USS Carney intercepts cruise missiles near Israel.

According to Military.com on October 19, 2023, the USS Carney, a United States Navy destroyer, engaged cruise missiles launched by Houthi forces in Yemen that were potentially headed for Israel. This situation unfolded in the midst of escalating tensions in the region, marked by Washington's support for Israel in its ongoing conflict against Hamas, the governing militant group in the Gaza Strip.
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The USS Carney (DDG 64) destroyer off the coast of Crete, Greece, Feb. 14, 2016. (Picture source: US DoD)

Recent days have seen multiple militant groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah and the Houthis, express their solidarity with the Palestinians and issue threats against Israel and the United States.

The USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was deployed in the northern Red Sea in response to the missile threats against Israel. In this capacity, it successfully intercepted several land attack cruise missiles and drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. It's important to note that Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder stated that the missiles were "potentially" directed towards Israel, but a full assessment was yet to confirm the precise intended targets. Additionally, it was indicated that the USS Carney itself was not believed to be the primary target of the incoming missiles.

The USS Carney, designated DDG-64, is the 14th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the US Navy. Commissioned on April 13, 1996, this vessel was constructed by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The USS Carney has a total displacement, capable of reaching around 8,900 long tons when fully loaded. It spans 505 feet in length, has a beam width of 59 feet, and a draft of 31 feet. Its propulsion system, comprising 2 shafts, enables the destroyer to attain speeds exceeding 30 knots.

Equipped with advanced sensors and processing systems, the USS Carney features the AN/SPY-1D PESA 3D and the AN/SPY-6(V)1 AESA 3D radars. In terms of armament, the destroyer is armed with a range of weaponry, including missile launchers (e.g., Mk 41 Vertical Launching System for various missiles, including anti-ship and anti-ballistic missiles), guns (5-inch Mk 45 Mod 1/2 lightweight gun, Phalanx CIWS, Mk 38 Machine Gun System), and torpedo tubes.

Throughout its service history, the USS Carney has played an active role in various deployments, exercises, and operations. Notable among these are assignments in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The ship has also engaged in humanitarian missions, such as its visit to St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados.

The USS Carney has consistently demonstrated its commitment to international security through operations against piracy and terrorist threats. During its deployment as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, it disrupted piracy attempts, boarded vessels, approached suspected pirate ships, and captured suspected pirates in support of Operation Ocean Shield.

Additionally, the USS Carney has undergone substantial upgrades, including the addition of RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) capability as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Furthermore, it has enhanced its close-range defense capabilities by replacing the aft Phalanx CIWS with the SeaRAM 11-cell RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher.