USS Benfold lost power for four days in the South China Sea after a generator failure
The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold spent four days without power in the South China Sea after its generators failed on July 24. Per USNI News and Stars and Stripes.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) suffered an engineering casualty involving its generators during routine Indo-Pacific operations on July 24, 2026, losing all power for four days in the South China Sea. Toilets, air conditioning, galley services and potable water were affected; U.S. 7th Fleet said no sailors were injured. The cruiser USS Robert Smalls, part of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, supplied meals for the crew, and contracted tugboats towed Benfold to Subic Bay, Philippines, where repair personnel from the Ship Repair Facility - Japan Regional Maintenance Center met the ship on July 28. Power was restored July 30, and all repairs were completed by August 7. Benfold left Subic Bay August 8 for Yokosuka, Japan. The Navy is investigating the cause. Sources: USNI News, Stars and Stripes.