United States 1st Fleet
Encyclopedia
The First Fleet was a unit of the United States Navy
, in operation from as early as 1946 (but definitely active by 1948 as the First Task Fleet) to 1 February 1973 in the western Pacific Ocean as part of the Pacific Fleet
. In 1973, it was disestablished and its duties assumed by the Third Fleet
.
Vice Admiral A. E. Montgomery was named as Commander, First Task Fleet, in an air station report of July 1947, with an inspection visit by a group of senior officers. The old cruiser was sunk
as an atomic bomb test target
during First Task Fleet manoeuvers in May 1948. became the flagship
of Vice Admiral G.F. Bogan (Commander First Task Fleet) on 25 March 1949. served as flagship for Commander First Fleet early in 1949 for three weeks of amphibious operations in Alaskan waters to evaluate cold weather equipment. served as flagship for Commander, First Fleet, from January 1960-March 1963.
Some sources claim that the United States Coast Guard
is designated as the First Fleet of the Navy during wartime, but little evidence supports this claim. Such a designation is informal at best and has not taken place during the current War on Terrorism
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, in operation from as early as 1946 (but definitely active by 1948 as the First Task Fleet) to 1 February 1973 in the western Pacific Ocean as part of the Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
. In 1973, it was disestablished and its duties assumed by the Third Fleet
United States 3rd Fleet
The Third Fleet is one of seven numbered fleets in the United States Navy. Third Fleet's area of responsibility includes approximately fifty million square miles of the eastern and northern Pacific ocean areas including the Bering Sea, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and a sector of the Arctic...
.
Vice Admiral A. E. Montgomery was named as Commander, First Task Fleet, in an air station report of July 1947, with an inspection visit by a group of senior officers. The old cruiser was sunk
SINKEX
SINKEX or Sink Exercise is a US military term for the test of a weapons system usually involving a torpedo or missile attack of an unmanned target ship. The US Navy sometimes refers to this type of exercise as a HULKEX...
as an atomic bomb test target
Operation Crossroads
Operation Crossroads was a series of nuclear weapon tests conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in mid-1946. It was the first test of a nuclear weapon after the Trinity nuclear test in July 1945...
during First Task Fleet manoeuvers in May 1948. became the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Vice Admiral G.F. Bogan (Commander First Task Fleet) on 25 March 1949. served as flagship for Commander First Fleet early in 1949 for three weeks of amphibious operations in Alaskan waters to evaluate cold weather equipment. served as flagship for Commander, First Fleet, from January 1960-March 1963.
Some sources claim that the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
is designated as the First Fleet of the Navy during wartime, but little evidence supports this claim. Such a designation is informal at best and has not taken place during the current War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
Commanders
- Admiral Raymond A. SpruanceRaymond A. SpruanceRaymond Ames Spruance was a United States Navy admiral in World War II.Spruance commanded US naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles in the Pacific theater, the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea...
(August 5, 1943-November 8, 1945) - Admiral John H. TowersJohn H. TowersJohn Henry Towers was a United States Navy admiral and pioneer Naval aviator. He made important contributions to the technical and organizational development of Naval Aviation from its very beginnings, eventually serving as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics...
(November 8, 1945-January 18, 1946) - Admiral Frederick C. ShermanFrederick C. ShermanFrederick Carl Sherman was an admiral of the United States Navy during World War II.Sherman was born in Port Huron, Michigan in 1888. His grandfather, Loren Sherman, was the longtime editor and publisher of The Daily Times in Port Huron...
(January 18-September 3, 1946) - Admiral Albert E. Montgomery (September 5, 1946-August 14, 1947)
- Vice Admiral George D. MurrayGeorge D. MurrayGeorge Dominic Murray was a vice admiral of the United States Navy and early naval aviator.-Biography:Murray was born in Boston, Massachusetts, attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1910 and became a naval aviator in 1915...
(August 14, 1947-August 1948) - Vice Admiral Laurence T. DuBose (August 1948-8 January 1949)
- Vice Admiral Gerald F. BoganGerald F. BoganGerald Francis Bogan was a United States Navy Admiral.Bogan authored a confidential memorandum that was leaked by Captain John G. Crommelin during the Revolt of the Admirals in September 1949. His memo described the situation in the Navy as follows, "The morale of the Navy is lower today than at...
(8 January 1949-1 February 1950) - Vice Admiral Harold M. Martin (15 February-28 March 1951)
- Vice Admiral Arthur D. Struble (28 March 1951-24 March 1952)
- Vice Admiral Joseph J. ClarkJoseph J. ClarkAdmiral Joseph James "Jocko" Clark, USN was an admiral in the United States Navy, who commanded aircraft carriers during World War II. A native of Oklahoma, Clark was a member of the Cherokee tribe...
(March 24-May 20, 1952) - Vice Admiral Ingolf N. Kiland (May 20-July 16, 1952)
- Vice Admiral Ralph A. OfstieRalph A. OfstieRalph Andrew Ofstie was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, an escort carrier commander in World War II, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations , and Commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and his hometown was Everett, Washington.-Naval Academy and World War...
(July 16, 1952-February 23, 1953) - Vice Admiral Harold M. Martin (February 23-October 1, 1953)
- Vice Admiral William K. Phillips (October 1, 1953-August 1, 1955)
- Vice Admiral Herbert G. HopwoodHerbert G. HopwoodAdmiral Herbert Gladstone Hopwood was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1958 to 1960.-Early career:...
(August 1, 1955-June 18, 1956) - Vice Admiral Robert L. Dennison (June 18, 1956-July 23, 1958)
- Vice Admiral Ruthven F. Libby (July 23, 1958-April 30, 1960)
- Vice Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr.U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr.Ulysses Simpson Grant Sharp, Jr. was a United States Navy four star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet from 1963 to 1964; and Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command from 1964 to 1968. He was PACOM commander during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. Sharp...
(April 30-July 14, 1960) - Vice Admiral Charles L. Melson (July 14, 1960-April 12, 1962)
- Vice Admiral Frank Virden (April 12-May 5, 1962)
- Vice Admiral Robert T. Keith (5 May 1962-11 December 1963)
- Vice Admiral Paul D. StroopPaul D. StroopVice Admiral Paul D. Stroop was an officer of the United States Navy and a Naval Aviator. He held numerous high-ranking staff positions in aviation from the 1930s onward, including World War II service on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, he held...
(May 5, 1962-January 25, 1964) - Vice Admiral Ephraim P. HolmesEphraim P. HolmesEphraim Paul Holmes was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the U.S...
(January 25-July 18, 1964) - Vice Admiral Lawson P. RamageLawson P. RamageLawson Paterson "Red" Ramage was a vice admiral in the United States Navy and a noted submarine commander. During his career, Ramage was decorated with the Medal of Honor, two Navy Crosses, two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.-Early life and career:Taking his...
(July 18, 1964-July 29, 1966) - Vice Admiral Bernard F. Roeder (July 29, 1966-September 30, 1969)
- Vice Admiral Issac C. Kidd, Jr. (September 30, 1969-August 1, 1970)
- Vice Admiral Raymond E. Peet (August 1, 1970-May 15, 1972)
- Vice Admiral Nels B. Johnson (May 15-July 17, 1972)
- Vice Admiral James F. Calvert (July 17, 1972–January 30, 1973)
Sources and references
- http://www.kadiak.org/navy/1947apr_jun.txt
- http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/AV/av13-history.html (USS Salisbury Sound)
- http://members.tripod.com/~USS_Helena_CA75/helena1.html (USS Helena)
- http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/hm-martn.htm (Naval Historical Center)