USS Benfold Loses Power for Four Days After Generator Failure

Overview

• The Benfold experienced an engineering casualty involving its generators on July 24 that left the Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer adrift and without power for four days, disrupting galley services, toilets, air conditioning and some potable water.
• Other ships in the George Washington carrier strike group provided cooked meals and support while contracted tugboats towed Benfold to Subic Bay on July 28, power was restored July 30, and repairs finished in early August before the ship resumed 7th Fleet operations and visited Yokosuka.
• The Navy says there were no injuries and praised the crew’s response but has opened an investigation into the cause of the generator failure.
• This is the second reported multi‑hour power loss for an Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer this year after USS Higgins in May, a pattern that raises concern because more than 70 Burkes are the surface fleet’s primary combat ships.
• The episode is drawing attention from analysts, lawmakers and families who say repeated engineering failures and long deployments tied to operations in the Middle East could strain maintenance, readiness and sailor welfare.