The USS Benfold, a guided-missile destroyer in the US Navy, recently spent four days drifting in the South China Sea without power or the ability to navigate. According to CNN, this incident, which occurred last month, left the nearly 10,000-ton warship without essentials like functioning toilets, air conditioning, and galley services. The US 7th Fleet confirmed that the ship suffered an engineering failure on July 24 while conducting routine operations.
The South China Sea is notorious for its brutal, humid heat, with temperatures in late July often climbing between 89 degrees and 98 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the outlet, the loss of power means that the 300 crew members lost access to air conditioning. Beyond the heat, the ship also lost potable water and sanitation services. Navigational capacity was lost as well.
