USS Benfold engineering casualty

[snake020]

WaPo and Guardian are reporting USS Benfold had a total loss of power for four days in late July and had to be towed to Subic.

US Navy destroyer adrift in South China Sea for four days after losing power

USS Benfold lost power after ‘engineering casualty’ leaving sailors without galley services, toilets and air conditioning

www.theguardian.com

With three GTGs and switchboards, what could have been a single point of failure causing a total casualty? Contaminated fuel?

Edit: adding the USNI article. Some of the commentary there also speculating about fuel.

https://news.usni.org/2026/08/17/uss-benfold-leaves-japan-after-returning-from-power-failure-repairs

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I thought protocol is not to post / speculate about open investigations.

 

[Mos]

A relative recommended I watch Last Ship a few weeks ago and there was an episode where something like this happened. The crew rigged large kites and used the wind to tow the ship to its destination until they could restore power.

It's a stupid show.

 

[SynixMan]

I thought protocol is not to post / speculate about open investigations.

We don’t speculate about aviation mishaps where people tend to die.

 

[snake020]

A relative recommended I watch Last Ship a few weeks ago and there was an episode where something like this happened. The crew rigged large kites and used the wind to tow the ship to its destination until they could restore power.

It's a stupid show.

No, it's true, the emergency kites are stowed in the mount 51 magazine room next to the mail buoys.

 

[Gatordev]

We don’t speculate about aviation mishaps where people tend to die.

Also because SIRs are legally protected and the intent is to not undermine that protection.

 

[taxi1]

No, it's true, the emergency kites are stowed in the mount 51 magazine room next to the mail buoys.

Don't make me use AI to generate a picture of a frigate being towed by a pod of killer whales with the towing lines in their teeth.

I would if I knew how.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

WaPo and Guardian are reporting USS Benfold had a total loss of power for four days in late July and had to be towed to Subic.

US Navy destroyer adrift in South China Sea for four days after losing power

USS Benfold lost power after ‘engineering casualty’ leaving sailors without galley services, toilets and air conditioning

www.theguardian.com

With three GTGs and switchboards, what could have been a single point of failure causing a total casualty? Contaminated fuel?

Edit: adding the USNI article. Some of the commentary there also speculating about fuel.

https://news.usni.org/2026/08/17/uss-benfold-leaves-japan-after-returning-from-power-failure-repairs

A retired GSMC or GSMCS made a comment on a mutual friends posting of this saying essential what others eluded to without him actually saying it. The comment was "look for the thing in common that their turbines need, that is probably the issue".

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Don't make me use AI to generate a picture of a frigate being towed by a pod of killer whales with the towing lines in their teeth.

I would if I knew how.

Is this close enough? The hull number was generated at random.

 

[taxi1]

Is this close enough? The hull number was generated at random.

They need Dixie cup hats

 

[Griz882]

A retired GSMC or GSMCS made a comment on a mutual friends posting of this saying essential what others eluded to without him actually saying it. The comment was "look for the thing in common that their turbines need, that is probably the issue".

Skipper probably forgot to tap on the fuel gauge - thought he had enough to make it to the next port.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

They need Dixie cup hats

I wonder if copilot could add that, probably could.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

They need Dixie cup hats

Here you go.

 

[ea6bflyr]

ChapGPT effort.

 

[Brett327]

At what point in the evolution to they become enraged and attack the rudder, disabling the ship.