A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer spent four days adrift and without power in the South China Sea in July, an incident that has sharpened concerns about the strain on deployed service members.
The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer operating with the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, lost power on July 24 after what a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesperson, Cmdr. Matthew Comer, called “an engineering casualty involving its generators.” The failure left the ship’s crew of roughly 300 without functioning toilets, air conditioning, galley services, or reliable drinking water for four days, according to Comer’s statement to USNI News, an independent military publication. The cruiser USS Robert Smalls helped provide meals to the Benfold’s crew while other ships in the strike group offered additional support.
No injuries were reported among the crew, whom Comer praised for demonstrating “resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness in their response.” The destroyer was eventually towed by contractor tugboats to Subic Bay in the Philippines, arriving on July 28. Power was restored two days later, with repairs completed by August 7. The Benfold departed Subic Bay the next day with its systems functioning normally, Comer said.
The incident comes as the Navy’s operational tempo faces increased scrutiny. The George Washington Carrier Strike Group has been spotted heading toward the Middle East, where it is expected to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has been at sea for more than 260 days, including more than 150 days in a combat zone. In recent days, reports by Navy Times and Stars and Stripes detailed multiple attempts by Lincoln sailors to jump overboard after more than 200 days without a port call.
Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited the Lincoln and acknowledged the crew’s tiredness in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. He said leadership had addressed concerns about food and hot water and noted that the ship has among the lowest numbers of mental health cases in the Navy. The Navy said it has not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the Lincoln, while officials acknowledged that extended deployments place significant strain on service members and their families.
Democratic lawmakers and military families have demanded answers about low morale and mental health on extended deployments. Sen. Ruben Gallego criticized the administration’s planning for the war with Iran, saying it did not plan for the conflict or its escalation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected the reports as “completely misrepresented,” insisting that the Navy provides everything possible for its crews. The brother of a Lincoln crew member expressed a feeling of betrayal over the administration’s comments.
Separately, President Trump said on Sunday he had instructed Hegseth to “substantially reduce” annual joint military exercises with South Korea, a move that comes as the Iran war stretches the limits of U.S. aircraft carrier availability. The White House reportedly views China as a “settled force” to be deterred, though the departure of the George Washington may leave the region without a U.S. aircraft carrier for an unknown period.
The Benfold incident and the Lincoln’s prolonged deployment highlight the increasing pressure on naval forces as the U.S. balances operations in the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and elsewhere. While officials emphasize that crews are trained to handle casualties and that support systems are in place, the events have intensified debates about deployment lengths, morale, and the sustainability of current operational demands.