forces in the region, particularly the USS Abraham Lincoln, where families have raised alarms about declining morale. Admiral Brad Cooper, the Centcom commander, visited the Lincoln and downplayed the reports, calling them "old news" and insisting that issues with food and hot water had been resolved. He acknowledged the crew is tired but said they "continue to fire on all cylinders."
The Navy's handling of the Benfold incident and the ongoing strain on its carrier groups highlight the challenges of maintaining a forward-deployed force in a contested region. As the Pentagon continues to adjust its force posture, the resilience of crews and the reliability of aging ships remain critical concerns.
