| United States Second Fleet | |
|---|---|
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| Active | February 1950 – 30 September 2011, 24 August 2018 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Type | Fleet |
| Role | Combat & Maritime Operations, Security Cooperation Activities, and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response |
| Part of | U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTCOM) |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Virginia, U.S. |
| Website | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | VADMDouglas G. Perry |
| Deputy Commander | Vacant |
| Vice Commander | RADM David Mazur (RCN) |
| Command Master Chief | CMDCM Jason S. Avin |
TheUnited States Second Fleet is anumbered fleet in theUnited States Navy responsible for operations in theEast Coast andNorth Atlantic Ocean.[1] Established afterWorld War II, Second Fleet was deactivated in 2011, when the United States government believed thatRussia's military threat had diminished, and reestablished in 2018 amid renewed tensions between NATO and Russia.
Second Fleet's area of responsibility includes about 6,700,000 square miles (17,000,000 km2) of theAtlantic Ocean from theNorth Pole to theCaribbean and from the shores of theUnited States to the middle of theAtlantic Ocean. Second Fleet'sUnited States West Coast counterpart wasUnited States First Fleet from the immediate post-World War II years until 1973, andUnited States Third Fleet from 1973.
In 2011, Second Fleet oversaw about 126 ships, 4,500 aircraft, and 90,000 personnel homeported at U.S. Navy installations along theUnited States East Coast.
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As of 2008, the Commander, Second Fleet (COMSECONDFLT), under the Commander,U.S. Fleet Forces Command (CUSFFC), was also designated as Commander,Task Force 20. CTF-20 planned for, and when directed, conducted battle force operations in the Atlantic command in support of designated unified or allied commanders. CTF-20 directed movements and exercised operational control of USFFC assigned units to carry out scheduled ocean transits and other special operations as directed, in order to maximize fleet operational readiness to respond to contingencies in the Atlantic command area of operations.In order to command and control its forces, CTF-20 maintained a Joint Maritime Operations Center at its Maritime Headquarters, which was officially said to offer a new approach to command and control for fleet commanders.[2]
Until 2005, COMSECONDFLT had a permanent assignment withNATO'sSupreme Allied Commander Atlantic's (SACLANT)chain of command, as the Commander Striking Fleet Atlantic (COMSTRIKFLTLANT). COMSTRIKFLTLANT commanded a multinational force whose primary mission was to deter aggression and to protectNATO's Atlantic interests. Striking Fleet Atlantic was tasked with ensuring the integrity of NATO'ssea lines of communication. STRIKFLTLANT was deactivated in a ceremony to be held onUSS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) on 24 June 2005, being replaced by the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence located at the Second Fleet headquarters.[3]
During its existence, Second Fleet was responsible for training and certifying Atlantic Fleet units for forward deployment to other numbered fleets, primarilyU.S. Fourth Fleet,U.S. Fifth Fleet, andU.S. Sixth Fleet. Second Fleet's main training and certification venues were theComposite Unit Training Exercise (COMTUEX) andJoint Task Force Exercise[4] (JTFEX), conducted off the eastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Florida. These exercises serve as a ready-for-deployment certification events forCarrier Strike Groups,Amphibious ready groups, as well as independently deploying units.
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In times of crisis and during certain exercises, Second Fleet became the Commander,Joint Task Force 120. 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 theUnited States Coast Guard. When activated, Joint Task Force 120 was tasked to execute a variety of contingency missions.
Commander Second Fleet oversaw several subordinate task forces, which were activated as needed.
| Task Force Name | Task Force Type |
|---|---|
| Battle Force | |
Task Force 21 | Patrol Reconnaissance Force |
| Amphibious Force | |
| Logistics[5] | |
| ASW Force | |
| Mine Warfare[6] | |
| Expeditionary (Amphibious in 2006)[7] | |
| Surface Warfare | |
| Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic | |
| Land |
Additionally, Commander, Second Fleet was the immediate superior to a number ofCarrier Strike Groups,Expeditionary Strike Group 2,Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic, as well as the Standing Navy Command Element (COMSTANDNAV CE), a deployable command element that has served multiple rotations as the headquarters ofCombined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
In October 1996 COMSECONDFLT created Task Force 28, consisting of independent deployers operating in both the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. Commander,Western Hemisphere Group was assigned as Commander Task Force 28 (CTF 28). This arrangement assigned COMWESTHEMGRU the operational control (OPCON) of these Second Fleet destroyers.[8]
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The U.S. Second Fleet traces its origin to the reorganization of the Navy followingWorld War II in December 1945 and the formation of theUnited States Eighth Fleet under the command of Vice AdmiralMarc 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. Second Fleet's area of responsibility included the Atlantic coast ofSouth America and part of the west coast ofCentral America.[9]
In October 1962, PresidentJohn F. Kennedy called on Second Fleet to establish quarantine during theCuban Missile Crisis. For more than a month, Second Fleet units operated northeast of the island, intercepting and inspecting dozens of ships for contraband.
Control of the quarantine force was assigned to the Commander of the Second Fleet, Vice AdmiralAlfred G. Ward, who organized Task Force 136 for this purpose.[10] Task Force 136 included the anti-submarine warfare carrierUSS Essex (CVS-9). Effective deployment constituted a mammoth task to be accomplished in minimum time. To prevent future difficulties, plans had to be developed, ship captains briefed, supply ships dispatched, and thousands of details checked. Other Navy and Marine forces faced similar tough schedules. Marines, if not already engaged in landing exercises, were loaded on amphibious ships and ordered to sea. At theGuantanamo Bay Naval Base, dependents were evacuated to the United States on 22 October, and Marine units were shipped by air and sea to reinforce the base. Task Force 135, including the carrierUSS Enterprise, was sent to the south of Cuba, ready to join in the defense of the Guantanamo Bay base if needed. The carrierUSS Independence and the supporting ships ofCarrier Division Six stood by to provide additional support. Antisubmarine forces were redeployed to cover the quarantine operations. An intensive air surveillance of the Atlantic was initiated, keeping track of the 2,000 commercial ships usually in the area; regular and reserve Navy aircraft were joined in this search bySAC bombers.
Major exercises the fleet participated in during the Cold War includedExercise Mariner,Operation Strikeback in 1957, the maritime component ofExercise Reforger, andNorthern Wedding.
From 9 to 12 February 1978, Task Group 21.6 (USS Inchon and USSSpruance) visitedMonrovia inLiberia.[citation needed]
In 1983, PresidentRonald Reagan ordered the Second Fleet to theCaribbean to lead the invasion ofGrenada duringOperation Urgent Fury. Leading joint forces, Vice AdmiralJoseph Metcalf, III, COMSECONDFLT, became Commander, Joint Task Force 120 (CJTF 120), and commanded units from theAir Force,Army,Navy, and theMarine Corps.
The amphibious force for the operation was made up ofAmphibious Squadron 4 (the amphibious assault shipUSS Guam, the amphibious transport dockUSS Trenton, the dock landing shipUSS Fort Snelling, andthe tank landing shipsUSS Manitowoc andUSS Barnstable County) and the22nd Marine Amphibious Unit, built around 2nd Battalion,8th Marines.[11] Vice Admiral Metcalf assigned to the amphibious force, designated Task Force 124, the mission of seizing the Pearls Airport and the port of Grenville, and of neutralizing any opposing forces in the area. Simultaneously, Army Rangers (Task Force 121)— together with elements of the 82d Airborne Division (Task Force 123)— would secure points at the southern end of the island, including the nearly completed jet airfield under construction near Point Salines. Task Group 20.5, a carrier battle group build aroundUSS Independence (CV-62) and Air Force elements would support the ground forces.[12]
Before the beginning of theGulf War in January 1991, Second Fleet trained more than half of the Navy ships deployed to Southwest Asia.[13]
On 22 February 2005/24 June 2005, with the establishment ofAllied Command Transformation, and in the total absence of the Soviet threat that had prompted its creation, the Striking Fleet Atlantic nucleus was disbanded.[14][15] It was replaced in 2006 by theCombined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence.
On 1 July 2008, the Navy re-established theUnited States Fourth Fleet, based atNaval Station Mayport inJacksonville, Florida, which then assumed responsibility for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in theCaribbean Sea and the waters of Central and South America.[16]
In the aftermath of the2010 Haiti earthquake, Second Fleet dispatched 17 ships, 48 helicopters, 12 fixed-wing aircraft and over 10,000 sailors and Marines in support of Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response. Second Fleet units conducted 336 air deliveries, delivered 32,400 US gallons (123,000 L; 27,000 imp gal) of water, 111,082 meals and 9,000 lb (4,100 kg) of medical supplies. Hospital shipUSNS Comfort, as well as survey vessels, ferries, elements of theMaritime Prepositioning ship andunderway replenishment fleets, and a further three amphibious operations ships also participated.
During the evacuation ofHurricane Irene in August 2011, the fleet evacuated to the safety of the open ocean.[17]
On 21 August 2010, it was reported that SecretaryRobert Gates was considering disestablishing Second Fleet.[18]
On 6 January 2011, it was reported via a DoD news article that the Navy would disestablish Second Fleet in order to "use those savings and more to fund additional ships".[19] The fleet was officially dissolved in a ceremony at Norfolk on 30 September 2011.[20]
Second Fleet's responsibilities and its additional title of Commander,Task Force 20, were transferred to the re-organizedUnited States Fleet Forces Command, as was the post of CJOS COE.[21]
On 4 May 2018, Admiral Chris Grady announced the reestablishment of the Second Fleet.[22] Pentagon spokesman Johnny Michael said, "NATO is refocusing on the Atlantic in recognition of the great power competition prompted by a resurgent Russia".[23][24] It was reestablished on 24 August 2018, with Vice AdmiralAndrew "Woody" Lewis in command.[25]
Second Fleet was scheduled to resume operations officially on 1 July 2018, initially with a staff of 15 personnel (11 officers and four enlisted personnel), although plans call for its work force to expand to 256 (85 officers, 164 enlisted personnel, and seven civilians).[26][27] It will exercise operational and administrative authorities over assigned ships, aircraft, and landing forces on the United States East Coast and in the northern Atlantic Ocean, as well as plan and conduct maritime, joint, and combined operations and train, certify and provide maritime forces to respond to global contingencies. Commander, Second Fleet will report toUnited States Fleet Forces Command.[28] Vice AdmiralAndrew L. Lewis was confirmed on 18 June 2018 as Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet.[29] Second Fleet was reactivated in Norfolk on 1 July 2018 and received formal establishment on 24 August 2018. Commander Second Fleet will be dual-hatted as the Commander for Joint Force Command for the Atlantic that will report to theSupreme Allied Commander Europe.[30][31] This Joint Forces Command is formally known asJoint Force Command Norfolk.[32]
Rear Adm. Doug Perry, director of joint and fleet operations at Fleet Forces Command, was quoted in early November 2018 that the fleet was reformed because "the Navy needed a commander to direct sustained combat operations in the Atlantic". Perry said it sends the message that "we understand we are in a battle for the Atlantic, and we will contest it."[33] The Navy declared 2nd Fleet fully operational on 31 December 2019.[34]
During Exercise Steadfast Defender '21, Canadian Rear Admiral Steve Waddell, vice commander, Second Fleet, served as commander of C2F's forward-deployed Task Force 20.[35]
On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Navy announced that Rear Admiral (lower half) Brian L. Davies would be assigned additional duties as deputy commander, Second Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia. He was to retain all currently assigned duties as Commander,Submarine Group 2, Norfolk, Virginia.[36]
