USS Destroyer Goes Dark for Four Days After Engineering Failure in South China Sea

WASHINGTON, Aug 18: The USS Benfold, a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was left without power for four days last month after an engineering failure disabled its generators during routine operations in the Indo-Pacific.

The incident occurred on July 24, 2026, while the destroyer was operating in the South China Sea, according to Cmdr. Matthew Comer, spokesperson for the US 7th Fleet. He said the ship suffered an engineering casualty involving its generators, resulting in a loss of power.

No crew members were injured, and Comer praised the sailors for their professionalism and response to the emergency.

The prolonged power outage affected several essential services aboard the destroyer. Sailors were reportedly left without galley services, toilets and air conditioning, while the ship's supply of potable water was also affected.

The George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which had been operating with the Benfold, provided support during the incident. The USS Robert Smalls, a cruiser assigned to the strike group, helped supply meals to the destroyer's crew.

The cause of the engineering failure remains under investigation. Authorities have not indicated how long repairs took or whether the incident affected the ship's wider operational schedule.