USS Benfold Suffers Four-Day Power Outage in South China Sea
The USS Benfold, a US Navy guided-missile destroyer, experienced a four-day loss of power in the South China Sea due to an engineering failure. The incident resulted in the loss of essential services like toilets, galley operations, and air conditioning…
Indianapolis, IN, August 17, 2026 —
A US Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Benfold, lost power for four days while operating in the South China Sea due to an engineering failure, the Navy confirmed. The outage disrupted essential services for the crew, including the operation of toilets, the ship’s galley, and air conditioning systems.
The incident occurred during a period when the ship was underway. Following the loss of propulsion and essential power, the USS Benfold was towed to the Philippines for necessary repairs. Specific details regarding the nature of the engineering failure were not immediately provided.
After undergoing repairs in the Philippines, the USS Benfold has since returned to its operational duties. The duration of the repairs and the total cost associated with the incident were not disclosed.
The US Navy has not released further information regarding the cause of the engineering failure or any potential impact on the ship’s readiness beyond the four-day period of lost power and subsequent repairs.
Story summarized from the original created by Brad Lendon, CNN on www.wrtv.com, see more information here.
