The USS Carney returned to its homeport of Mayport, Florida, on June 18 after a long, exhaustive seven-month deployment in support of operations in the Middle East. The vessel and its crew were welcomed back with pomp and praise for their outstanding service in one of the most concentrated naval combat operations since World War II.
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro commended the ship’s crew with a Navy Unit Commendation for its “outstanding performance in action against terrorist forces,” The USS Carney had engaged weapons launched by Houthis 51 times-land-attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and drones. It also conducted two defensive strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and destroyed 20 targets, destroying an Iranian-launched medium-range ballistic missile.
Deployment of the Carney in the Mediterranean Sea subsequently shifted to the Red Sea following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israeli settlements. On October 19, the Carney intercepted three land-attack cruise missiles and 15 drones launched by the Houthi forces in Yemen. This was the first salvo of what would eventually be a string of engagements in which the destroyer would take down 45 of the 50 various incoming threats, including supersonic missiles.
The USS Carney commander, Commander Jeremy Robertson, praised his crew’s speed into the battle mindset: “It was amazing to see how quickly they transitioned into a battle mindset. … Their responsibility and actions and follow-up became very instinctual,” he added.
In December, Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command visited the Carney to present awards to the sailors for their actions. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, then commander of the Navy’s forces in the Middle East also visited the ship, recognizing the crew with multiple awards to include the Combat Action Ribbon.
It costs a pretty penny to fire off hundreds of missiles, which is a monetary cost. But Commander Robertson did make a point to say that some jobs require the right tool. “I’m entrusted with this $2 billion asset and 300-plus lives, and so the cost-benefit analysis to me shooting a missile is absolutely in my wheelhouse, and I’ll do it all day and twice on Sunday,” he said.
The USS Carney has a storied history of combat operations, including anti-piracy missions and engagements against ISIS militants. The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art weaponry, including Harpoon Mk 141 anti-ship missiles, Vertical Launch Systems Mk 41, and a lightweight gun, Mk45 of 127mm caliber.
Israeli Deputy Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen. Amir Baram joined U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper in a visit to the Carney to express gratitude to the crew for an outstanding performance. “Each and every one of you plays a role in our joint fight against the forces of evil,” Baram said. “You have made history.”
Recent deployment underlined a very serious motto for USS Carney: “Resolute, Committed, Successful.” Well, this ship and its crew have been able to prove all three factors returning home to become combat-proven warriors.