America’s Navy has suffered another embarrassing setback as global commitments stretch its forces from the Iran conflict to the Indo-Pacific. USS Benfold reportedly lost power and propulsion while operating in the South China Sea, leaving sailors without normal toilets, hot meals, air conditioning and reliable potable water for four days. Another U.S. warship supplied cooked food before the nearly 10,000-ton destroyer was eventually towed to Subic Bay for repairs. The cause remains under investigation. With Washington trying to deter China while maintaining commitments elsewhere, are dangerous cracks now emerging in America’s overstretched fleet?
E-Paper
