Carr (FFG 52) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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Schedule of Events 30 Oct 89 01 Nov 89 07-09 Nov 89 12 Nov 89 13-20 Nov 89 25 Nov 89 30 Nov 89 05 Dec 89 07 Dec 89 08 Dec 89 09 Dec 89 10 Dec 89 11 Dec 89 13 Dec 89 14 Dec 89 16 Dec 89 17 Dec 89 19-21 Dec 89 23-26 Dec 89 29 Dec 89 31 Dec 89 03 Jan 90 05 Jan 90 06 Jan 90 08 Jan 90 09 Jan 90 11-15 Jan 90 16-18 Jan 90 18-20 Jan 90 Depart Homeport Charleston, SC. Search and Rescue Mission for missing sailors off of the USS EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Port visit Ponta Delgada, Azores. Transit the Straits of Gibraltar. Inchop 6th Fleet. Port visit Palma De Mallorca, Spain. Safety stand down. Arrive Port Said. Transit Suez Canal. Inchop Comideastfor. Port visit Djibouti. Turnover with USS JACK WILLIAMS (FFG-24). Escort MS RANGER, MS LAWRENCE, H. GIANELLA. Escort SS OCEAN CHALLENGER. Brief stop for fuel, Fujairah Escort SEA ISLE CITY. Escort MV RANGER. Brief stop for fuel. Escort MS SEA CHALLENGER. Escort DR OCEAN CLIPPER, OMI CHAMPION. Crossdeck training with HMS COVENTRY. Inport Mina Sulman, Bahrain Port visit Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Escort TT BROOKLYN. Escort MV RANGER. Escort MV SEA ISLE CITY. Escort LA SALLE (AGF-3). Brief stop for fuel. Escort MV PATRIOT. Escort SEA ISLE CITY. Inport Mina Sulman, Bahrain. PG Patrol. Anchorage Sitra, Bahrain. 21-22 Jan 90 23-02 Feb 90 29 Jan 90 31 Jan 90 03-04 Feb 90 05-08 Feb 90 09-15 Feb 90 12 Feb 90 14 Feb 90 16-22 Feb 90 21 Feb 90 23-05 Mar 90 24 Feb 90 27 Feb 90 01 Mar 90 07-11 Mar 90 12-14 Mar 90 13 Mar 90 14 Mar 90 15-18 Mar 90 18-22 Mar 90 22-23 Mar 90 25 Mar 90 29 Mar 90 21 Mar 90 05 Apr 90 11-17 Apr 90 19 Apr 90 20 Apr 90 25-26 Apr 90 30 Apr 90 Inport Mina Sulman, Bahrain. PG Patrol. Escort MV COURIER. Brief stop for fuel. Anchorage Sitra, Bahrain. Inport Mina Sulman, Bahrain PG Patrol Escort SS OCEAN CHALLENGER Emergency Medivac of a Greek Sailor from the Greek Tanker FILIKOS. Inport Mina Sulman, Bahrain Surf City Explodes PG Patrol Escort SEA ISLE CITY Escort SEA ISLE CITY Escort CHESAPEAKE CITY. Brief stop for fuel. Inport Mina Sulman, Bahrain PG Patrol Escort BRIDGETON. Escort SS OCEAN CHALLENGER Anchorage Sitra, Bahrain PG Patrol Inport Mina Sulman for the very last time! Turnover with USS NICHOLSON Freedom of Navigation Operation Brief stop for fuel, Djibouti Transit Suez Canal. Inchop 6th Fleet Port Visit Malaga, Spain Brief stop for fuel, Ponta Delgada, Azores. Refuel at sea with USS MONONGAHELA (AO-178). Port visit Bermuda. Pick up Tiger cruise personnel. Return to Homeport. Charleston, S.C.