Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney returned to homeport Saturday from a landmark deployment in the Middle East, where it played a key role in countering Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. During six months in the Red Sea region, the crew of the Carney was able to neutralize 65 Houthi targets, according to reports by the U.S. Navy.
Welcoming the Carney back to Norfolk, Virginia, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, in her speech, stated that the ship was involved in “51 engagements” against Houthi forces. The engagements include the destruction of 45 weapons launched by Houthis, land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and unmanned systems. Also, Carney conducted two defensive strikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen, destroying 20 targets on the ground.
The deployment of Carney was full of several firsts. One of the first Navy ships to deploy Standard Missile-3 anti-ballistic missile interceptors into combat, it successfully shot down several Iranian missiles during a large-scale ballistic missile barrage on April 14. While initial reports suggested four Iranian missiles were taken out, subsequent reports indicate that just two of the eight SM-3s fired hit their marks. The Navy has not confirmed that due to operational security.
Moreover, the Carney has been mentioned as the first warship ever to have fired the U.S. Navy Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) against a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden back in January. The SM-6 is well-known for its peculiar capabilities while defending against the incoming ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. So this engagement was fruitful.
The deployment of the Carneys came in response to an uptick in attacks by Houthi rebels on military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden, as well as Israel. These attacks intensified following the response of the Israeli Defense Forces to the Hamas surprise attack on October 7. In its engagements, Carney included the neutralization of a targeting anti-ship ballistic missile against the M/V True Confidence on March 6 and the intercept of numerous UAVs and missiles throughout its deployment.
Carney’s actions have joined the larger coalition effort to counter the Houthi threats in the region. Warships from the United States and its allies-the United Kingdom, and France, and Denmark-participated in these operations, together knocking down dozens of Houthi drones and missiles. At the center of this defensive strategy were the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and the E.U.-centric Operation Aspides.
Adm. Franchetti recognized 14 sailors for their outstanding achievements during the deployment, highlighting readiness and warfighting excellence. “As Surface Warriors, we train to this level of readiness and boldness, with a clear commitment to the warfighting excellence that you all exhibited on the world stage for everyone to see,” she said.
The USS Carney is expected to return to Mayport, its homeport, later this month. Following deployment, the crew will get well-deserved time off, while the ship goes into upkeep and maintenance after many months of intense action. This deployment underlines the vital role of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet in maintaining security and stability in the Red Sea region.