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US destroyer USS Benfold without power for four days in Pacific
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany /Conflict & Security

US destroyer USS Benfold without power for four days in Pacific

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The US destroyer USS Benfold lost power for four days in the Pacific due to a generator malfunction.
  • The outage resulted in a lack of running water, hot meals, and functioning toilets and air conditioning.
  • The ship was towed to Subic Bay, Philippines, for repairs, and the crew was housed and fed off-ship.

The U.S. destroyer USS Benfold experienced a severe technical failure, leaving it without power for four days in the Pacific Ocean. The incident, which began on July 24, stemmed from a malfunction in the ship's generators. This loss of power had significant consequences for the crew, leading to a lack of potable water, hot meals, and the failure of essential systems like toilets and air conditioning.

Despite the challenging conditions, Navy spokesperson Matthew Comer stated that the crew demonstrated "resilience, perseverance, professionalism, and unwavering calm." The crippled vessel required assistance, with the cruiser USS Robert Smalls delivering meals. Ultimately, the Benfold was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs, arriving on July 28. During this period, the crew was accommodated and supplied with food off the ship.

There was neither drinking water nor hot meals on board for several days. The toilets and air conditioning also failed.

โ€” Matthew ComerDescribing the conditions on the USS Benfold during the power outage.

The USS Benfold departed Subic Bay on August 8, with its technical, combat, and support systems reportedly functioning normally. The incident, which came to light recently after reporting by USNI News, occurs amid increased scrutiny of living conditions and supply issues aboard U.S. warships. This follows recent complaints about conditions on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, whose crew has been at sea for over eight months.

Resilience, perseverance, professionalism, and unwavering calm.

โ€” Matthew ComerPraising the crew's conduct during the difficult situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.