The U.S. Navy has released a detailed account of the USS Carney’s intense combat deployment in the Red Sea, where the destroyer engaged in the most significant combat operations by an American warship since World War II.

The account, titled “USS Carney: A Destroyer at War,” provides a gripping narrative of the events of October 19, 2023, when the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer intercepted 15 drones and four land-attack cruise missiles launched by Houthi rebels.

According to the Navy, the engagement was part of a broader campaign to protect maritime trade in the region amid escalating tensions following the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.

On October 19, the crew of USS Carney was conducting routine operations when they received an announcement over the intercom: “Clear the weatherdecks.” Fire Controlman (AEGIS) 2nd Class Justin Parker recounted hearing the ship’s 5-inch gun and missiles firing, realising instantly that this was no drill.

“We had never done anything like this before – we had only trained to it,” said Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Charles Currie.

This marked the beginning of a 10-hour standoff, described as the most intense combat engagement by a U.S. Navy warship in decades.

The deployment, which began weeks before the Hamas attack on Israel, rapidly shifted focus following the escalation in the Middle East. In response to Israeli operations in Gaza, Houthi rebels initiated a campaign targeting civilian ships in the Red Sea. According to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, the attacks were “a clear example of terrorism and a violation of international law.”

USS Carney’s actions in intercepting Houthi-launched missiles and drones were critical in safeguarding commercial shipping and maintaining stability in the region.

Lt. j.g. Haven Vickers, Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer aboard the destroyer, credited the crew’s success to rigorous training and strong camaraderie. “Every single training experience we did before deployment – that’s what we fell back on,” Vickers said.

The ship’s crew completed 51 combat engagements over the course of their deployment, earning them the Combat Action Ribbon, the first awarded to a Navy crew since the Gulf War.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti praised the crew’s resilience and professionalism: “It has been eye-watering to watch; you truly are America’s Warfighting Navy in action.”

For many of the Carney’s younger sailors, the deployment was a defining experience. Fire Controlman 2nd Class Kameron Miller, who had expected a routine first deployment, said the mission reaffirmed his decision to join the Navy. “It wasn’t just about traveling the world; it was about saving people’s lives and getting a job done,” he reflected.


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George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

6 COMMENTS

    • Yes they ended up doing that quite a bit as they got more comfortable with the systems I think. I believe they have a proximity airburst round for the mk 45

  1. Surely a no brainer to reintroduce the anti-air capability for the 4.5 inch guns on our ships? Being able to shoot at slow moving drones at a distance surely something you want to be able to do?
    Do these things weave around when attacking or just zoom along slowly in a straight line?

    AA

    • Several RN decisions have been so questionable that led me to think they do not model future conflicts at all or at least badly model them.

      They can weave or “zoom along” it depends on what the attacker wants. But they are slow, we are talking about 1930’s biplane speeds, so it is insane to spend a CAMM or worse an Aster/Standard missile in it.
      If a video of the Danish ship hitting a drone is correct a 76mm gun killed it with less than 5 rounds it fired towards it.

  2. USN ships don’t sail the world FFBNW which is why they can do this. How much extra money is a stock of PF ammo, and then how many Asters or CAMMs fired off would cover that cost?

  3. I feel they weren’t the only ones that came under fire but are the only ones they talk about. There was some other destroyers that came under attack has well

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