United States Second Fleet
| United Stated Second Fleet | |
|---|---|
| File:Fleet-2.gif 2nd Fleet Insignia | |
| Active | February, 1950 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | US Navy |
| Type | Fleet |
| Role | Direct Fleet Operations |
| Part of | Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTCOM) |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Station Norfolk, VA |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Vice Admiral Marty Chanik |
Second Fleet is one of five numbered fleets in the U.S. Navy. Second Fleet's area of responsibility includes approximately 38 million square miles of the Atlantic Ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole and from the shores of the United States to the west coast of Europe. It also operates along both coasts of South America and part of the west coast of Central America.[1]
History
The U.S. Second Fleet traces its origin to the reorganization of the Navy following World War II in December 1945 and the formation of the U.S. Eighth Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher. In January 1947, Eighth Fleet was renamed Second Task Fleet. Three years later, in February 1950, the command was redesignated U.S. Second Fleet.
In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy called on Second Fleet to establish quarantine during the Cuban Missile Crisis. For more than a month, Second Fleet units operated northeast of the island, intercepting and inspecting dozens of ships for contraband. Some twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan ordered the Second Fleet to the Caribbean again, but this time to lead the rescue of Americans on the island of Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. Leading joint forces, COMSECONDFLT became Commander, Joint Task Force 120 (CJTF 120), and commanded units from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the second fleet trained more than half of the Navy ships deployed to Southwest Asia.[2]
Current Operations
The Commander, Second Fleet (COMSECONDFLT), under the Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT), plans for, and when directed, conducts battle force operations in the Atlantic command in support of designated unified or allied commanders. The Commander, Second Fleet directs movements and exercises operational control of assigned units to carry out scheduled ocean transits and other special operations as directed by CINCLANTFLT in order to maximize fleet operational readiness to respond to contingencies in the Atlantic command area of operations. The Commander, Second Fleet also plans fleet intertype train-ing exercises and participates in joint and combined exercises as directed.
COMSECONDFLT has permanent assignment with NATO's Supreme Allied Command Atlantic's (SACLANT) chain-of-command, as the Commander Striking Fleet Atlantic(COMSTRIKFLTLANT). COMSTRIKFLTLANT commands a multinational force whose primary mission deters aggression, and protects NATO's Atlantic interests. Establishing and maintaining maritime superiority in the Atlantic, COMSTRIKFLTLANT ensures the integrity of NATO's sea-lines-of-communication. Countries contributing include: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In times of crises and during certain exercises, Second Fleet becomes the Commander, Joint Task Force (120), one of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Joint Forces Command's joint commanders in the Atlantic theater. This joint task force consists of elements of the Atlantic Fleet, U.S. Army quick reaction airborne and air assault units, U.S. Air Force aircraft and support personnel, U.S. Marine Corps amphibious forces, and at times, designated units of the U.S. Coast Guard. When activated, Joint task Force 120 is tasked to execute a variety of contingency missions throughout the Joint Forces Command's area of responsibility. Second Fleet could also be ordered under certain contingencies in the Caribbean theater of operations to control similarly constructed forces as Joint Task Force 140.
Task Force Units
| Task Force Name | Task Force Type |
|---|---|
| Battle Force | |
| Patrol Reconnaissance Force | |
| Amphibious Force | |
| Landing Force | |
| ASW Force | |
| Logistics Support Force | |
| Patrol Air Force | |
| Caribbean Contingency Force |
See also
References
- ^ "Global Security.org Second Fleet". Retrieved 2006-12-10.
- ^ "United States Second Fleet (Official Website)". Retrieved 2006-12-10.