Task Force 57
Task Force 57 (TF 57) is a US Navy task force.
It was previously active during World War II. Task Force numbers were in constant use, and there were several incarnations of TF 57 during World War II. Land based bombers of the United States Air Force's Seventh Air Force were part of TF 57 during 1943–1944. The British Pacific Fleet was allocated as TF 57 in 1945 before being redesignated Task Force 37 in May.
During the Cold War, Task Force 57 was allocated to the United States Pacific Fleet, and available for use, though it was little publicised.[1]
From 1995, it has been part of the United States Fifth Fleet. It appears to be now the Fleet's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, under the operational control of Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Fifth Fleet.
Task Force 57 has had Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft stationed at Masirah Island, Oman, and Diego Garcia.[2] Through Naval Forces Central Command's Combined Maritime Forces, Japanese, German, Australian, and New Zealand aircraft have also formed part of the task force.
According to the Task Force's official website, it normally comprises five squadrons or detachments of Lockheed P-3C Orion and EP-3 Aries II aircraft with detachments from combined maritime forces members including Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, the U.S. and U.K., as well as other naval forces and personnel from several other nations. The task force currently has over 900 personnel assigned to it, a number which includes coalition forces deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom.
The major task groups in the command are Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron detachment (Task Group 57.1), Bahrain Air Patrol Group (Task Group 57.18), and Al Udeid Air Patrol Group (Task Group 57.2).
References
- ^ Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/patreconwing1.htm