Emergency on American destroyer – chronicle of the accident on USS Benfold

The American guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold suffered a severe technical accident in the South China Sea, leaving the ship without power and water for four days. The crew was unharmed, assistance was provided by other US Navy vessels, and the destroyer was towed to Subic Bay base for repairs.

The American guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold encountered a severe technical accident while conducting combat missions in the Pacific Ocean. The incident occurred in July in the waters of the South China Sea. The malfunctioning equipment led to widespread failures in the ship's galley, restrooms, air conditioning, and drinking water supply systems. The ship was completely without power and spent four days with all life support systems shut down. The situation was exacerbated by extreme weather conditions: the average daily temperature in the region ranged from 32 to 37 degrees Celsius. The command of the US 7th Fleet assured that none of the sailors were injured. Official fleet spokesman Matthew Comer noted the exceptional endurance and professionalism of the personnel. Other ships of the American group came to the crew's aid: the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls delivered hot meals, and support was provided by vessels of the USS George Washington carrier strike group. After four days, the powerless ship was towed to the Subic Bay naval base in the Philippines. Repair work was completed on August 8, after which the destroyer returned to service. The destroyer is of the Arleigh Burke class, which forms the backbone of the US surface fleet.