The destroyer USS Benfold suffered a generator failure while operating in the East Sea, causing many electrical systems on the ship to be paralyzed for many days.
The incident occurred on July 24, but the information was only announced by US Navy 7th Fleet spokesman Matthew Comer on August 14.
"During normal duties in the Indo-Pacific region, the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold encountered a technical accident related to the generators and resulted in a power outage. The crew was not injured and demonstrated perseverance, professionalism and steadfastness in responding to the incident," he said.
"Technical accident" is a term used to refer to problems related to machinery, equipment, ship structures or control systems, leading to the risk of or causing maritime accidents.
The location of the incident was not disclosed, but the US Naval Institute's USNI News website determined that the USS Benfold was operating in the East Sea at that time.
Lieutenant Colonel Comer added that the power outage prevented the crew from using the kitchen, toilet and air conditioning system. Drinking water sources on board are also affected. He did not reveal whether sensors and combat operations systems were disabled as a result of the incident.
The George Washington aircraft carrier strike group supported the USS Benfold during its move to port, with the cruiser USS Robert Smalls in charge of providing food for the destroyer's crew.
USS Benfold docked at Subic port in the Philippines on July 28 to begin the repair process. A day later, the crew was given accommodation on land. Power supply was restored on July 30. Repair activities were completed on August 7, before USS Benfold refueled and left Subic Bay a day later. The ship entered the military port of Yokosuka in Japan on August 13.
The incident prevented USS Benfold from continuing its journey to the Middle East with the George Washington aircraft carrier strike group.
The US Navy is investigating the cause.
USS Benfold belongs to the Flight I version of the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers, commissioned in 1996, and is one of the first US warships equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile shield. The warship cost about one billion USD to build, equivalent to more than 2 billion USD today.
The ship has a length of 154 m and a full load displacement of about 9,000 tons, and has been upgraded with radar, weapons, communications, sonar and electronic warfare systems. USS Benfold is equipped with 3 Rolls-Royce AG9130F gas turbine generators, each with a capacity of 2.5 MW, to provide power for weapon systems, radar and crew service infrastructure.
At the end of April, another US destroyer, the USS Higgins, also encountered a "technical accident" with the power distribution network while on duty in the Indo-Pacific region. The incident caused a power outage throughout the ship and caused the propulsion system to stop working, leaving the US warship paralyzed at sea for many hours.
