Massive risk in South China Sea exposed after four-day power loss on US Navy destroyer

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer spent four days without power in the South China Sea last month after an engineering casualty involving its generators, forcing the Navy to tow the warship to the Philippines for repairs.

USS Benfold lost power July 24 and was towed on July 28 to Subic Bay in the Philippines, where power was restored two days later, according to U.S.

7th Fleet.

The ship reported an "engineering casualty involving its generators, causing a loss of power," Cmdr.

Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for U.S.

7th Fleet, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"There were no injuries to the crew, who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism and unwavering steadiness in their response." The power loss disrupted galley services, toilets, air conditioning and potable water aboard the nearly 10,000-ton warship.

CENTCOM COMMANDER TOUTS USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN MENTAL HEALTH RECORD AFTER MORE THAN 260 DAYS WITHOUT PORT CALL The guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls helped provide meals for the crew, while the strike group supported the destroyer during the casualty, 7th Fleet said.

No injuries were reported.

The Navy has not publicly detailed whether the casualty affected the Benfold's propulsion, navigation, communications, sensors, weapons systems or emergency power.

Those facts will help define the operational impact of the failure as the Navy investigates its cause.

The ship is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which was operating with the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group at the time of the power outage.

The breakdown occurred while the destroyer was in the South China Sea, a strategically vital waterway where the U.S.

Navy routinely operates with allies and partners as China presses sweeping territorial claims.