USS Benfold Suffers Four-Day Power Outage in South China Sea
The USS Benfold, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, experienced a four-day power outage in the South China Sea last month due to an engineering failure. This incident resulted in the loss of essential services like toilets, galley, and air conditioning…
Denver, CO, August 17, 2026 —
The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) suffered a four-day power outage last month while operating in the South China Sea. The incident, caused by an engineering failure, led to the loss of essential services for the crew, including functioning toilets, galley operations, and air conditioning.
The warship was subsequently towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines to undergo necessary repairs. Following the completion of repairs, the USS Benfold has since returned to its operational duties.
Details regarding the specific nature of the engineering failure were not immediately available. The duration of the outage and the subsequent towing operations impacted the crew for several days in a critical maritime region. The U.S. Navy has not released further information concerning the cause or the extent of the damage sustained by the USS Benfold.
The USS Benfold is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The incident highlights the challenges of maintaining complex naval systems in demanding operational environments. The vessel’s return to duty indicates that repairs were successful in restoring its operational capabilities.
Story summarized from the original created by Brad Lendon, CNN on www.denver7.com, see more information here.
