SAEDNEWS: An Israeli media report described a major technical failure aboard the US destroyer USS Benfold, which left the vessel without electricity and disrupted basic systems for four days.
According to SaedNews: An Israeli Hebrew-language media outlet reported that repeated technical failures in US Navy vessels are raising concerns about operational pressure on the force.
The report said electrical system failures on the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold caused the ship to lose functionality and disrupted air conditioning, restrooms, the kitchen and drinking water supplies. Hundreds of crew members reportedly endured four days of extreme heat and difficult conditions while other vessels provided food and necessary assistance.
The incident occurred after a similar technical failure on another destroyer, increasing concerns over the burden of missions assigned to the US Navy.
According to the report, last month the USS Benfold lost power during a routine operation in the Indian and Pacific oceans after an electrical generator failure. The outage continued for four days, leaving the ship unable to move independently and affecting essential systems.
After four days, the destroyer was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs.
The Arleigh Burke-class USS Benfold weighs around 10,000 tons. Captain Matthew Comer, a spokesman for the US Seventh Fleet, described the incident as a “generator-related technical failure.” The USNI News website reported that the event took place in the South China Sea, where daytime temperatures in late July ranged from 90 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Israeli Channel 14 said the incident was not the only recent case involving the US Navy. In May, the USS Higgins destroyer also lost electrical power and propulsion capability for several hours in the Indo-Pacific region due to what the Navy called a technical failure.
Both vessels belong to the Arleigh Burke class, which forms the backbone of the US surface fleet. More than 70 ships of this class are in service, each measuring about 150 meters and carrying between 329 and 359 personnel.
The report added that the USS Benfold usually operates as part of the USS George Washington carrier strike group, which is moving toward the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has remained deployed in the region for an extended period.
