남중국해에서 엔진 고장으로 4일간 정전된 미해군 구축함

[위종민]

알레이버크급 구축함 USS 벤폴드가 7월 24일 기관 고장으로 함내 모든 전력이 다운돼 식사 등을 외부 보금에 의존해야했으면, 7월 28일 예인돼 필리핀 수빅 만으로 귀항했다고 하네요. 

미 해군 구축함, 남중국해에서 나흘간 전력 없이 지내

Cristina Stassis

2026년 8월 20일 목요일

알레이 버크급 유도미사일 구축함 USS 벤폴드가 2022년 6월 24일 필리핀해에서 통상적인 항해 작전을 수행하고 있다. (Arthur Rosen/U.S. Navy)

미 해군 구축함 한 척이 지난달 남중국해에서 며칠 동안 전력을 공급받지 못하면서 승조원들이 식수와 취사 서비스, 화장실, 에어컨 없이 지내야 했다.

알레이 버크급 유도미사일 구축함 USS 벤폴드는 인도·태평양 지역에서 통상적인 작전을 수행하던 중 발전기에 “기관 사고”가 발생해 나흘간 정전이 이어졌다고 미 제7함대 대변인 매슈 코머 중령이 Military Times에 밝혔다.

코머는 사고가 정확히 어디에서 발생했는지에 대해서는 언급을 거부했지만, 여러 언론은 사고가 남중국해에서 발생했다고 보도했다.

이 함정은 조지 워싱턴 항공모함 타격단의 지원을 받았으며, 여기에는 타이콘데로가급 유도미사일 순양함 USS 로버트 스몰스가 제공한 식사도 포함됐다.

기관 사고는 7월 24일 발생했으며, 이로 인해 구축함은 계약된 예인선에 의해 견인돼 7월 28일 수리를 위해 필리핀 수빅만으로 들어갔다. 코머는 함정이 도착하자 일본 함정수리시설·지역정비센터의 분야별 전문가들이 맞이했다고 말했다.

코머는 “승조원 가운데 부상자는 없었으며, 승조원들은 대응 과정에서 회복력과 투지, 전문성, 흔들림 없는 침착함을 보여줬다”고 말했다.

필리핀에 도착한 다음 날 함정 승조원들은 식사를 제공받았고, 함정 밖의 계약 숙소에 머물렀다. 벤폴드의 전력은 7월 30일 복구됐으며, 필요한 모든 수리는 일주일여 뒤인 8월 7일 연료 보급을 위해 정박 위치를 옮기기 전에 완료됐다.

함정이 8월 8일 수빅만을 떠날 당시 모든 기관 계통과 전투 체계, 승조원 지원 체계는 정상적으로 작동하고 있었다.

코머는 “승조원들은 해상에 있는 동안 타격단 소속 함정들로부터 직접적인 지원을 받았으며, 필리핀 수빅만에 도착했을 때도 승조원들을 지원하기 위해 가능한 모든 조치가 취해졌다”고 말했다.

코머는 이번 기관 사고가 조사 중이라고 말했다.

이번 사고는 9개월째 배치 중이며 그중 일부 기간 동안 이란에 대한 미군 작전을 지원해온 USS 에이브러햄 링컨에서 낮은 사기와 정신건강 문제에 관한 보도가 나온 데 이어 발생했다.

최근 미 중부사령부 사령관 브래드 쿠퍼 제독은 Military Times가 장기 배치 중인 이 함정에서 최소 2명의 수병이 배 밖으로 뛰어내리려 했다는 사실을 확인한 뒤 니미츠급 항공모함을 방문했다.

쿠퍼는 해상 근무가 힘들 수 있다고 말했지만, 링컨함은 미 해군이 운용 중인 11척의 항공모함 가운데 정신건강 관련 사례 수가 가장 적다고 주장했다.

미 의회 의원들은 링컨함의 여건에 관한 정보를 해군에 요구하기 시작했으며, 연장된 배치 일정에 대한 구체적인 설명과 함께 기본 보급품, 식수, 배관, 정신건강, 갑판 안전, 우편과 관련된 함정의 문제에 대한 보고를 요청했다.

그러나 국방부와 백악관 지도부는 계속해서 우려를 일축해왔으며, 도널드 트럼프 대통령은 배치 기간이 “충분히 길지도 않다”고 말했다.

Cristina Stassis 소개

Cristina Stassis는 방위산업, 국가안보, 군 및 참전군인 관련 사안 등을 취재하는 기자다. 그는 앞서 2024년 Defense News에서 편집 펠로로 근무하며 Sightline Media Group 산하 뉴스룸의 속보 보도를 지원했다.

US Navy destroyer spent 4 days without power in South China Sea

US Navy destroyer spent 4 days without power in South China Sea

US Navy destroyer spent 4 days without power in South China Sea

By Cristina Stassis

 Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold conducts routine underway operations in the Philippine Sea on June 24, 2022. (Arthur Rosen/U.S. Navy)

A U.S. Navy destroyer went days in the South China Sea without power last month, leaving sailors without potable water, galley services, toilets or air conditioning.

USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, suffered an “engineering casualty” with its generators, causing a power outage for four days while conducting routine operations in the Indo-Pacific, 7th Fleet spokesperson Cmdr. Matthew Comer told Military Times.

Comer declined to comment about where exactly the incident occurred, but multiple news outlets reported it happened in the South China Sea.

The ship received support from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which included meals from Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls.

The engineering incident occurred July 24, forcing the destroyer to be towed by contracted tugboats into Subic Bay, Philippines, for repairs on July 28. The ship was met upon arrival by subject-matter experts from Ship Repair Facility-Japan Regional Maintenance Center, Comer said.

“There were no injuries to the crew, who demonstrated resilience, grit, professionalism, and unwavering steadiness in their response,” Comer said.

The day after arriving in the Philippines, the ship’s crew received food and contracted lodging off board. Benfold’s power was restored July 30, and all necessary repairs were completed prior to the ship berth shifting for fuel over a week later on Aug. 7.

All engineering, combat systems and crew support systems were functioning normally by the time the ship left Subic Bay on Aug. 8.

“The crew was directly supported by ships in the strike group while at sea and every effort was made to ensure the crew was supported on arrival in Subic Bay, Philippines,” Comer said.

The engineering mishap is under investigation, Comer said.

The incident follows reports of poor morale and mental health conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for nine months, part of which has been in support of U.S. military operations against Iran.

Recently, U.S. Central Command leader Adm. Brad Cooper visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier after Military Times learned that at least two sailors attempted to go overboard during the ship’s extended deployment.

Cooper said that service at sea can be challenging but asserted that the Lincoln has the lowest number of mental health cases among the Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers.

U.S. lawmakers have begun pressing the service for information on the Lincoln’s conditions and to elaborate on the ship’s lengthened deployment schedule, asking for reports on the ship’s problems with basic supplies, water, plumbing, mental health, deck safety and mail.

But Pentagon and White House leaders have continued to dismiss concerns, with President Donald Trump saying the deployment’s length is “not nearly long enough.”

About Cristina Stassis

Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering stories surrounding the defense industry, national security, military/veteran affairs and more. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024 where she assisted the newsroom in breaking news across Sightline Media Group.

[백선호]

96년에 취역해 30년 된 배인데 바빠서 정기 점검을 skip이라도 했던 모양이네요.

[위종민]

어떤 고장인지는 모르겠는데, 수리 인력을 현지로 보내서 어떻게 하지도 못할 정도로 큰 고장이었나 봅니다.