The USS Carney, the Navy destroyer that kicked off a period of intense fighting between U.S. ships and Houthi rebels, returned to her home port of Mayport, Florida, to fanfare, celebration and accolades on Sunday.
According to the service’s top civilian leader, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the ship conducted 51 engagements against Houthi-launched weapons that included land-attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and drones. The ship also conducted two defensive strikes against Houthis in Yemen that destroyed 20 targets and an Iranian-launched, medium-range ballistic missile.
Del Toro also presented the ship with a Navy Unit Commendation for “outstanding performance in action against terrorist forces,” according to a copy of his remarks provided by the service.
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The Carny’s nearly eight-month deployment began in the Mediterranean Sea, but the warship eventually crossed through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea following a brutal Hamas surprise attack on Israeli settlements on Oct. 7.
Twelve days after that attack, on Oct. 19, the Carney shot down three land-attack cruise missiles and 15 drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen, the Pentagon revealed at the time.
On Dec. 11, Gen. Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, flew out to the Carney to present sailors aboard the ship with awards…