United States Pacific Fleet

The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level unit of the U.S. armed forces, under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its homeport is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii, headed by Commander Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), usually a four-star admiral. Prior to 24 October 2002, the commander was titled Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT).

A Pacific Fleet was created in 1907 when the Asiatic Squadron and the Pacific Squadron were joined. In 1910, the ships of the First Squadron, were organized back into a separate Asiatic Fleet. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence.

The fleet's modern incarnation dates from the splitting of the United States Fleet up into the Atlantic and Pacific fleets prior to World War II.

Until May of 1940, this unit was stationed on the west coast of the United States. During the summer of that year, as part of the U.S. response to Japanese expansionism, it was instructed to take an 'advanced' position at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Long term basing at Pearl was opposed by the Admiral commanding, James Richardson, so strongly that he personally protested in Washington. Political considerations were thought sufficiently important that he was relieved by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel who was in command at the time of Pearl Harbor.

Admiral Claude C. Bloch commanded the local Naval District at Pearl, as distinct from the Fleet, at the time of the Attack.

Composition of the Pacific Fleet - May 1941

At this time, the fleet consisted of 9 battleships, 3 aircraft carriers, 12 heavy cruisers, 8 light cruisers, 50 destroyers, 33 submarines, and 100 patrol bombers. This was approximately the unit's strength at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Current composition

Currently, the Pacific Fleet consists of the numbered 3rd and 7th Fleet, as well as Naval Air Force, Pacific, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific, Naval Submarine Force, Pacific, and other commands.See List of units of the United States Navy

Commanders

Early years

* Roger N. Stembel 1872 followed by various commanders
* William H. H. Southerland (1912–1913)
* Cameron McRae Winslow (13 September 1915 – 29 July 1916)
* William B. Caperton (28 July 1916 – 30 April 1919)
* Hugh Rodman (July 1919 – 1921)

1941 – present

* Admiral James Richardson (January 1940 - February 1, 1941)
* Admiral Husband E. Kimmel (1 February 1941 - 17 December 1941)
* Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz (31 December 1941 - 24 November 1945)
* Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (24 November 1945 - 1 February 1946)
* Admiral John H. Towers (1 February 1946 - 28 February 1947)
* Admiral Louis E. Denfeld (28 February 1947 - 3 December 1947)
* Admiral DeWitt C. Ramsey (12 January 1948 - 30 April 1949)
* Admiral Arthur W. Radford (30 April 1949 - 10 July 1953)
* Admiral Felix B. Stump (10 July 1953 - 14 January 1958)
* Admiral Maurice E. Curts (14 January 1958 - 1 February 1958)
* Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood (1 February 1958 - 30 August 1960)
* Admiral John H. Sides (30 August 1960 - 30 September 1963)
* Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr. (30 September 1963 - 26 June 1964)
* Admiral Thomas H. Moorer (26 June 1964 - 30 March 1965)
* Admiral Roy L. Johnson (30 March 1965 - 30 November 1967)
* Admiral John J. Hyland (30 November 1967 - 5 December 1970)
* Admiral Bernard A. Clarey (5 December 1970 - 30 September 1973)
* Admiral Maurice F. Weisner (30 September 1973 - 12 August 1976)
* Admiral Thomas B. Hayward (12 August 1976 - 9 May 1978)
* Admiral Donald C. Davis (9 May 1978 - 31 July 1981)
* Admiral James D. Watkins (31 July 1981 - 28 May 1982)
* Admiral Sylvester R. Foley (28 May 1982 - 16 September 1985)
* Admiral James A. Lyons Jr. (16 September 1985 - 30 September 1987)
* Admiral David E. Jeremiah (30 September 1987 - 15 February 1990)
* Admiral Charles R. Larson (15 February 1990 - 15 February 1991)
* Admiral Robert J. Kelly (15 February 1991 - 6 August 1994)
* Admiral Ronald J. Zlatoper (6 August 1994 - 7 November 1996)
* Admiral Archie Clemins (7 November 1996 - 8 October 1999)
* Admiral Thomas B. Fargo (8 October 1999 - 4 May 2002)
* Admiral Walter F. Doran (4 May 2002–8 July 2005)
* Admiral Gary Roughead (8 July 2005 – present)

See also

* Military History of the United States
* Asiatic Fleet
* Combined Fleet (Japan)

External links

* Official site