USS Carr decommissions after 27 years

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A decommissioning ceremony for guided-missile frigate USS Carr took place Wednesday morning in Norfolk.

The ship was commissioned in July 1985 and was built in Seattle, Wash. Originally, the Carr was homeported in South Carolina, but was moved to Norfolk in 1995.

Photos: USS Carr decommissioning

The ship was named after Paul Henry Carr who was awarded the silver star after being killed in action during World War II when his gun mount exploded during an intense battle with the Japanese Navy.

With a crew of 15 officers and 170 enlisted, Carr was designed to provide protection to battle groups and anti-submarine warfare operations.

Carr's first skipper, Capt. Robert Horne took command of the ship in 1985 and was in attendance Wednesday.

"Probably about 80 percent of our junior enlisted crew had never been to sea. None of the officers had ever been to sea on a ship of this class including myself," Horne said.

Wednesday's event comes during an uncertain time for the Navy, which has announced a maintenance delay for 11 ships.