USS CARR leaves the Baltic, closer to home

By James Michael RushUSS Paul H. Carr
USS CARR Families and Friends –
This week CARR and her crew were engaged in the following activities:
Day 62 – Sunday, August 14th (Underway from Riga, Latvia)
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Riga, Latvia was yet another excellent port visit and great execution of our Theater Security Cooperation mission in the Baltic. Today we got underway in the late morning from Riga. The port is located within an outer bay, which meant we had to man up twice for sea and anchor detail – once to get underway from the pier and another in the afternoon to depart the bay. Luckily our weather was much better than when we had arrived – once back in the Baltic we turned south and headed to Poland.
While in port Riga, we welcomed several new members of Team Carr on board, these included SN James Cameron, GSEFA Christian Crigler, GSE2 Boubaker Fofana, SN Keith Green, MA1 James Lighty, SN Augustine Otwori – Welcome Aboard to them and their families!
Day 63 – Monday, August 15th (Arrive Gdynia, Poland)
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This morning FC3 Nolan Mihail read us the daily news over Carr’s announcing system. A few weeks ago someone suggested that we read the news in the morning in order to keep the crew better informed – FC3 Mihail stepped up and volunteered to become Carr’s Ron Burgandy. Each morning during cleaning stations (when all our personnel get out and clean their spaces), FC3 Mihail heads to the bridge to read the news – usually a serious topic, funny news, and sports highlights. I don’t think most of the crew knows what FC2 Mihail is referring to with his daily sign off with “This is FC3 Mihail, and your not!” For those not in the know, that is how Chevy Chase signed off from Saturday Night Live in the late 70’s.
We had the opportunity to promote ETSN Brent Hinson to Petty Officer Third Class on the Mess Decks today. He is doing a great job and is ready to take on the additional responsibility of being a Petty Officer.
This morning we reached the bay outside of Gdynia, Poland and as is normal we called the shore station to let them know where we were and verify the time to meet the tugs and pick up the pilot. We were surprised to find out that we were one hour early!!! Turns out that although Gdynia is not very far from our previous port, Poland uses Central European Summer Time. No big deal – we learned our pubs were wrong and did a racetrack to buy some time…an hour later we were ready to pull in.
The big event on the first day of our visit was participation in the Polish Armed Forces Memorial in downtown Gdynia. I had the opportunity to lay a wreath with about 35 other delegations. The civilians, military, and press were very welcoming – showing great support for the United States and our Sailors.
Day 64 – Tuesday, August 16th (In Port Gdynia, Poland)
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Several of the crew traveled out to the “White House” to participate in a community relations project. The “White House” was built fifteen years ago in Poland as a prototype to demonstrate a cheap method of home construction (post Soviet Poland was expanding and there was great demand for homes) – this method failed to take hold. The prototype is a typical wood framed house that most of us live in back in the U.S.. The majority of homes and buildings in Poland are concrete or brick – talking to locals, people build homes with an expectation that their families will still live there in 4 generations. Back to the “White House” – this building is being converted to house Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) and a troubled youth center. Our Sailors worked with local youth to landscape the outside of the building and get it ready for its future use. After the project was complete, the youths were invited back to Carr, where they were given a tour.
Day 65– Wednesday, August 17th (In Port Gdynia, Poland)
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Our Fire Controlmen worked hard during this port visit, working closely with an off-ship technician on our 20mm Close in Weapon System. FC1 Jason Piso, FC2 Adam Lemons and FC3 Nolan Mihail performed systems diagnostics to determine exactly what system faults we had and assessing what parts we needed to make repairs.
Several of our Sailors participated in a soccer match against the Polish Frigate, ORP Ko?ciuszko. I am always excited for the crew to play a foreign country in “football,” then I realize they are talking about Soccer. As always it is tough coming to Europe to play their national sport. Our team always puts on a good fight and shows their skill. Great job to IC1 Derek Hotop, SN Zachary Chambers, ET3 Corey Mink, CTT2 Joseph Seal, ENS Jonathan Smith, DCC Justin Jones, HMC David Taylor, GMSN John Hodges, CSSN Willie Martinez, BMSN Cecil Augustin, EN2 Chris Collier, LS2 Gregory Chery, and YNSN Nestor Noyolaruiz
In the evening we hosted yet another reception – number seven on this deployment. Great job to CS2 Brian Cook, CS2 Kevin Prekopa, CS3 Jonathon Brown, CSSN Aaron Kinchen, CSSN Timothy Keith, and CSSN Willie Martinez. Despite having done this repeatedly, they have maintained the highest standard of preparation and execution; devoting long hours to prepare a wide range of special dishes and decorating the port helicopter hanger. Guests complimented our crew on the preparation and execution – everyone is always thrilled that we put forth such effort to make them feel welcome. Although it seems like a small thing, we are here in the Baltic to reinforce to our allies and partners that the U.S. is dedicated to working with them – it all starts with small things like receptions to demonstrate our commitment.
As we depart Gydinia, we bid farewell to ET2 Seth Sheesley who is separating from Naval Service. Thank you for serving your country and best of luck to you and your family.
Day 66 – Thursday, August 18th (Underway from Gdynia, Poland)
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Although I mention equipment casualties each week, they are typically casualties that don’t affect our ability to get underway. This week we had a casualty with the highest impact if not fixed…a casualty to one of our gas turbine engines. Great job to GSE1 Peter Meissner who spent 2 days troubleshooting the cause of the casualty; giving up his liberty time in Poland. He demonstrated his relentless drive, determination, and technical skill as he worked through the night to troubleshoot and replace a faulty speed sensor which kept telling the engine to shut down. Thanks to his efforts, we were able to get underway on time to support Carr’s participation in an at-sea exercise with the Polish Navy.
Congrats to ET2 Michael McCullick who qualified Combat Systems Officer of the Watch – this is a significant supervisory watch station, in charge of our combat systems – including radar and weapons.
– This morning we got underway from Gdynia, Poland to conduct at-sea exercises with the Polish Navy. Polish assets included ORP Ko?ciuszko (a former U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate), ORP Kondor (a diesel submarine), SH-2G helicopter, MI-14 Anti-Submarine dipping helicopters, and an AN-28 patrol aircraft.
– The exercise began before we even secured from sea and anchor detail. The first event was a close quarters maneuvering exercise with ORP Ko?ciuszko (a former U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate). The bridge and combat information center teams did a great job receiving signals, breaking them, and then maneuvering in close quarters.
– Our focus then shifted to Air Defense exercises again a Polish aircraft. The goal was to locate this low and slow flying aircraft, make the proper reports, and coordinate internally to bring our weapons to bear on the target.
– Next, we manned flight quarters to conduct flight operations with a Polish SH-2G helicopter (same helicopter we operated with a few weeks ago). The time spent conducting flight operations a few weeks ago was clearly evident today – our team was proficient and ready to go.
– Once the helicopter pilots did a few landings and take-offs for their proficiency, we began an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise with ORP Ko?ciuszko. The goal of the exercise was to locate and simulate prosecution of the Polish Diesel Submarine ORP Kondor (S-297). This was a great opportunity to train our watchstanders in finding and tracking submarines. Despite not having the opportunity to conduct these types of exercise against real diesel submarines over the last year, our ASW team quickly quickly got into a groove, led by our ASW Officer, Ensign Brian Lance, and our Combat Information Center (CIC) Chief, OSC Christopher Van. The ASW team did a great job, thanks to OS3 Caleb Bryant, OS3 William Parker, OS2 Thomas Becker, and STG1 Christopher Wilson. Superb job detecting, tracking, and conducting simulated attacks on the submarine.
Day 67 – Friday, August 19th
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Today was day two of our exercise, which involved close maneuvering drills at 0600 – a hell of a way to start the day. Although the weather was beginning to deteriorate and the helos had to fly home, we conducted another anti-submarine exercise against the Polish submarine and our boarding team got in our small boat to board the Polish FFG. While our team was over there, they also had the opportunity to conduct training with the Poles. As weather got rougher, we waved good bye and headed Northwest to begin our transit out of the Baltic Sea. As a low pressure system moved east, we turned to the west. Through the day, the weather deteriorated with the seas and wind building. By 2200 the seas were 6-8 feet on our bow and winds were about 40kts.
Day 68 – Saturday, August 20th
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At midnight we set the modified navigation detail (lots of additional personnel helping out with navigation) as we continued to travel through the storm to pick up our pilots to escort us through the Danish Strait (pilots are required for all vessels transiting through these waters). In order to get the pilots safely on board, our bridge team of LTjg Dominic Bagley, ENS Rory McGowan, ENS Jonathan Smith, QMC Jory Mason, QM3 Andre Menice, and SN Brandon Vasser did a great job maneuvering Carr close to an island that served to shelter us a bit from the weather and provided the pilots better seas to board us. Once the pilots were onboard it was back to transiting and fighting the weather. Good job to the team stationed midships who helped the pilots get on board safely, this included LT Quinton Lease, ENS Ari Hague, LS1 Frank Caterino, LS2 Lawrence Stubblefield, LS2 David Burke, LS2 Gregory Cherry, LSSN Sean Horn, and LSSN DeWayne Gilkes.
By mid-morning the wind and seas were abating as we set sea and anchor detail, manning up all our watch stations to be prepared for any potential casualty as we began our day long transit through the narrow portions of the strait.
It was a long day, at 2100 we dropped off the pilots and secured from sea and anchor detail. Thankfully, most of us get to sleep in tomorrow morning – I think we need some rest after two days of transiting and battling the seas. As we enter the North Sea, we have now steamed over 10,000 Nm since departing Norfolk.
I just received word that we are not going to be getting mail during our next port visit – next time we will receive mail is 29 August. I am having problems uploading photos to Facebook, but will keep trying – I think it is related to us being so far North (satellite issues).
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Please join us on Facebook:
Melissa Lemons CARR Family Readiness Group http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137767426300026&ap=1;
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Until next week, stay safe Carr Family and Friends!
CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination

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