The Red Sea is always a business and politics hub of interest, but more recently has been far more perilous—a war zone. When missiles and drones started striking commercial and naval ships, the U.S. Navy found itself in the middle of one of the most intense naval battles of the last few decades. It provided the stage for the USS Carney, a destroyer on the brink of history.
The danger grew at a fast pace. Within a few months, over a hundred attacks had been verified in the Red Sea as well as in the surrounding waters. Ships of over sixty nations were attacked, their crew and cargoes threatened at any moment from the Gulf of Aden to the Indian Ocean. Shipping disruptions were widespread—container lanes doubled their time to travel, and the majority of the companies diverted ships around Africa’s southern tip, spending weeks traversing and costing millions of dollars in extra expenses.
This was no run-of-the-mill piracy or harassment. This was high-falutin’, high-tech warfare. Anti-ship ballistic missiles were being used to attack military and merchant ships for the first time. A majority of the drones and missiles were destroyed or malfunctioned, but some badly damaged their ships, and lives were tragically lost. Even the ships that were able to escape had to stay at sea under strained anxiety, knowing that danger was just around the corner.
When the USS Carney came in, the crew on board was expecting a routine deployment—but things changed on October 19, 2023. The destroyer lay exposed to an attack of surprise attack. “Clear the decks” was bellowed, and within minutes, the ship’s defenses went into action. For a heart-stopping ten hours, the crew jammed fifteen drones and four cruise missiles. Later, the Navy would label it the ship’s fiercest firefight in decades.
The crew camaraderie and training were the keys. Regardless of how much pressure was directed at them, they remained cool under fire, looked out for one another, and managed to deliver the goods. The deployment was accomplished before Carney had participated in more than half a century of combat operations, intercepting drones, cruise missiles, and even ballistic threats before they could reach their targets. The commanding officer praised his crew for professionalism, resilience, and trust in one another in such a crazy operation.
Carney’s task was one of an overarching global effort to protect vital shipping lanes. More than two dozen countries worked together under joint maritime task forces. U.S. destroyers, carriers, and friendly ships coordinated in tracking threats and, where necessary, attacking weapons before their launch. Dozens of missiles and drones were neutralized, with enormous effort in logistics, munitions, and coordination.
Rules of engagement evolved as the mission unfolded. They were originally directed at incoming fire, but coalition forces became more aggressive once there had been a series of blockbuster hits on merchant ships. They began to shoot at enemy launchers, depots, and other vulnerable installations in an effort to pre-empt attacks from being initiated. The enemy was compelled to become as dynamic, moving weaponry around and refuelling tactically, so naval forces had to be vigilant at all times.
Meanwhile, the Yemen war loomed on the horizon. Even as land battles faded, regional and political animosities that fueled Red Sea raids were difficult to dispel. A beacon of hope was provided by peace talks, but economic poverty and starvation lay in wait to afflict tens of millions of Yemenis.
For Carney’s sailors and marines, this was no ordinary mission. Most of them enlisted to carry out routine patrols, but found themselves in the midst of high-speed war. With each mission, they came to understand their fight was not for the ship, but for the protection of vital global commerce lanes and the safety of thousands of innocent civilian lives.
Operations of this magnitude were tiresome. Maintenance requirements, personnel fatigue, and around-the-clock operations pushed everyone on board to the limit. But when they returned home, the feeling of pride and satisfaction was evident. They had dealt with dangers the Navy had never encountered before and helped shape the future of naval operations.
The Red Sea operation proved that, after the end of the Cold War, key shipping lanes are still vulnerable and their defense requires wit, adaptability, and stamina. The team’s lesson reaffirmed that teamwork, trust, and training are as precious as the technology they have at their disposal. They will resonate for centuries in naval planning and operations.