When Cmdr. Jeremy Robertson and his crew departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on September 27 aboard the USS Carney, they had little idea what lay ahead. But Robertson says his team was prepared for anything it would encounter fact that Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen soon learned.
Over the following months, the Carney’s crew was under constant attack as the Houthis began launching missiles and drones at nearly everything that moved through the crowded waters of the Red Sea. Robertson recalled the intensity of the engagement: “From start to finish, it’s anywhere from nine to 20 seconds,” he disclosed while setting out how rapid and fluid these threats are. These swift responses were buoyed by the confidence that the crew had in their tactical action officers, watch team, and systems onboard.
The destroyer first joined the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group in the European theater for a scheduled deployment. But on Oct. 18, it was turned around for the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in the Middle East. A day later, Carney became the first confirmed U.S. warship to intercept a wave of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea, a tussle that would come to define its mission for months.
“None of us could have prepared for this,” said Robertson, looking back on the crew’s ironclad determination. The Carney has remained to neutralize the Houthi threats against military and commercial vessels with other Navy destroyers. Also, on April 14, Carney played an important role in foiling an Iranian missile and drone attack against Israel.
He further praised the transition of his crew into a battle frame of mind in record time, instinctively falling back upon pre-planned responses. He was proud of the “relentless pursuit of excellence,” by his men, which became a hallmark of their warfighting skills. The historic deployment of the Carney saw 51 engagements in six months, a real test of the strength and solidarity of the crew.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti highlighted 14 sailors for their achievements at sea during a stop in Norfolk, Virginia. The entire crew received Combat Action Ribbons for their actions last December, where they intercepted 14 Houthi air drones. Upon returning to Mayport, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro awarded the Carney the Navy Unit Commendation, citing their “outstanding heroism” in action.
“Carney was deployed forward, deterring our adversaries, protecting our national interests, defending the rules-based international order, and promoting peace,” Del Toro added, paying a compliment to the service of the sailors. It was not just the proof of their training and readiness but a very important mission for regional stability.