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...