The Red Sea has been an important passageway for centuries, where the paths of trade and international politics cross. In recent years, though, it has become much more sinister—a body of water where the new age of warfare has erupted in the full view of the world. Drone attacks and missile firings put both military and commercial ships under threat all the time, and in the midst of this new world was the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer that would soon etch its name on the annals of naval history.
The enormity of the crisis was revealed within a matter of months. Over a hundred attacks were launched on ships sailing through the Red Sea and surrounding waters in just a few months. Shipping companies from more than sixty countries were suddenly in the crosshairs, their captains caught in the middle of what would become a wave of growing violence that swept across the Gulf of Aden and into the Indian Ocean. The world’s shipping community was in turmoil—freight prices had more than doubled, and hundreds of ships were routed around Africa, losing weeks and millions of dollars in additional fuel.
This was not piracy in the classical sense. It was something altogether more high-tech. For the first time in human history, anti-ship ballistic missiles were being launched against civilian and military ships alike. While many were shot down or failed to operate, a number still caused significant damage, and casualties were suffered. Even those who were not so affected had the constant fear of high-tech weaponry hanging over them, making every trip a nail-biting experience.
When the USS Carney arrived in the area, her crew was anticipating a pretty run-of-the-mill deployment. That fantasy was shattered on October 19, 2023. Suddenly and with no warning, the ship came under a constant barrage of drones and cruise missiles. Alarms sounded, sailors scrambled to stations, and the destroyer’s defenses illuminated the sky. Within a span of only ten hours, Carney’s crew had downed fifteen drones and four cruise missiles—a battle that the Navy subsequently classified as the most fierce combat action the ship had ever been in during the past few decades.
What made them succeed was discipline and teamwork. Even with such overwhelming pressure, the sailors remained alert, systematically defending the ship and themselves. By the time the deployment concluded, the Carney had participated in over fifty independent combat events, taking out drones, cruise missiles, and even ballistic threats before they were able to reach their targets. The commanding officer of the ship attributed the success to the professionalism of his crew and their confidence in each other when seconds counted.
The Carney’s fight was only part of a much greater international effort. Over two dozen countries supplied ships, aircraft, and surveillance assets to guard the waterways under mutual maritime task forces. American destroyers, carrier fleets, and allied warships collaborated, intercepting incoming raids and, when needed, hitting enemy launchers before they could launch. The combined effort downed hundreds of missiles and drones, though at the staggering cost in manpower, ammunition, and logistics.
As the mission developed, so did the strategy. Initially, defensive action was the focus—shooting down everything headed for ships. But after several merchant ships were struck and the attacks were the lead story, the coalition forces moved into a more active counterattack. The launch sites, storage facilities, and supply lines became targets, cutting off strikes before they occurred. But the attackers continued to evolve, relocating launchers and smuggling in replacement parts. Naval patrols regularly intercepted drone parts and missile system shipments destined for impending attacks.
No one in the area could remain oblivious to the shadow of Yemen’s protracted war. Although combat on land had eased, the tensions driving the Red Sea attacks were based on local competition and deeper regional conflicts. Hopes for a permanent peace were far from certain, and meanwhile, millions of civilians continued to suffer from hunger, poverty, and instability.
For the crew of the Carney, the deployment was much more than a notation on their career resume. They had enlisted to anticipate steady patrols and training missions, to discover themselves in the midst of a rapidly developing war. In time, however, their point of view shifted—they came to understand they weren’t merely protecting a vessel, but safeguarding the backbone of world commerce and the well-being of tens of thousands of civilian sailors.
These lengthy deployments had a price. The relentless tempo took its toll on both the crew and the ship. Maintenance needs accumulated, and seamen pressed through fatigue. But when the Carney finally returned home, she had with her not merely fatigue but pride. They had endured threats never before seen at sea and had demonstrated their strength under fire, adding a new page to naval history.
The Red Sea campaign reinforced a bitter reality: today, as well as ever, the world’s most vital sea lanes can become battlefields overnight. Securing them takes flexibility, stamina, and a strong pool of confidence among crew members. For the Carney’s crew members, these lessons were more than abstract—each day on the deck plates, they lived them. And what they learned will shape the operating model of navies in disputed waters for years to come.