Military

DDG 64 Carney

The USS CARNEY (DDG-64) is the Navy's fourteenth Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer. Built at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, ME, she was launched to a clap of thunder and a flash of lightning. The ship was named after Admiral Robert B. Carney. The Carney was commissioned in Mayport, FL, where she is now homeported.

A newly developed ceramic membrane oil/water separator effluent polisher was installed aboard USS Carney (DDG 64) in April 1996. After seven months of successful operation, the unit was replaced with an upgraded version in November 1996. The polisher continues to operate and provide Carney with a bilgewater handling system that complies with current discharge regulations and is anticipated to meet future global regulations well into the 21st Century.

The ceramic membrane polisher is designed to remove and concentrate emulsified oils and suspended materials from the effluent of the ship's gravity oil/water separator leaving a clean water stream which can be discharged overboard. Within the polisher, three membranes connected in series are powered by a 10 hp centrifugal pump to create a recirculation loop. Bilgewater is recirculated through each membrane at a sufficiently high velocity to reduce the amount of fouling that occurs on the membrane surface. As contaminants are concentrated within the membrane loop, clean water is forced through the walls of the porous ceramic membrane. Automatic releases of concentrate to an existing storage tank are used to control the concentration of oil and particulates that build up within the membrane loop. The unit is set up to create a hydraulic volume reduction of 100 to 1; that is, for every 100 gallons of oil/water separator effluent, the unit creates one gallon of concentrated waste and 99 gallons of clean water. The polisher is designed to match the flow rate of the 10 gal/min Navy oil pollution abatement 10NP oil/water separator. It uses a programmable logic controller to accomplish this task and to monitor critical process parameters, including loop pressure and temperature, processing flow rate, and effluent pressure. The polisher aboard USS Carney has produced an average effluent concentration of less than 5 mg/L oil.

Dark blue and gold, of the shield on the Coat of Arms, are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy and recall the sea and excellence. The gold cross suggests the Navy Cross, one of the many decorations awarded to Admiral Carney for operations against enemy Japanese during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, from October 23 to 26, 1944... "(He) rendered invaluable assistance in formulating the plans for a series of combat operations in which tack forces of the third fleet engaged capital ships of the Japanese fleet, waging devastating attacks on major Japanese combatant and carrier task forces in the vicinity of Mindora, the Sulu Sea, and areas northeast of Luzon and off the central Philippines..." The helmet is symbolic of ancestral Viking and Celtic ferocity in combat. The four stars stand for the four Distinguishing Service Medals received.

The two spears on the crest form a "V" alluding to Admiral Carney's Legion of Merit with a "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device) for exceptionally meritorious conduct...in action against enemy Japanese forces... March 5-6, 1943 and the Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" for operations in the Solomon's area on the night of July 29, 1943. The three spears represent submarine, surface and air warfare. The anchor is reminiscent of Maritime tradition, United States naval strength, sea prowess and excellence of achievement.

Robert B. Carney

Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, in 1916, the future Chief of Naval Operations and son of Lieutenant Commander R.E. Carney (1868-1935) served onboard the Battleship USS NEW HAMPSHIRE. In October of that year, he joined the destroyer tender USS DIXIE until July 1917, when he transferred to the destroyer USS FANNING. Admiral Carney, then a lieutenant, was serving as Gunnery and Torpedo Officer when the FANNING sank the German U-58 on November 17, 1917.

Between the wars, he commanded several destroyers, including commissioning the destroyer USS REID. Additionally, he served as Executive Officer of a battleship and acquired staff experience in the fleet. Ashore, he served in the Navy Department in the Division of Fleet Training and in the Shore Establishment Division of the Secretary of the Navy's office.

After the onset of the Second World War, Admiral Carney, newly promoted to Captain, brought the light cruiser USS DENVER into commission and set out for the South Pacific. While participating in the Solomon Island campaign Admiral Carney was twice decorated for "exceptionally meritorious conduct...in action against enemy Japanese forces..."

On July 26, 1943, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and became Chief of Staff to Admiral William F. Hasley, Jr., Commander, South Pacific Force, which included all ground, sea, and air forces in the South Pacific area. When Admiral Halsey assumed command of the Third Fleet in the Central Pacific in June 1944, Rear Admiral Carney accompanied him as Chief of Staff. He took part in the Palau, Leyte, Lingayen, and Okinawa campaigns and in the attack on Formosa, in the China Sea; against the Japanese homeland and the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea. During this period, he earned the Navy Cross, the United States Navy's ranking decoration for ".invaluable assistance in formulating the plans for a series of combat operations in which task forces of the Third Fleet engaged capitol ships of the Japanese fleet waging devastation attacks on major Japanese combatant an carrier task forces."

Rear Admiral Carney arranged with Japanese emissaries for the entry of the Third Fleet into Tokyo Bay, accepted the surrender ceremony held in Admiral Halsey's Flagship, the battleship USS MISSOURI.

After the war, he was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1946, and until February 1950, served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations. Next he assumed command of the Second Fleet operating on the East Coast of the United States. On October 2, 1950, he was advanced in rank to Admiral and on May 13, 1953, President Eisenhower announced his selection of Admiral Carney as the next Chief of Naval Operations.

On completion of his appointment as Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Carney retired from active service. Over the next several years, Admiral Carney's various assignments, coupled with his personal interest in industrial participation in the defense effort, resulted in close contact with industry including the position of Chairman of the Board, Bath Iron Works, Corporation. The very same shipyard which built the destroyer proudly bearing his name.