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US Navy destroyer with 300 sailors stranded in the Pacific for four days

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The USS Benfold destroyer lost power for four days in the Pacific due to a generator malfunction.
  • Sailors aboard experienced shortages of water, food, and functioning toilets.
  • The ship was towed to the Philippines for repairs and later resumed normal operations.

A U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Benfold, carrying approximately 300 sailors, suffered a major engineering breakdown in the Pacific Ocean last month, leaving it without power for four days. The incident occurred on July 24 when the ship reported an issue with its generators, causing a complete loss of power.

During the four-day outage, the crew endured significant hardships, including a lack of drinking water, meals, functioning toilets, and air conditioning. Navy spokesman Commander Matthew Comer acknowledged the crew's resilience and professionalism in their response to the challenging conditions.

reported an engineering casualty involving its generators, causing a loss of power.

โ€” Matthew ComerNavy spokesman commander Matthew Comer explained the cause of the USS Benfold's power loss.

The stricken destroyer required assistance from the George Washington carrier strike group, with the cruiser USS Robert Smalls providing meals. Ultimately, the USS Benfold had to be towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs. Upon arrival on July 28, the crew was provided with off-ship lodging and sustenance.

After repairs, the Benfold departed the port with all its systems functioning normally. The incident occurs amid broader concerns within the Pentagon regarding the quality of life on naval vessels and the military's logistical capabilities, particularly in the context of potential conflict with Iran. Reports have also highlighted supply shortages and crew stress on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism, and unwavering steadiness in their response

โ€” Matthew ComerNavy spokesman commander Matthew Comer described the crew's conduct during the power outage.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.