US destroyer left powerless for four days in South China Sea

A US Navy destroyer spent four full days without power in the South China Sea last month, after suffering a serious mechanical breakdown.

A US Navy destroyer spent four full days without power in the South China Sea last month, after suffering a serious mechanical breakdown. The incident has raised fresh questions about the strain on America’s naval fleet.

The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was carrying out routine operations in the Indo-Pacific region on July 24 when the failure occurred. US 7th Fleet spokesperson Cmdr. Matthew Comer told CNN the ship suffered what the Navy described as an engineering casualty involving its generators.

The breakdown left the nearly 10,000-tonne warship unable to manoeuvre on its own. It also knocked out several essential onboard systems, including toilets, air conditioning, galley services and drinking water.

Despite the disruption, Comer confirmed there were no injuries among the crew throughout the ordeal. He praised their response, describing it as resilient, professional and remarkably steady under difficult circumstances.

To help manage the crisis, another US warship, the USS Robert Smalls, stepped in to supply cooked meals to the stranded crew. Additional support came from vessels attached to the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which assisted throughout the four-day period.

Once power could not be restored at sea, the Benfold was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for proper repairs. The Navy confirmed that repair work wrapped up by August 8, and the destroyer has since returned to active duty.

The exact cause behind the generator failure remains under investigation. Officials haven’t yet confirmed what specifically triggered the malfunction aboard the vessel.

The incident adds to growing concern that the US Navy is being stretched thin by its expanding list of global commitments. Ongoing tensions tied to the Iran conflict, alongside broader Indo-Pacific operations, have placed additional pressure on naval resources in recent months.

This isn’t an isolated case either. Back in May, another US destroyer, the USS Higgins, also experienced a temporary loss of power and propulsion while operating in the same broader Indo-Pacific region.

With back-to-back incidents now affecting multiple vessels, questions are mounting over whether ageing systems and overstretched deployments are beginning to take a toll on naval readiness.