The U.S. Navy's USS Benfold destroyer was stranded in the South China Sea for four days due to machinery failure.

【U.S. Navy's USS Benfold Destroyer Lost Power Last Month, Stuck in South China Sea for Four Days】

According to USNI News on August 14, 2026: The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) experienced a machinery failure last month, losing power and becoming stranded in the South China Sea for four days.

Matthew Comer, a lieutenant colonel and spokesperson for U.S. Seventh Fleet, confirmed to USNI News that the USS Benfold suffered a machinery accident resulting in a complete loss of electrical power across the ship.

The statement read: “On July 24, 2026, during routine operations in the Indo-Pacific region, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) reported a machinery failure involving its generators, leading to a total loss of power aboard the vessel. No crew members were injured. The crew demonstrated resilience, determination, professionalism, and exceptional composure throughout the incident response.”

Comer said that the power outage caused all onboard facilities—including the galley, restrooms, air conditioning, and potable water supply—to cease functioning. When asked how the crew managed waste disposal during the outage, he did not respond.

The Seventh Fleet stated that the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group provided support to the destroyer. The cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), part of the George H.W. Bush strike group, was tasked with resupplying meals for the USS Benfold’s crew.

The USS Benfold arrived at Subic Bay on July 28. Personnel from the Japan Regional Maintenance Center’s ship repair facility boarded the ship for repairs; the next day, crew members were relocated to off-ship contracted accommodations. Comer confirmed that power was restored to the ship on July 30.

All repair work was completed by August 7, after which the vessel was moored for refueling. The destroyer departed Subic Bay on August 8.

According to maritime observers, the USS Benfold, originally operating alongside the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, has now entered Yokosuka Port in Japan. It did not follow the remainder of the strike group through the Strait of Malacca; instead, those other vessels have proceeded toward the Middle East.

Comer confirmed that the ship is currently docked at Yokosuka Port. The U.S. Navy is currently investigating the root cause of the machinery failure.

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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873626501115977/

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