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USS CARNEY DDG-64

Home » Ships » DDG-64

Hull Number: DDG-64

Launch Date: 07/23/1994

Commissioned Date: 04/13/1996

Call Sign: NRCS


Class: ARLEIGH BURKE

ARLEIGH BURKE Class

Namesake: ROBERT BOSTWICK CARNEY

ROBERT BOSTWICK CARNEY

Wikipedia (as of 2024)

Robert Bostwick Carney (March 26, 1895 – June 25, 1990) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander-in-chief of the NATO forces in Southern Europe (1951–1953) and then as Chief of Naval Operations (1953–1954) during the Eisenhower administration.

Born in Vallejo, California, Carney graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1916. He served in World War I, seeing combat against German U-boats.

Carney served as Flag Secretary to Admiral Louis R. de Steiguer during the mid-1920s during de Steiguer’s time in command of various battleship forces. Their relationship was not happy, mainly due to de Steiguer’s imperious manner described by Carney as “constant pressure, irascibility, criticism, and unpleasantness”.

Famously, Carney eventually marched into de Steiguer’s cabin, snapped, “Admiral, I just want to tell you I think you are a goddamn rotten son of a bitch,” and stormed out. After failing to retrieve Carney with a Marine orderly, de Steiguer visited Carney’s cabin in person, said, “Sonny, you’ve been working too hard. You and I are going ashore” after which he took Carney on an epic drinking binge. Carney ultimately concluded that his three years with de Steiguer had been a valuable experience, but not one he would have chosen to repeat.[1]

In February 1941, then Commander Carney was recalled from duty in the Pacific to assist in organizing, equipping, and training a special Surface-Air Force, having as its mission the protection of shipping against submarine and air attack. This force became fully involved in convoy escort prior to the involvement of the United States into the war. From September 13, 1941,[2] until April 1942, this force, under command of Vice Admiral Arthur L. Bristol, Jr., escorted over 2,600 ships on the ocean lanes while suffering the loss of only six ships.

From October 15, 1942, until July 1943 Carney commanded the cruiser USS Denver in the Pacific Theater. He was twice decorated for engagements in the Solomon Islands campaign, earning the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” for meritorious service as Commanding Officer of Denver while attached to a task group of Admiral William Halsey‘s Third Fleet during operations against the Japanese-held islands of Kolombangara and Shortland. Off Bougainville the night of July 26, 1943 he took advantage of poor weather to lay a large quantity of mines along sea lanes around the island, and then delivered a naval bombardment against the Japanese shore installations.

On July 29, 1943, Carney was appointed chief of staff to Halsey, and was promoted to rear admiral. At the time Halsey was Commander, South Pacific Force, a responsibility which included all ground, sea, and air forces in the South Pacific area. Carney later wrote that “Admiral Halsey unfailingly gave credit to his subordinates for successes achieved, and took all blame for failures on his own shoulders.” While in this assignment, Carney was awarded his second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to the overall strategy and in organizing the logistic support of the Allied Forces in the South Pacific, the citation stating, in part:

Displaying sound judgement and distinctive tactical ability, he conceived and correlated the many offensive operations carried out in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago areas. Through his comprehensive knowledge of logistics and his expert planning, he enabled our Forces to exert their greatest strength against the enemy and administer a series of crushing defeats on the Japanese.

When Halsey assumed command of the Third Fleet in the Central Pacific in June 1944, Carney accompanied him as Chief of Staff. Carney participated in the amphibious invasions of Palau and Lingayen, and the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf. It was during this engagement that Carney famously confronted an enraged Halsey. During Halsey’s run to the north in tracking down the Japanese carriers, he received numerous calls from Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid‘s Seventh Fleet, whose escort carriers were under attack from a Japanese battle group of battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Then, shortly after 10:00 hours, an anxious message was received from Admiral Chester Nimitz: “Where is repeat where is Task Force 34? The world wonders”.[3] The tail end of this message, The world wonders, was intended as padding designed to confuse enemy decoders, but was mistakenly left in the message when it was handed to Halsey. The inquiry appeared to be a rebuke. The fiery Halsey threw his hat on the deck of the bridge and began cursing. Finally Carney confronted him, telling Halsey “Stop it! What the hell’s the matter with you? Pull yourself together.”[4] Halsey regained his composure, and later turned the fleet south to support Seventh Fleet.

Later, Carney continued to assist Halsey as Chief of Staff during his operations in the Okinawa campaign and the carrier air raids against Japanese air fields in Vietnam and Formosa in the South China Sea. In 1945, Third Fleet was striking targets in the Japanese homeland itself, launching attacks on Tokyo, the naval base at Kure and the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō, as well as the bombardments of a number of Japanese coastal cities in preparation for an invasion of Japan which never happened.

Carney arranged with Japanese emissaries for the entry of the Third Fleet into Tokyo Bay, accepted the surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base and surrounding area from Vice Admiral Michitaro Totsuka of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and attended the ceremony for the surrender of Japan held on board Halsey’s flagship, the battleship USS Missouri.

In 1946, Carney was promoted to vice admiral and, until February 1950, served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. He then assumed command of the Second Fleet operating on the East Coast of the United States. On October 2, 1950, Carney was advanced in rank to admiral.

From 1951 to 1953, Carney served as Commander-in-Chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization‘s Allied Forces Southern Europe, where he was responsible for the fleets of five countries and the armed forces of Italy, Greece and Turkey.

On May 13, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower selected Carney as the next Chief of Naval Operations. On completion of this assignment, Carney retired from active service in the Navy.

Over the next several years, Carney’s various assignments, coupled with his personal interest in industrial participation in the defense effort, resulted in close contact with industry including the position of chairman of the board, Bath Iron Works, Corporation.

Carney died of cardiac arrest in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 1990, at the age of 95. He and his wife are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[5] USS Carney (DDG-64) and Carney Park were named in his honor.



Ship History

USS CARNEY DDG-64 Ship History

Wikipedia (as of 2024)

USS Carney (DDG-64) is the 14th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The guided-missile destroyer is the first to be named after Admiral Robert Carney, who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.

Carney was laid down in 1993 at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. She was launched in 1994 with Betty Taussig, daughter of Admiral Carney, as sponsor. She was placed in commission in 1996, and is homeported in Mayport, Florida.[4] She has a range of 5,100 miles (4,400 nautical miles), travels at a speed in excess of 30 knots, and has a crew of 329.[5] She is armed with standard missiles, Harpoon missile launchers, Tomahawk missiles, a 54 caliber lightweight gun, and torpedoes, and carries a multi-mission helicopter.[5]

Carney was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14 prior to commissioning. Carney transferred to Destroyer Squadron 24 in September 1998. Her first deployment was to the Mediterranean Sea in 1997 and 1998 as part of the USS George Washington battle group. In 1999 Carney deployed again to the Mediterranean, setting a milestone as the first United States Navy ship to operate in a bilateral United States-Japan Naval Exercise to be conducted in the Mediterranean Sea. In May 2001 Carney participated in Fleet Week in New York City.[6]

In February 2002, Carney operated as part of the USS John F. Kennedy battle group while conducting phase one of technical evaluations of Cooperative Engagement Capability systems in the waters of Puerto Rico. Phase two of these evaluations were then conducted in the Virginia Capes operating area. She deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On 10 June 2002 Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited the ship in Manama, Bahrain. In December 2003 Carney participated in a Vandel Exercise testing the capability to intercept hostile missiles with the ship’s missiles. On 13 August 2004 Carney put to sea from Naval Station Mayport in order to avoid the effects of Hurricane Charley.[7]

In March and April 2007, Carney visited St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Lucia, and Barbados to show the U.S.’s commitment to stability to its regional partners. During a visit to Barbados, Carney hosted a reception. Among the guests were Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur.[7]

In November 2007, Carney deployed with Carrier Strike Group 10, led by the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, to the Middle East, where she carried out Theater Security Operations. She completed a number of multi-national exercises with a number of Middle Eastern countries and returned to Naval Station Mayport on 4 June 2008.[7] In July 2008, Carney was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Fourth of July celebrations. On 8 September 2009 Carney arrived in New York City to participate in the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson‘s arrival.[8]

On 2 January 2010 Carney departed homeport for a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet and 6th Fleet AoR, as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group.[citation needed] In May, the Carney took a month’s sabbatical from Combined Task Force 150 and Combined Task Force 151 security operations, leaving the International Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) to participate in three separate and back-to-back multinational exercises: Arabian Shark 2010, an anti-submarine warfare exercise with Pakistan; Khunjar Haad 2010, an air defense exercise with Oman; and Eagle Salute 2010, a multi-warfare area exercise hosted by Egypt, returning to Naval Station Mayport on 31 July 2010.[8]

On 1 August 2011, Carney departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled deployment as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1). During the deployment, she disrupted four piracy attempts, boarded nine vessels, approached 28 suspected pirate vessels, and disarmed and captured 30 suspected pirates in support of Operation Ocean Shield in the Gulf of Aden.[9][10]

On 17 October 2013, Carney departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled independent deployment. On 25 May 2014, Carney returned to Naval Station Mayport after a seven-month Persian Gulf deployment in support of Maritime Intercept Operations (MIO).[11]

On 25 September 2015, Carney arrived at her new homeport of Naval Station Rota, Spain, after a 19-day transit from Naval Station Mayport. On 29 July 2016, Carney was called on to support the rescue of 97 migrants whose small inflatable watercraft was adrift in the water. The ship provided aid to the migrants until the arrival of a rescue ship, MS Aquarius.[12]

In August 2016, Carney took part in Operation Odyssey Lightning, serving as an escort ship to amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, whose aircraft carried out airstrikes on ISIS militants in Libya. Carney also fired illumination rounds from her 5-inch gun to help U.S.-backed Libyan ground forces fighting ISIS in Sirte.[13] Carney also conducted shore bombardments of ISIS targets with her 5-inch gun, firing 285 shells during the course of the deployment.[14]

In November 2016, Carney was deployed in Drapetsona port, Greece, to provide air cover for President Barack Obama’s visit to Athens.[15] In late March 2017 Carney arrived at HMNB Clyde in Scotland in preparation for NATO Exercise Joint Warrior.[16]

On 17 February 2018, Carney joined USS Ross (DDG-71) in the Black Sea near Russia for an “unspecified regional proactive presence mission”. The move followed increased tensions between Russia and the U.S. after American federal prosecutors announced indictments against 13 Russian citizens for their alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.[17]

On 27 June 2020, Carney departed Rota, Spain, for her homeport shift to Mayport, Florida.[18]

On 8 October 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response. Along with the carrier, the group includes the cruiser Normandy, and the destroyers Carney, Ramage, Roosevelt and Thomas Hudner.[19] From then until December 2023, the destroyer was at the forefront of operations to destroy Houthi drones and missiles in the Red Sea, as commercial vessels repeatedly came under attack by the Iran-allied Houthi militants in Yemen.[20]

On 19 October 2023, Carney intercepted three cruise missiles and eight drones fired by Houthi militants in Yemen.[5][21] Although the targets were uncertain, the missiles and drones were shot down because they were headed north along the Red Sea in the direction of Israel amid rising tensions in the region during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[22] It was subsequently reported that Carney actually encountered a larger and more sustained barrage than was previously known on that day, shooting down four cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of nine hours.[23]

On 3 December 2023, Carney and civilian-owned commercial ships were attacked in international waters in the southern Red Sea, with anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.[24][25] Missiles struck three commercial ships, while Carney shot down three drones in self-defense during the hours-long assault.[26] The United States Central Command said in a statement: “We … have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.”[26][27]

On 16 December 2023 while operating in the Red Sea, Carney successfully shot down a barrage of 14 unmanned aerial system (UAS) one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.[28][29] Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. 5th Fleet, subsequently visited the ship and presented combat medals to five sailors for their “exceptional performance” in the engagement.[20] Cooper also recognized the whole crew of the Carney with the Navy’s Combat Action Ribbon, which is awarded when a sailor has “rendered satisfactory performance under enemy fire while actively participating in a ground or surface combat engagement”.[20] The ribbon had only been bestowed on a Navy crew one other time since the 1991 Gulf War.[20] Carney’s commanding officer, Commander Jeremy Robertson, and another sailor received Navy Commendation Medals from Cooper, and Robertson received a Bronze Star, while three other crew members received Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.[20]

On 12 November 2009, the Missile Defense Agency announced that Carney would be upgraded during fiscal 2012 to RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) capability in order to function as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.[31]

In 2016, four destroyers patrolling with the U.S. 6th Fleet based in Naval Station Rota, Spain, including Carney received self-protection upgrades, replacing the aft Phalanx CIWS 20mm Vulcan cannon with the SeaRAM 11-cell RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher. The SeaRam uses the same sensor dome as the Phalanx. This was the first time the close-range ship defense system was paired with an Aegis ship. All four ships to receive the upgrade were either Flight I or II, meaning they originally had two Phalanx CIWS systems when launched.[32][33] SeaRAM was first introduced to the Independence-class littoral combat ship.[34]