USS Benfold Loses Power, Crew Endures Four Days Without Basic Amenities

A US Navy destroyer carrying about 300 sailors was left without power for four days in the Pacific Ocean last month after an engineering failure. The USS Benfold reported an "engineering casualty involving its generators, causing a loss of power" on July 24, according to Navy spokesman Commander Matthew Comer.

The crew aboard the Benfold went without drinking water, meals, functioning toilets, and air conditioning during the ordeal, Comer said. He added that there were no injuries to the crew, "who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism, and unwavering steadiness in their response."

The incident was first reported by USNI News, a maritime and naval news forum. The Benfold was conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific at the time, Comer told the outlet, as quoted by both ABC Australia and Baltimore News.

Assistance and Towing to Subic Bay

Following the breakdown, the cruiser USS Robert Smalls, part of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, provided meals to the Benfold's crew, while other ships in the strike group also offered support, according to Comer's statement.

Contractor tugboats eventually towed the Benfold to Subic Bay in the Philippines, where it arrived on July 28. The crew was provided food and lodging off the ship, and power was restored on July 30. Repairs were completed on August 7, and the Benfold departed Subic Bay the next day with "all engineering, combat systems, and crew support systems functioning normally," the statement said.

Broader Context: Naval Readiness and Crew Welfare

The Benfold incident comes as the Navy faces scrutiny over the quality of life aboard its vessels. ABC Australia reported that Democratic politicians are calling for investigations into conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which has faced shortages of supplies, including food and hygiene products, and crew members have suffered from stress and poor mental health. Baltimore News added that the Lincoln has been at sea for more than 260 days, including more than 150 days in a combat zone.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited the Lincoln on Saturday and spoke with junior enlisted sailors and officers about conditions aboard the ship, according to Baltimore News. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Cooper acknowledged the toll of the deployment, writing, "The crew is tired, but they continue to fire on all cylinders." He said concerns involving food, hot water, and other conditions had been addressed by the ship's leadership, and he called the deployment "one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era."

The acting navy secretary, Hung Cao, said last week that the Lincoln would be returning home soon, as reported by ABC Australia.

George Washington Strike Group Heads to Middle East

The George Washington Carrier Strike Group, including the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, has been spotted heading toward the Middle East, where it is expected to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to both ABC Australia and Baltimore News. The departure of the George Washington could leave the Pacific without a US carrier presence for an unknown period.

This shift occurs as the Trump administration views China as "a settled force" that only needs to be deterred from dominating the US or its allies, and not as the top global adversary it was under the Biden administration, a perspective both outlets attributed to the current administration.

Perspectives

  • US Navy: The Navy attributed the incident to an engineering casualty and emphasized the crew's resilience, professionalism, and steady response. Officials, including Adm. Brad Cooper, have acknowledged the challenges of extended deployments but maintain that conditions on ships like the Lincoln are being addressed.
  • Democratic lawmakers: Some Democratic politicians are calling for investigations into conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, highlighting concerns about food shortages, hygiene product availability, and crew mental health, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • Trump administration: The administration views China as a "settled force" requiring deterrence rather than a primary adversary, which informs its naval deployment decisions, including the movement of the George Washington strike group to the Middle East.