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US Navy destroyer with 300 sailors aboard broke down for 4 days in the Pacific

A US Navy destroyer with about 300 sailors aboard suffered a major breakdown in the Pacific Ocean last month that left it without power for…

By Samantha Johnson / August 18, 2026

A US Navy destroyer with about 300 sailors aboard suffered a major breakdown in the Pacific Ocean last month that left it without power for four days, the Navy confirmed in a statement.

The USS Benfold “reported an engineering casualty involving its generators, causing a loss of power” on July 24, Navy spokesman Commander Matthew Comer said in the statement.

The breakdown meant the crew went without drinking water, meals, functioning toilets and air conditioning for days aboard the ship, Comer said.

The incident, which only became public on Friday when it was first reported by USNI News, comes as the Pentagon grapples with serious questions about the quality of life aboard naval vessels and the military’s ability to supply ships during the conflict with Iran.

Democratic lawmakers are calling for investigations into conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

Reports last week revealed that the ship, which has spent a record-setting 250 uninterrupted days at sea, has experienced shortages of supplies, including food and hygiene products, while crew members have suffered from stress and poor mental health.

Sailors and Marines line the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln as it deploys from San Diego in January 2021. Photo: The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP
Sailors and Marines line the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln as it deploys from San Diego in January 2021. Photo: The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP

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