US Navy destroyer drifted four days without power in South China Sea

Published August 18, 2026 10:50pm ET | Updated August 18, 2026 11:50pm ET



A U.S. Navy destroyer was left without power for four days in the South China Sea after suffering an engineering failure, leaving hundreds of sailors without drinking water, hot meals, working toilets, or air conditioning.

The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer carrying roughly 300 sailors, lost power July 24 while operating with the George Washington carrier strike group, according to the Navy.

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