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TheUnited States Battle Fleet orBattle Force was part of the organization of theUnited States Navy from 1922 to 1941.
The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized theUnited States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This fleet comprised the main body of ships in the Navy, with the smallerScouting Fleet as the Atlantic presence. Mostbattleships, including the most modern ones, and newaircraft carriers were assigned to the Battle Fleet.
On 1 September 1923, the Battle Fleet was under the command of AdmiralSamuel S. Robison.Battleships, Battle Fleet was under the command of Vice AdmiralHenry A. Wiley, with his flag aboardNew Mexico (BB-40).[1] Battleship Division Three, under Rear AdmiralLouis M. Nulton, consisted ofNew York (BB-34) (F),Texas (BB-35) under Captain A. M. Proctor,Oklahoma (BB-37) under Captain W. F. Scott, andCalifornia (BB-44) under Captain H. H. Christy, which was also the Battle Fleetflagship. Battleship Division Four, under Rear AdmiralWilliam Veazie Pratt, comprisedArizona (BB-39) (F), under Captain J. R. Y. Blakely,Nevada (BB-36),Mississippi (BB-41), andPennsylvania (BB-38). Battleship Division Five under Vice Admiral Wiley himself comprisedNew Mexico (BB-40),Idaho (BB-42),Tennessee (BB-43), andMaryland (BB-46). Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, under CaptainA. W. Marshall, comprisedAroostook (CM-3) (F),Langley (CV-1), and the tenderGannet (AM-41). Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet, under Rear AdmiralSumner E. W. Kittelle, comprisedDestroyer Squadron 11 andDestroyer Squadron 12. Submarine Divisions, Pacific, was under Captain A. Bronson, Jr.
In 1930, the name of the fleet was changed to "Battle Force", but the structure remained the same. In 1931, the force was based in Pearl Harbor and consisted of a majority of the United States' surface fleet: all of the newer battleships, all of the carriers, a light cruiser squadron and "three or four" destroyer squadrons were all a part of the Battle Force. In 1939, the Battle Force had five aircraft carriers, 12 battleships, 14light cruisers, and 68destroyers.[2]
On 1 February 1941, General Order 143 reorganized the United States Fleet with three separate fleets, theUnited States Atlantic Fleet, theUnited States Pacific Fleet and theAsiatic Fleet.
| Date | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 5 July 1921 - 30 June 1923 | AdmiralEdward W. Eberle |
| 30 June 1923 - 14 October 1925 | AdmiralSamuel S. Robison |
| 14 October 1925 - 4 September 1926 | AdmiralCharles F. Hughes |
| 4 September 1926 - 10 September 1927 | AdmiralRichard H. Jackson |
| 10 September 1927 - 26 June 1928 | AdmiralLouis R. de Steiguer |
| 26 June 1928 - 21 May 1929 | AdmiralWilliam V. Pratt |
| 21 May 1929 - 24 May 1930 | AdmiralLouis M. Nulton |
| 24 May 1930 - 1 April 1931 | AdmiralFrank H. Schofield |
| Date | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 1 April 1931 - 15 September 1931 | AdmiralFrank H. Schofield |
| 15 September 1931 - 11 August 1932 | AdmiralRichard H. Leigh |
| 11 August 1932 - 20 May 1933 | AdmiralLuke McNamee |
| 20 May 1933 - 1 July 1933 | AdmiralWilliam H. Standley |
| 1 July 1933 - 15 June 1934 | AdmiralJoseph M. Reeves |
| 15 June 1934 - 1 April 1935 | AdmiralFrank H. Brumby |
| 1 April 1935 - 30 March 1936 | AdmiralHarris Laning |
| 30 March 1936 - 31 December 1936 | AdmiralWilliam D. Leahy |
| 2 January 1937 - 29 January 1938 | AdmiralClaude C. Bloch |
| 29 January 1938 - 24 June 1939 | AdmiralEdward C. Kalbfus |
| 24 June 1939 - 6 January 1940 | AdmiralJames O. Richardson |
| 6 January 1940 - 31 January 1941 | AdmiralCharles P. Snyder |
| 31 January 1941 - 20 September 1942 | Vice AdmiralWilliam S. Pye |