USS Carr (FFG-52)

USS "Carr" (FFG-52), an Sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Paul H. Carr (1924–1944). Carr was awarded a posthumous Silver Star for his heroism on the destroyer escort USS|Samuel B. Roberts|DE-413|2 during the Battle off Samar.

"Carr" was laid down on 26 March, 1982 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards Co., Seattle Division, Seattle, Wash.; launched on 26 February, 1983; sponsored by Mrs. Goldie Carr Bensilhe, GM3 Carr's widow; and commissioned on 27 July, 1985, Commander Robert J. Horne in command.

ervice history

Persian Gulf

"Carr's" original homeport was Charleston, SC. Her first operational deployment was to the Persian Gulf, where "Carr" was involved in Operation Earnest Will, escorting re-flagged oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. While Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14 was the senior officer present, Commander Wade C. Johnson, the captain of the "Carr", was the next senior officer in the area and was routinely assigned the duties of Convoy Commander during escort missions. During one of these escort missions, Iranian small boats approached the tankers and were engaged by "Carr" successfully using deck mounted M2 .50 caliber machine guns and the Bushmaster 25 mm "Chain Gun" on the starboard main deck.

"Bonefish" disaster

"Carr" returned to Charleston, SC in late March, 1988, and 31 days later, was ordered underway to replace another ship that had been unable to get underway. Sent to sea to conduct anti-submarine exercises with the aircraft carrier USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|2 and submarine USS|Bonefish|SS-582|2. On 24 April, 1988, "Carr" was first on the scene to conduct rescue operations when the "Bonefish" suffered a battery fire while submerged. Putting her 26' whaleboat and deploying 5 inflatable life rafts, "Carr" maneuvered to effect the rescue of 89 of the "Bonefish's" crew, using the whaleboat, life rafts, and the SH-3H Sea King helicopters from the "John F. Kennedy" and the embarked SH-60B Seahawk of Helicopter Squadron (Light) 44. Shore communications from "Carr" were established between Commander, Atlantic Fleet watch center using the Joint Operational Tactical System (JOTS) via the "opnote" capability. Crew muster lists were sent ashore as rescued crew members where identified. For her professionalism in the rescue, the "Carr" was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Exercises in the Caribbean

In October, 1988, "Carr" made a port visit to Tampa, FL at the request of the local Navy League Chapter, mooring at Harbor Island pier. Public tours were held for several days in celebration of Navy Week, honoring the Navy's Birthday. The Commissioning Commanding Officer, Captain Robert Horne, USN, was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL and was there to greet the ship.

In March, 1989, "Carr" was sent to Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training (REFTRA). While the ship conducted exercises in all departments, Mikhail Gorbachev was making a visit to Havana, Cuba. News crews from NBC, headed by Henry Champ, and ABC by Bob Zelnic, each spent a day aboard "Carr" to observe the training conducted.

In the summer of 1989, while the "Carr" was heading to the Puerto Rican Operation Area (PROA) for the Middle East Force Exercise (MEFEX), the ship's laundry washers both broke down. With the permission of the Squadron Commodore running MEFEX, the "Carr's" Seahawk helicopter flew into Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, PR, and the Supply Officer purchased a household washing machine from the Navy Exchange. The washer was unboxed on the ramp at the airfield, loaded in the helicopter and flown to the ship, where it was plumbed in to the water system and served as the crew laundry for the next several weeks.

Hurricane Hugo

On 18 September, 1989, "Carr" sailed from Charleston to be on station off the Naval Station Mayport for the week to provide a practice flight deck for the SH-60B Seahawk squadrons. That night, an officer of HSL-44 came aboard and informed the captain that the helicopters would be flying to Georgia the following day in preparation for the impending arrival of Hurricane Hugo. On the morning of the 19th, "Carr" entered Naval Station Mayport and moored, awaiting further instructions. At midnight on the 19th/20th, "Carr" got underway and headed south to the Strait of Florida to avoid the storm. Once the hurricane was safely past, the captain ordered the ship to sail towards Charleston.

Arriving off the port of Charleston, SC the morning after Hurricane Hugo made landfall there, "Carr" was the first Navy vessel to return. "Carr" remained anchored for three days, not being able to enter port, as essentially all navigation aids were moved or destroyed by the hurricane. One of the Coast Guard ships at anchor sent a small boat to the USCG Station in Charleston and transported Sonar Technician Chief Petty Officer Steven Hatherly, USN, from "Carr" as well. STGC Hatherly made his way to the Naval Station and proceeded to contact a majority of the crew's families and reported their status to the ship via Bridge-to-Bridge VHF radio that evening. From the anchorage off shore, the crew could easily see the bridge between the Isle of Palms and the mainland in the air, as well as the demolished houses along the shore line. Local television stations were returning the transmitting and the crew had little to do besides consider the condition of their families and possessions ashore.

"Carr" was ordered to proceed to Naval Station, Mayport. Arriving the next morning, the local community had staged relief supplies to be taken to Charleston. The next day, "Carr" was directed to return to her homeport. Upon arrival, there were no shore services, so the Engineering Department kept the engineering plant on line to provide power, air-conditioning, fresh water and other support services. Crew members were dispatched, during the day, to assist in the clean up of the Naval Station, the Naval Weapons Station and the local community. As time permitted, they also helped each other's families secure their belongings and clean up their homes. For this response the natural disaster, "Carr" was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Change of command and return to the Persian Gulf

In early October, the first formal ceremony of any type at the Naval Station held was the change of command for "Carr", with Commander Edward "Ned" Bagley, III, USN relieving Commander Wade C. Johnson, USN. The Change of Command was held in the morning and that afternoon, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 4 held their change of command.

On 31 October, "Carr" sailed from Charleston for her second operation deployment, assigned to the Commander, Middle East Force. En route the Persian Gulf, "Carr" made port visits to the Azores, Palma Majorca, Spain, then transited the Suez Canal. During this deployment, "Carr" spend the first half assigned to tanker escort duties in the Strait of Hormuz. The later part of the cruise was spent operating in the Northern Persian Gulf, conducting electronic surveillance and early warning duties for the units operating to the south. "Carr" left the Persian Gulf the end of March, 1990 and returned to Charleston a month later.

As of 2005, "Carr" is homeported at NS Norfolk, Virginia, and is part of Destroyer Squadron 2.

External links

* [http://www.carr.navy.mil/ USS "Carr" official website]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/07/0752.htm navsource.org: USS "Carr"]
* [http://www.navysite.de/ffg/FFG52.HTM navysite.de: USS "Carr"]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/frigates/pages/carr_ffg_52_page_1.htm MaritimeQuest USS Carr FFG-52 pages]