With her battle flag hoisted, the early (laid down in 1993) Flight I Burke, USS Carney (DDG-64), returned from an epic 235-day deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Gulf, sailing into her homeport of Mayport, Florida on Sunday after a brief stop in Norfolk.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) visits Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, on May 10. Throughout the ship’s seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Carney successfully destroyed Houthi-launched weapons, including land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and unmanned systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill)
She accomplished a couple of firsts on her cruise, noted by the Navy as being the “first ship in the area to intercept land-attack cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) launched by Houthi forces toward Israel in October 2023.”
Importantly, she (and class leader Burke) were noted as being the first combat use of the SM-3, when the two tin cans fired a brace of high-flying ABMs at Iranian ballistic missiles headed to Israel on 23 April 2024, splashing at least three.
During her 7-month deployment, while operating in the Red Sea and Eastern Med, Carney:
- Had 51 engagements
- Faced Houthi missiles and drones
- Conducted two strikes in Yemen, destroying 20 targets
- Shot down one Iranian medium-range ballistic missile
231019-N-GF955-1104 RED SEA (Oct. 19, 2023) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea, Oct. 19. Carney is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Lau)
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64) defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea, Oct. 19, 2023. US Navy Photo
Not bad for a ship that was commissioned some 28 years ago and hasn’t had a major upgrade/refit to a more modern standard (i.e. SPY-6, etc).
The engagements broke a record set in 1945 off Okinawa, at least how the Navy marks it.
“I could not be more proud of what the Carney team has done since September,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti aboard Carney. “Called to action on the very first day that you entered the U.S. 5th Fleet, you conducted 51 engagements in 6 months. The last time our Navy directly engaged the enemy to the degree that you have was way back in World War II, and it was the USS Hugh Hadley (DD-774), with her engagement record of 23. You saved lives, ensured the free flow of commerce, and stood up for the rules-based international order and all the values that we hold dear. It has been eye-watering to watch, you are truly America’s Warfighting Navy in action.”
The ship earned a Navy Unit Commendation from the SECAV.
