Carr (FFG 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS CARR (FFG 52) Courage, Will, Determination CARR (FFG 52) is named in honor of Gunner ' s Mate 3rd Class Paul Henry Carr, USNR (1924-1944), the heroic gun captain of the after 5-inch mount of the destroyer escort SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413) during the Battle off Samar, 24 October 1944, awarded a posthumous Silver Star for his conspicuous and gallant display of outstanding technical skill and courageous initiative. When SAMUEL B. ROBERTS engaged Japanese heavy cruisers attack- ing a force of escort carriers, off Samar during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the fire of her after 5-inch gun inspired every man on the ship. As the destroyer escort maneuvered radically and used minimal fire control equipment, Carr ' s mount fired over 300 rounds of 5-inch ammunition, scoring, at close range, a great many hits on one of the enemy heavy cruisers, knocking out an 8-inch turret, demolishing her bridge and starting fires aft. Ultimately, the damage received from Japanese shells knocked out all power, compressed air, and communications crippling the ship. Knowing the hazards involved, Carr ' s close-knit crew loaded, rammed, and fired six charges by hand, without the safety device of a gas-injection system. In attempting to fire a seventh round, however, the powder charge cooked-off before the breech was closed, wrecking the gun and killing or wounding all but three men in the gunhouse. After the order to abandon ship had been given, a petty officer entered the mount to find Carr, literally torn open from neck to thigh, holding a 54- pound projectile, trying unassisted to load and ram the only shell available. Carr begged the man to help him get off the last round, but the latter, seeing that the gun had been destroyed and its breach rendered an unrecognizable mass of steel, took the projectile from the gunner ' s hands. After helping one of the other wounded men to the main deck, the petty officer returned to find Carr again attempting, although horribly wounded, to place the projectile on the loading tray of the inoperative gun. Carr perished a few minutes later af- ter he was dragged from the mount.

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SHIP ' S CHARACTERISTICS Displacement: Dimensions: Compliment: Propulsion: Maximum Speed: Armanent: 3800 tons Length 453 ' , Beam 45 ' , Draft 24.5 ' 13 officers, 187 enlisted Main - Two LM 2500 gas turbines with 40,000 shaft HP. One shaft with controllable pitch propeller. Auxiliary - Two retractable 325 HP en- gines for maneuvering or casualty opera- tions. 28 + knots MK 13 Mod 4 launcher MK 75 76mmm gun MK 15 Close in Weapon System (CIWS) MK 46 ASW torpedoes Two triple MK 32 torpedo tube mounts Two SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS, MK 111 helicopters AN SQS-56 digital sonar MK 92 Mod 2 fire control system AN SPS-55 surface search radar AN SPS-49 air search radar

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COMMANDING OFFICER Commander Wade Cook Johnson, U.S. Navy Commander Wade Cook Johnson was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. He gradu- ated from Vanderbih University as a bio-medi- cal engineer and was commissioned through the NROTC program in 1969. After nuclear propulsion training, he re- ported to USS ROARK (FF-1053) where he served as Gunnery Assistant and Navigator. Detaching in March 1972, he was assigned to the engineering department of USS BAIN- BRIDGE (CGN-25). In April 1974, he was transferred to the staff of Naval Nuclear Power School. Subsequently, Commander Johnson served for two and one-half vears as Weapons Officer on board the USS SOIITH CAROLINA (CGN-68) and for two and one-half years as commissioning Damage Control Assistant on USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70). After attend- ing the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, Commander Johnson returned to Naval Nuclear Power School as Executive Offi- cer in February, 1983. Commander Johnson most recently served as Executive Officer on board the USS TEXAS (CGN-39), from Febru- ary, 1985, until May, 1987. Commander Johnson has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and various campaign and service awards. He is married to the former. Carol Cuafala of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. They have three children, Steven, Christine, and Meredith.