US Navy destroyer adrift in South China Sea for four days after losing power
Summary
A US Navy guided-missile destroyer, USS Benfold, lost power for four days in the South China Sea in July. The ship was eventually towed to the Philippines for repairs, and the Navy reported no crew injuries. This incident adds to concerns about the strain on deployed US sailors during extended missions.Key Facts
- The USS Benfold is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer weighing 10,000 tons.
- It lost power on July 24 due to a problem with its generators called an "engineering casualty."
- The ship was adrift without power for four days until July 28, then towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines.
- Power was fully restored two days after the ship was towed.
- During the outage, the crew had no access to kitchens, toilets, or air conditioning. Another ship, USS Robert Smalls, helped provide meals.
- No crew members were injured, and the Navy praised their professionalism during the incident.
- The USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which includes USS Benfold, was heading to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.
- The Abraham Lincoln recently faced reports of crew members attempting to jump overboard due to extended deployments without port calls, raising concerns about crew morale and mental health.
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