U.S. Destroyer Exposed for Power Failure in the South China Sea, Onboard Living Facilities Unable to Operate for Several Days

Reference News Network reported on August 20 According to a report by CNN on August 17, last month, a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer experienced a power failure in the sweltering weather of the South China Sea, causing the onboard bathrooms, kitchen, and air conditioning to be inoperable for up to four days. The U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet stated in a statement to CNN that the cause of the incident was an engineering failure onboard. Currently, concerns are growing regarding the burden that the Iran war and global missions are placing on the U.S. Navy, and this incident represents another setback for the Navy.

Seventh Fleet spokesperson, Navy Commander Matthew Comer, said that on July 24, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold encountered an "engineering incident involving the generator" while conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The USS Benfold is typically assigned to the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which is heading to the Middle East to relieve the overworked USS Abraham Lincoln, but the USS Benfold currently appears to remain in Asia.

Comer stated that this nearly 10,000-ton warship not only lost its ability to maneuver independently but also had its kitchen, toilets, air conditioning, and drinking water systems affected.

Comer's statement noted that the cause of the power outage is under investigation. This incident was initially reported by the U.S. Naval Institute News, and the location of the incident was in the South China Sea.

Previously, reports indicated that during operations against Iran, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had not docked in the Middle East for over 200 days, leading to low morale and concerns about the mental health of the crew, which has drawn increasing attention to the U.S. Navy.

Analysts and Democratic lawmakers have stated that the Iran war and the U.S. Navy's global missions are stretching the Navy thin.

Although Comer did not specify the exact location of the failure, weather records indicate that daytime temperatures in the South China Sea averaged between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius in late July.

The U.S. Navy stated that during the power loss of the USS Benfold, the USS Robert Smalls cruiser provided meals for the crew. Comer mentioned that other ships from the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group, stationed in Japan, also provided assistance during the four days the USS Benfold was without power, after which the ship was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs.

The Navy's statement said that the repair work was completed on August 8, and the USS Benfold has resumed duty.

The Navy did not disclose on Monday whether the USS Benfold has joined the USS Washington Carrier Strike Group in the waters near Iran.

The U.S. Naval Institute News reported that Japanese ship observers stated that the ship has arrived in Japan.

The USS Benfold incident is the second power outage incident involving a U.S. Navy destroyer within the Pacific Command's area of responsibility. This area extends from waters near the U.S. West Coast to the western border of India, and from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

A U.S. Department of Defense official stated that the USS Higgins experienced a power outage and loss of propulsion for several hours in the Indo-Pacific region in May of this year, with the Navy stating that its power system experienced an "engineering incident." (Translated by Zhao Feifei)