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Fleet Week is aUnited States Navy,United States Marine Corps, andUnited States Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operationsdock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, thecrews can enter the city and visit its tourist attractions. At certain hours, the public can take a guided tour of the ships. Often, Fleet Week is accompanied by militarydemonstrations andair shows such as those provided by theBlue Angels.
The first Fleet Week was celebrated inSan Diego,California, during the 1935California Pacific International Exposition.[2] The years betweenWorld War I andWorld War II saw an increasing military build-up in bothJapan andGermany, while thecommunistSoviet Union (USSR) was given over to the wave ofStalinistnationalism. Most United States citizens experienced little sense of urgency about foreign developments because ofisolationism and concerns with the ongoingeconomicGreat Depression. However, then-U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, a formerAssistant Secretary of the Navy, was intent on expanding the U.S. Navy in response to world political trends. A majoraircraft company was moving toLindbergh Field, (today more commonly known asSan Diego International Airport). In this atmosphere, Fleet Week was born.
At 11 a.m. on May 29, 1935, acolor guard of the U.S. Marine Corps led aparade acrossCabrillo Bridge to Plaza del Pacifico, where theU.S. flag was raised to open the Exposition officially. At 8 p.m., Roosevelt spoke by telephone and designated two selectedorphans to press the buttons turning on the lights which bathed the grounds in color. In his remarks, heard over theloudspeaker system, Roosevelt said: "The decision of the people of San Diego thus to dedicate the California Pacific International Exposition is, I believe, worthy of the courage and confidence with which our people now look to the future. No one can deny that we have passed through troubled years. No one can fail to feel the inspiration of your high purpose. I wish you great success."
During Fleet Week in June 1935, 114warships and 400military planes arrived under command of U.S. NavyAdmiralJoseph M. Reeves,Commander-in-Chief of theU.S. Fleet. It was described as the mightiest fleet ever assembled under the U.S. flag. It included forty-eightbattleships,cruisers andaircraft carriers, with more than 3,000commissioned officers and 55,000enlisted men. The U.S. Navy men visited the Exposition and, in turn, thousands of San Diegans and other fairgoers were guests on the various ships.
For years it was common for several U.S. Navy ships to dock in San Francisco, California for a similar series of events. One or more fleet ships were docked as a "visit ship" for tourists to board, and the local community took in sailors for home visits; drinks were often discounted to uniformed sailors at area bars and restaurants. The highlight of the San Francisco Fleet Week is the Air Show on San Francisco Bay with theBlue Angels as the center of attention.[3] The Air Show also features stunt planes and parachute team and Coast Guard demonstrations.[4] Another highlight of the Fleet Week SF is a parade of ships under the Golden Gate Bridge.[5]
The revived name of Fleet Week was applied to an expanded and more heavily publicized fleet visit in 1981, in conjunction withColumbus Day Weekend celebrations during the second week of October. Since then, the event has been held each year during the Columbus Day Weekend without a break and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. The event is estimated to attract over one million people who watch the air show along theSan Francisco Bay waterfront stretching from theFerry Building to theGolden Gate Bridge.[6] The event was canceled for 2013 due to federal budgetary issues,[7] but was revived in 2014, and continues to be an annual event.
Ships included:
Ships included:
San Francisco Fleet Week returned after 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
For more than 20 years, Fleet Week Port Everglades has been produced as a signature event for South Florida each spring by Broward Navy Days, a non-profit 501(c)(3). FW PEV provides an annual opportunity for residents to honor and celebrate Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen for their service to their country as well as witness first-hand the latest capabilities of today's modern navy. With the support of sponsors and assistance of hundreds of volunteers representing veterans, civic and service organizations, FW PEV offers opportunities to enjoy shore leave and participate in a wide variety of recreational, vocational and community service activities. Popular events include:
All Hands on Deck Welcoming Party, Damage Control Olympics, Community Relations Projects, Ship Tours, Celebrity Chef Luncheon, Ship Honorary Dinners, Submariners Reception, Take a Hero Fishing Tournament, Golf Tournament, Culinary Competitions, Sailor of the Year Recognition and Dignitary Reception.
TheAir & Sea Show was an annual air show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in which military and civilian performances took place on the four mile stretch of beach from Oakland Park to Las Olas Boulevard. The show existed from 1995 until 2007. It was revived in 2017 and now takes place aroundMemorial Day exclusive of Fleet Week.
Visiting ships included:
Visiting ships included:
On March 16, 2020, Fleet Week was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Fleet Week was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 21, 2022, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:
On April 21, 2023, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:
Visiting ships were:
US Naval vessels had visited New York City in a celebratory manner dating back to the aftermath of the Spanish–American War in 1898, when CommodoreGeorge Dewey was celebrated as the hero of thebattle of Manila Bay. However, the first official Fleet Week began inNew York City in 1982. Fleet Week in New York City is generally timed to coincide with theMemorial Day holiday weekend.
During the New York City Fleet Week, ships are docked atNew York Passenger Ship Terminal on theHudson River on theWest Side of theborough ofManhattan and also atStapleton in the borough ofStaten Island. In 2012, ships visited Brooklyn for the first time, docking at the Cruise Ship Terminal.
The practice of US Navy ships visiting the city and being open for tours began in 1988. NYC Fleet Week 1988 included the aircraft carrierUSS America and battleshipUSS Iowa. Other vessels included the guided missile cruiserUSS Josephus Daniels and the guided missile destroyersUSS Kidd andUSS Preble[8]
NYC Fleet Week 1989 celebrated the bicentennial of the inauguration of President George Washington. Visiting vessels included the aircraft carrierUSS Forrestal and the AEGIS cruiserUSS Ticonderoga.[9]
NYC Fleet Week 1990 included the aircraft carrierUSS John F. Kennedy. Fifteen Navy and Coast Guard ships were part of the celebration which included commemoration of the bicentennial of the US Coast Guard. third annual Fleet Week. Vessels included the Coast Guard training ship Eagle,[10]
NYC Fleet Week 1991 coincided with Operation Welcome Home to commemorate military personnel returning from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Vessels included the aircraft carrier USSAmerica, battleshipUSS Wisconsin, and the AEGIS cruiserUSS San Jacinto.[11]
NYC Fleet Week 1992 was held from May 20–26. It included 13 US naval ships and 7 vessels from European navies.[12]
NYC Fleet Week 1993 was held from May 27–31, and included ships from several countries including theRussian destroyer Bezuderzhny and oilerSheksna. The US presence of 12 ships was headlined by the aircraft carrier USSJohn F. Kennedy. Ships at the Manhattan location included USSJohn F. Kennedy,USS Leyte Gulf. US Navy ships in Staten Island includedUSS Clifton Sprague andUSS Bowen,USS Normandy,USS Wainwright, andUSS Donald B. Beary.Ainsworth, rescue shipOrtolan, USSCapodanno The US Coast Guard was represented by vesselsAdak,Sorrel,Staten Island,Tampa, andWire. A Polish submarine also visited.[13][14]
NYC Fleet Week 1998 was May 20–27 and included the aircraft carrier USSJohn F. Kennedy. NYC Fleet Week 1999 included the amphibious assault shipUSS Wasp. NYC Fleet Week 2002 began on May 22, and was the first Fleet Week following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center. Thirteen U.S. Navy ships, five U.S. Coast Guard ships, one ship representing the Canadian Navy and one representing the Danish Navy sailed up the Hudson River to piers 86 and 88 near the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and to Staten Island. US ships includedUSS Sentry.
NYC Fleet Week 2003 included eighteen ships from five nations, including tall sailing ships from Mexico and India. Nine ships of the US Navy were present, includingUSS Shreveport, anAustin-class amphibious transport dock, the dock landing shipUSS Portland, three guided missile cruisers including USSNormandy, and three frigates.
Ships included:
Visiting ships included:
Ships included:
The 2008 Fleet Week, the 21st annual observance, began May 21. Visiting ships were:
New York City Fleet Week 2009 was May 20–26, 2009, with representatives from both the U.S. military and theRoyal Canadian Navy. The visiting ships were:
The 23rd Fleet Week ran May 26–31, 2010. Visiting ships included:
The 24th New York Fleet Week was in May 2011. Visiting ships were:
The 25th New York City Fleet Week was in May 2012. It was also OpSail 2012 in commemoration of the War of 1812. Visiting ships were:
Fleet Week was canceled due to federal budget cuts (sequestration).[15][16][17]
On April 8, 2014, the Navy announced that visiting ships would be:
On April 13, 2015, the Navy announced that visiting ships would be:
On April 4, 2016, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:
On May 8, 2017, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:
On April 12, 2018, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:
On March 27, 2019, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:
On March 27, 2020, it was announced that the in-person Fleet Week event had been cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. "Virtual Fleet Week," its web-based alternative, attracted over 170,000 unique viewers from May 20–26, 2020.[18]
On February 8, 2021, it was announced that the in-person Fleet Week event had again been cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. Virtual Fleet Week returned for its second consecutive year.[19]
On March 16, 2022, it was announced that Fleet Week would return after a two-year pause due to COVID-19. On April 1, 2022, it was announced visiting ships would be:
On April 4, 2023, it was announced visiting ships would be:
On 24 April, it was announced visiting ships would be:
On 24 April, it was announced visiting ships would be:
Maryland Fleet Week is a biennial tradition inBaltimore and is managed byHistoric Ships in Baltimore.
Ships included:
Ships included:
Portland, Oregon includes fleet week as a part of its annualPortland Rose Festival[20]
1936 was the first Fleet Week for Portland, although navy ships had visited Portland previously starting in 1892 as part of civic celebrations.[21]
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
For 2013 all Fleet Weeks were canceled due to budget issues
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Ships included:
Seattle, Washington includes fleet week during the annualSeafair. Seattle's Fleet Week was an outgrowth of its "Golden Potlatch" event that started in 1911. The Golden Potlatch was suspended in 1914, but was revived in 1934 as the "Seattle Potlatch of Progress and Fleet Week". This Fleet Week included a number of U.S. Navy ships.
Ships included:
Ships included:
TheUSS Iowa (BB-61)museum hosts Fleet Week at thePort of Los Angeles inSan Pedro. Inaugurated in 2011 as Los Angeles Navy Days, it was rebranded as L.A. Fleet Week in 2016.
July 29- August 1, 2011,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
August 17–20, 2012,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
August 8–10, 2014,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
August 7–9, 2015,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
September 2–5, 2016,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
September 1–4, 2017,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
August 31-September 3, 2018,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
August 30–September 2, 2019,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
May 27–30, 2022,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
May 26–29, 2023,San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
May 22–27, 2024, San Pedro, CA. Ships included:
May 23-26, 2025, San Pedro, CA. Ships will include:
New London, Connecticut sometimes includes Fleet Week as a part of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival.
Visiting ships included:
Visiting ships included:
Visiting ships included:
Visiting ships will include:
Naval Station Norfolk opens to the public and conducts ship tours during its Norfolk Fleet Fest.[22]
Participating ships included:
Participating ships included:
Participating ships included:
San Diego annually hosts Fleet Week.
Boston occasionally hosts Fleet Week as a part of larger events and sometimes as a part of their annual Marine Week.
Ships included:
Ships included:
New Orleans, though usually as a part ofNavy Week, typically has naval vessels take part annually.
Ships included:
Fleet Week and similar traditions in other cities include:
The German city ofKiel annually hostsKiel Week, largely a sailing event, warships usually take part and open to the public in the same manner as Fleet Week.
The city ofVancouver,British Columbia hosted Fleet Weekend for the first time in 2022. Visiting ships were:[25]
Visiting ships included:
The city ofHalifax, Nova Scotia hosted its first fleet week in September 2023. Visiting ships were:
Immediately after Operation Cutlass Fury 2025, anASW operation off the coast of Nova Scotia, three of the participants docked in Halifax for fleet week. It involved a Navy band, multiple ceremonies, adragon boat race,rugby match, and 37 kilometres (23 mi) bike race starting atCFB Shearwater. Visiting ships were:
Quebec City will host its fleet week from July 4–7, 2024. Visiting ships will be:
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