US Navy Discloses USS Benfold Spent Four Days Without Power in South China Sea After Generator Failure

The US Navy disclosed this week that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) suffered a complete generator failure and loss of power on July 24, 2026 while conducting routine operations in the South China Sea, part of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group's Indo-Pacific deployment. The outage knocked out galley services, sanitation, air conditioning and potable water production for four days; no crew were injured. Strike group cruiser USS Robert Smalls supplied meals to Benfold's crew while contractor tugboats towed the destroyer to Subic Bay, Philippines on July 28. Repairs were completed August 7, and Benfold got underway August 8 before arriving in Yokosuka, Japan on August 16. US 7th Fleet spokesperson Cmdr. Matthew Comer said the failure is under investigation and praised the crew, who 'demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness' during the incident.