A serious incident occurred in the Indo-Pacific region involving the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benford. As confirmed by US Seventh Fleet spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Matthew Comer, the ship lost propulsion and was completely powered down for four days due to a technical malfunction of the generators. The incident, which took place on July 24, marked the second recorded case of such scale in the region in recent months.
Total Loss of Life Support Systems
The power system failure on the nearly 10,000-ton vessel led to a cascading shutdown of critical systems. In addition to losing maneuverability, the galley, toilets, air conditioning, and water supply ceased to function on board. Under the tropical climate conditions of the Indo-Pacific region, this created extreme conditions for the crew of more than 300 people. The Navy Command reported no casualties, noting the "resilience and professionalism" of the sailors who managed to keep the situation under control for four days.
Rescue Operation and Repair in the Philippines
To sustain the crew's life, the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls approached the USS Benford, providing the sailors with pre-prepared meals. Other ships of the USS George Washington carrier strike group also provided assistance. After stabilizing the situation, the destroyer was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs. According to the US Navy, repairs were completed on August 8, and the ship officially returned to service, ready to perform its duties.
Context: War with Iran and Fleet Strain
The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened tension in US Navy operations. The aircraft carrier USS George Washington, to whose group the USS Benford usually belongs, is currently heading to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is participating in the military campaign against Iran. Experts and Democratic lawmakers point out that the fleet is experiencing a critical shortage of resources due to global commitments and long missions. Former US Navy Captain Karl Schuster described such situations as extremely stressful, where engineers struggle with breakdowns while command is forced to balance the crew's morale with operational risks.
Contradictory Data
There are discrepancies in information regarding the current status and future deployment of the destroyer. On the one hand, the US Navy reported that the USS Benford returned to service after repairs in the Philippines. On the other hand, a Navy spokesperson did not clarify whether the ship would be sent to the Middle East with the USS George Washington strike group. However, according to USNI News, naval observers in Japan recorded the appearance of the USS Benford in waters near the country, which may indicate its return to patrolling in the Asia-Pacific region rather than an immediate transit to the Middle East.
Technical Crisis of the Arleigh Burke Class
This incident became the second recorded case of power outage on US Navy destroyers in the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. Previously, in May, a similar failure occurred on the destroyer USS Higgins. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are considered the "workhorses" of the fleet, with more than 70 such ships in service. Recurring technical failures raise questions about the reliability of the power systems of these vessels, which form the backbone of the US surface fleet.
