| United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) | |
|---|---|
 The seal of the Commander of United States Fleet Forces Command | |
| Founded | 1906; 119 years ago (1906) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Force-providing command |
| Part of | U.S. Northern Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads,Norfolk,Virginia, U.S. |
| Engagements | World War I World War II Vietnam War Global War on Terrorism |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | VADMJohn E. Gumbleton (acting)[1] |
| Deputy Commander | VADMJohn E. Gumbleton |
| Vice Commander | RADMKenneth R. Blackmon |
| Fleet Master Chief | FLTCMJohn J. Perryman IV |
TheUnited States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC)[2] is a service component command of theUnited States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such asUnited States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) under the authority of theSecretary of Defense. Originally formed asUnited States Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT) in 1906, it has been an integral part of the defense of the United States of America since the early 20th century. In 2002, the Fleet comprised over 118,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel serving on 186 ships and in 1,300 aircraft, with an area of responsibility ranging over most of the Atlantic Ocean from theNorth Pole to theSouth Pole, theCaribbean Sea,Gulf of Mexico, and the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts ofCentral and South America (as far west as theGalapagos Islands).
In 2006, theU.S. Atlantic Fleet was renamed to theUnited States Fleet Forces Command.
The command is based atNaval Support Activity Hampton Roads inNorfolk, Virginia[3][4] and is the Navy's service component toU.S. Northern Command[5] and is the Joint Functional Maritime Component Command under theU.S. Strategic Command.[6][7]
The command's mission is to organize, man, train, and equip naval forces for assignment to Unified CommandCombatant commanders; to deter, detect, and defend against homeland maritime threats; and to articulate Fleet warfighting and readiness requirements to theChief of Naval Operations.[8]
The Atlantic Fleet was established by PresidentTheodore Roosevelt in 1906, at the same time as thePacific Fleet, as protection for new bases in theCaribbean acquired as a result of theSpanish–American War. The Fleet was a combination of theNorth Atlantic Fleet and theSouth Atlantic Squadron.
The first commander of the fleet wasRear AdmiralRobley D. Evans, who hoisted his flag in thebattleshipUSS Maine (BB-10) on 1 January 1906. The following year, he took his 16 battleships, now dubbed theGreat White Fleet, on a round-the-world cruise that lasted until 1909, a goodwill tour that also served the purpose of advertising the United States' naval strength and reach to all other nations of the globe.
In January 1913 the fleet consisted of six first-line divisions, a torpedo flotilla, submarines, and fleet auxiliaries.[9] The fleet was under the command of Rear AdmiralHugo Osterhaus.
TheCruiser and Transport Force, under Rear AdmiralAlbert Gleaves served in Atlantic waters during World War I moving theAmerican Expeditionary Forces to Europe.United States Battleship Division Nine joined theGrand Fleet in the UK.
The Atlantic Fleet was reorganized into theScouting Force in 1923, which was under theUnited States Fleet along with the Pacific Fleet. In January 1939 the Atlantic Squadron,United States Fleet, was formed,[10] with Vice AdmiralAlfred Wilkinson Johnson commanded.[11] The aircraft carrierUSS Ranger (CV-4) was transferred to theAtlantic Ocean, to join threebattleships.
On 1 November 1940 the Atlantic Squadron was renamed the Patrol Force. The Patrol Force was organized into type commands: Battleships, Patrol Force; Cruisers, Patrol Force; Destroyers, Patrol Force; and, Train, Patrol Force (the logistics arms).[10]
On 1 February 1941, the Atlantic Fleet was resurrected and organized from thePatrol Force. Along with the Pacific Fleet andAsiatic Fleet, the fleet was to be under the command of a full admiral, which jumped the fleet's commanderErnest J. King from a two-star to a four-star. King'sflagship wasUSS Texas (BB-35).
Subsequently, the headquarters was in a rather odd assortment of ships; theUSS Augusta (CA-31), then the old wooden shipUSS Constellation,USS Vixen (PG-53), and thenUSS Pocono (AGC-16). In 1948, the HQ moved into the former naval hospital atNorfolk, Virginia, and has remained there ever since.
In July 1942, eight months after the United States entered the war, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy'sAmerica and West Indies Station based atAdmiralty House, Bermuda had his title changed toSenior British Naval Officer, Western Atlantic.USS Augusta visited Bermuda in September, 1941.[12][13]
_underway_at_sea_on_10_December_1942.jpg)
On 7 December 1941 the Fleet comprised a number of separate components:
§ = Divisional flagship
_underway_in_April_1937_(80-G-1007384).jpg)
Battleships, Atlantic Fleet was made up of threeBattleship Divisions
Of these, Battleship Division 5 was a training unit consisting of the oldest remaining battleships in service, while Division 6 was responsible for working up the two most recently commissioned battleships,North Carolina andWashington.
The aircraft carriersYorktown andLong Island were directly attached to Aircraft, Atlantic Fleet, as was the newly commissionedHornet, which was in the process of working up.
_in_Panama_Canal_1938.jpg)
DuringWorld War II "Transports, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet" was part of this command (ComTransPhibLant). Smaller units included the Antisubmarine Development Detachment, Atlantic Fleet (ASDEVLANT) located atQuonset Point, Rhode Island.[14] The detachment was responsible for the study and development ofantisubmarine gear duringWorld War II. The Commander of the detachment was known as COMASDEVLANT.
Admiral King was appointed Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, on 20 December 1941. Rear AdmiralRoyal E. Ingersoll was designated, with the rank of vice admiral, to relieve him as Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet.[15] He took command on 1 January 1942, and was advanced to the rank of admiral on 1 July 1942. To carry out this mission and other tasks CinCLant had in the meantime been reorganized, as of 1 March 1941, into ten task forces (commanded by flag officers) numbered from one to ten and named according to their intended employment.Task Force One was the Ocean Escort Force, TF2—Striking Force, TF3—Scouting Force, TF4—Support Force, TF5—Submarine Force, TF6—Naval Coastal Frontier Forces, TF7—Bermuda Force, TF8—Patrol Wings, TF9—Service Force, andTask Force 10,1st Marine Division (commanded by a Brigadier General).
Of many significant engagements,Captain Daniel Gallery's capture of theGerman submarine U-505 stands out. The capture was so top secret (because of the enigma code books captured) that the ship's flag was kept by the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and not handed over to Navy authorities until after the war.[16]
On 1 January 1946, Commander Minesweeping Forces, Atlantic Fleet (ComMinLant) was activated to command minesweepers assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. The Commander, Mine Forces, Atlantic was responsible for all Fleet mine warfare operations. Units under his command were divided into Minesweeping Squadrons (MineRon)s.
Between 1947 and 1985, the fleet command was a concurrent appointment with theUnited States Atlantic Command. TheCommander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) was traditionally a navy four-star admiral who also then held the positions of Commander-in-ChiefUnited States Atlantic Command (CINCLANT) andNATO'sSupreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT). But after a major reorganization of the U.S. armed forces structure following theGoldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, CINCLANFLT was separated from the two other billets. The admiral commanding the Atlantic Fleet was designated as the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Command until 1986.
Major crises the Atlantic Fleet was involved in during the Cold War included the 1962Cuban Missile Crisis and the1965 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic.[17]
The general purpose forces of the Army, Navy, and Air Force began to be reorganized in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis on 16 October 1962. The command organization, as finally developed, called for the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (CINCLANT), AdmiralRobert Dennison, to provide the unified command. He also retained control of all naval components involved in tactical operations, as the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet. The responsibility for Army and Air Force components was assigned to the Continental Army Command (CONARC) and theTactical Air Command under the designation of Army Forces, Atlantic (ARLANT), and Air Forces, Atlantic (AFLANT). The commander of the ArmyXVIII Airborne Corps was designated Joint Task Force Commander to plan for any joint operations that might become necessary. Over-all direction was exercised by the President and the Secretary of Defense through the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who named theChief of Naval Operations as their representative for the quarantine.[18]
Major elements of theStrategic Army Corps were designated for use by ARLANT and placed in advanced alert status. Logistic support for the more than 100,000 men involved was directed by a newly established Peninsula Base Command. Preparatory steps were taken to make possible the immediate callup of high priorityArmy National Guard andArmy Reserve units.Tactical Air Command moved hundreds of tactical fighter, reconnaissance, and troop carrier aircraft to the southeast. To make room for all these units, the bombers, tankers, and other aircraft not required for the current operations were ordered to other bases in the United States.[18]
From the late 1960s, nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the fleet began to make thousands of deterrent patrols.[19] The first patrol in the Atlantic Fleetarea of operations was made byUSS George Washington (SSBN-598).[20]
In 1972, Commander, Anti-Submarine Warfare Force, Atlantic Fleet (Task Force 81) was headquartered atQuonset Point Naval Air Station.[21] Under ASWFORLANTFLT was Hunter-Killer Force, Atlantic Fleet (Task Force 83), withCarrier Divisions 14 and16 (Wasp and Intrepid, respectively), as well as the Quonset ASW Group (TG 81.2) withFleet Air Wing 3 and surface units. More information on Anti-Submarine Warfare Force, Atlantic Fleet's, activities during the Cuban crisis can be found at the National Security Archive's document collections.[22]
TheCommander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic was formed on 1 July 1975, incorporating a number of previously separate smaller commands – mine warfare vessels/units, service vessels, and frigates, destroyers and cruisers, along with associated destroyer squadrons and cruiser/destroyer groups.
As part of a reorganization announced in July 1995 of the Atlantic Fleet's surface combatant ships into six core battle groups, nine destroyer squadrons, and a new Western Hemisphere Group,USS John Hancock (DD-981) was reassigned toDestroyer Squadron 24. The re-organization was to be phased in over the summer and take effect 31 August 1995, with homeport shifts occurring through 1998. In September 1995 the following ship assignments were intended to apply at the end of the transitional period:[23]
In February 2000,U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command was established inPuerto Rico, and the Western Hemisphere Group becameNaval Surface Group 2.
After theSeptember 11 terrorist attacks, the Atlantic Fleet sent aircraft carriers and cruisers towards New York, on the fleet commander's own initiative.[24]
On 1 October 2001, theChief of Naval Operations designated Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT) as concurrent Commander,Fleet Forces Command (CFFC). In October–November 2002, the title of Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet was amended to Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMLANTFLT).
In the CNO Guidance for 2003, Admiral Vernon Clark stipulated that the termsCarrier Battle Group andAmphibious Readiness Group would be replaced byCarrier Strike Groups (CSG) andExpeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), respectively, by March 2003. Cruiser-Destroyer and Carrier Groups (CARGRU) were also redesignated, as Carrier Strike Groups (CSG), and aligned directly under the numbered fleet commanders. The two sets of staffs were formerly under the administrative authority of their respective air and surfaceU.S. Navy type commands. This realignment allowed key operational leaders authority and direct access to the personnel required to more effectively accomplish the navy's mission.
The numbered fleet commanders are now responsible for the training and certification of the entire Strike Group. The organizational structure to support the carrier strike groups focuses more on placing Strike Group commanders under the authority of the certifying officer, or the numbered fleet commander. Under this new division of responsibility, the air-side type commander gains authority over the air wing, and the surface-side type commander gains authority over the carrier itself and the rest of the ships of the battle group.
On 23 May 2006, the Chief of Naval Operations renamed COMLANTFLT to Commander,U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM or CUSFFC), ordered to carry out the missions currently performed by COMFLTFORCOM (CFFC) and serve as primary advocate for fleet personnel, training, requirements, maintenance, and operational issues, reporting administratively directly to the CNO as an Echelon 2 command. The previous title CFFC was disestablished at the same time.[25] CUSFFC previously served as the Naval component of theUS Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) until the disestablishment of USJFCOM in August 2011. CFFC is also assigned as the supporting service component commander to Commander,United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) as well as to Commander,United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).
Enterprise entered an ESRA in 2008, but the refit took longer than expected. Thus on 11 September 2009, it was announced that the carrier strike group deployment schedule would be changed to accommodate the delay in the return of theEnterprise from its current overhaul. This resulted in extending bothCarrier Strike Group Eleven's 2009–2010 deployment andCarrier Strike Group Ten's 2010 deployment to eight months.[26]Enterprise returned to Naval Station Norfolk on 19 April 2010 after completing its post-overhaul sea trials, signifying the beginning of its pre-deployment training cycle.[27]
On 24 July 2009, AdmiralJohn C. Harvey, Jr. relieved AdmiralJonathan W. Greenert as Commander.[28]
News reports in July 2011 said that in connection with the disestablishment of theUnited States Second Fleet, Fleet Forces Command would take over Second Fleet's duties on 30 September 2011.[29] Effectively this meantTask Force 20 (TF 20), under a deputy commander of the fleet, took over that mission. Task Force 20 was succeeded byTask Force 80 effective 1 October 2012, with TF-80 being under the command of the director of the Maritime Headquarters, Fleet Forces Command.[30]
TheFleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC),United States Naval Observatory (USNO),Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), Naval Oceanography Operations Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center, were all realigned underU.S. Navy Information Dominance Forces on 1 October 2014.[citation needed]
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, the Optimized Fleet Response Plan will align carrier strike groups to a 36-month training and deployment cycle. All required maintenance, training, evaluations, plus a single eight-month overseas deployment, are scheduled throughout this 36-month cycle in order to reduce costs while increasing overall fleet readiness. This new plan streamlined the inspection and evaluation process while maintaining a surge capacity for emergency deployments. The ultimate objective is to reduce time at sea while increasing in-port time from 49% to 68%. While initially to be used by U.S. Navy carrier strike groups, the Optimized Fleet Response Plan will be adopted for all fleet operations.[31]
Accordingly, the carrierUSS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) will be the first carrier to deploy under this new O-FRP cycle, replacing the previously scheduledEisenhower in the deployment lineup. Additionally, the Carrier Strike Group Eight command staff will deploy with theTruman while theEisenhower will serve as the new flagship forCarrier Strike Group Ten.
On 2 December 2020, SecretaryKenneth Braithwaite announced that U.S. Fleet Forces Command will be renamed back toUnited States Atlantic Fleet[32] to focus more on the growing maritime threats coming from the Atlantic.[33][34] The renaming of the command has been placed on hold, pending further review of the U.S. military footprint, resources, strategy and missions, from the global force posture review.[35]
In accordance with theNavigation Plan 2013–2017 guidance from theChief of Naval Operations, U.S. Fleet Forces Command was to be based upon the three tenets of war-fighting, forward operations, and readiness.[36][37] To achieve these objectives, Fleet Forces Command was realigned to a Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) command structure. Additionally, the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM) is designated as the Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander North (JFMCC-N) to theU.S. Northern Command.[36] Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander North consists of two Maritime Command Elements (MCE), with Maritime Command Element-East (MCE-E) beingTask Force 180 and Maritime Command Element-West (MCE-W) provided from units assigned to theU.S. Pacific Fleet.[36][38]
Effective 17 May 2013, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command was officially designated as the naval component commander for the U.S. Northern Command.[39] In this new capacity, the Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command is to contribute to the defense of North America through the coordination, collaboration, and communication with allied, coalition, and joint forces within the U.S. Northern Command'sarea of responsibility.[39] Under this reorganization, theCommander, Navy Installations Command is responsible for area coordination for U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command.[39] Additionally, Commander,Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is responsible for regional coordination for U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command.[39]
The Maritime Operations directorate leads all phases of the pre-deployment fleet response training plan (FRTP) cycle involving those naval units assigned to the Fleet Forces Command. The directorate transitions all naval units from their operational phase to their tactical phase prior to their overseas deployment.[36][38]
The Director of Maritime Operations (DMO) is an active-duty two-starrear admiral in theU.S. Navy while the Deputy Director of Maritime Operations is a one-starrear admiral from theUnited States Naval Reserve.[38] As of 2013, the DMO was Rear Admiral Dan Cloyd. Maritime Operations is organized into the following directorates:[38]
The Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) leads all phases prior to the pre-deployment training cycle, including resourcing, policy development, assessment, procurement, and pre-introduction of naval units assigned to the Fleet Forces Command. The MHQ transitions all naval units from their strategical phase to their operational phase prior to their pre-deployment training cycle, and in the capacity, it supports the Maritime Operations Center.[36][38] The Director of Maritime Headquarters (DMHQ) is an active-duty two-starrear admiral in theU.S. Navy while the Deputy Director of Maritime Headquarters is a one-starrear admiral from theUnited States Naval Reserve.[38] As of July 2013, the DMHQ was Rear AdmiralBradley R. Gehrke.[40] The Maritime Headquarters is organized into the following directorates:[38]
U.S. Fleet Forces Subordinate Commands include the following:[41]
All ships are organized into categories by type. Aircraft carriers, aircraft squadrons, and air stations are under the administrative control of the appropriate Commander Naval Air Force. Submarines come under the Commander Submarine Force. All other ships fall under Commander Naval Surface Force. Type commands for Fleet Forces Command include:
Functional mission task forces execute force-wide Fleet logistic functions as well as providing capabilities for Joint contingency operations. These functional mission task forces include:[38]
When constituted as a joint-service task force forJoint warfare operations, functional mission task forces for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command are given a 18X designation as shown below.[38]
U.S. Armed Forces operations commands
The mission of JFMCC is to conduct joint maritime operations to execute the maritime aspects of strategic deterrence
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.Slides 21, 45, 46
Slides 22, 43–49.
OPNAVNOTE 5400 Ser DNS-33/13U102246 dated 17 May 2013.
DNS-33/12U102106. Formerly known as Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Atlantic.
