Carr (FFG 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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Paul Henry Carr 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, 25 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 attacking a force of escort carriers, off Samar during the battle of Leyte Gulf, the fire of her 5-inch gun inspired every man on the ship. As the destroyer escort maneuvering 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. Know- ing the hazards involved, CARR ' s close-knit crew loaded, rammed, and fired six charges by hand, without the safety device of a gas-injection sys- tem. In attempting to fire a seventh round, however, the powder charge cooked-off before the breach 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 horri- bly wounded, to place the projectile on the loading tray of the inoperative gun. Carr perished a few minutes later he was dragged from the mount.

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m-vff USS CARR (FFG-52) is the forty-sixth ship of the FFG 7 (Oliver Hazard Perry) class. She was built by Todd Shipyards Corporation, Seattle Washington. Carr ' s mis- sion is to escort and protect convoys, underway replenish- ment groups, amphibious landing groups and carrier bat- tle groups. Carr ' s missile, gun, and anti-submarine war- fare systems, combined with her quick reaction and high speed capability, make her a valuable asset in today ' s multi -threat environment. Ship ' s Characteristics Displacement: Dimensions: Compliment: Propulsion: Maximum Speed: Armament: 4100 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 engines for maneuvering or casualty operations. 28+ Knots MK 13 MOD 4 Launcher MK 75 76MM Gun MK 15 close in Weapons System (CIWS) MK 46 ASW Torpedoes Two triple MK 32 Torpedo Tube Mounts Two SH-60 Seahawk Lamps, MK III Helicopters AN SPS-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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Why are we in the Persian Gulf? In the Persian Gulf, as in other parts of the world, the Navy is conducting operations to protect U.S. flagged merchant shipping, support U.S. Aircraft when stationed in Saudi Arabia, display naval presence and maintain area surveillance. The cease- fire between Iran and Iraq reduces the immediate threat to U.S. forces and the International shipping communi- ty. Vigilance against mine, surface, and air threats still required pending resolution of the conflict. The Gulf Co- operation Council (GCC) and Euro- pean allies are conducting similar op- erations in support of national objec- tive. Persian Gulf forces shall be pre- pared to conduct such operations as required to support U.S. National poli- cy in cooperation with allied forces. Iran and Iraq have implemented a U.N. sponsored cease-fire and held negotiations toward a formal peace. The cease-fire continues to hold as they focus on reconstruction and re- armament. Floating mines pose the primary threat to surface units operat- ing in the Gulf because they may ap- pear without warning. Covert mine- laying and acts of terrorism remain a concern. Inadvertent attack by aircraft is the greatest air threat. Finding mili- tary aircraft is a difficult task due to the heavy commercial air traffic and numerous air routes.