United States Pacific Fleet
A Pacific Fleet was created in 1907 when the Asiatic Squadron and the Pacific Squadron were combined. This new force operated under a unified command structure for just three years before internal reorganization took place. In 1910, the ships of the First Squadron were organized back into a separate Asiatic Fleet. The General Order 94 of the 6th of December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Force as the Pacific presence. Until May 1940, the Battle Force was stationed on the West Coast of the United States. Headquarters, battleships, aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers were stationed at San Pedro close to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Light cruisers, destroyers and submarines were stationed at San Diego.
During the summer of 1940, as part of the U.S. response to Japanese expansionism, the fleet was instructed to take an advanced position at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Admiral James O. Richardson, the fleet's commander, strongly opposed long-term basing at Pearl Harbor, feeling that it would leave the fleet vulnerable to Japanese attack. He personally protested the move in Washington, D.C. Political considerations were thought sufficiently important that he was relieved by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, who was in command at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pacific Fleet was formally recreated on the 1st of February 1941, when General Order 143 split the United States Fleet into separate Atlantic, Pacific, and Asiatic Fleets.
On the 7th of December, the Fleet consisted of the Battle Force, Scouting Force, Base Force, Amphibious Force, Cruiser Force, Destroyer Force, and the Submarine Force. Also in Hawaii was the Fourteenth Naval District, commanded by Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch. United States Pacific Fleet Commander was Admiral Husband E. Kimmel with the flagship USS Pennsylvania. Battleships, Battle Force made up of three Battleship Divisions were under Rear Admiral Walter S. Anderson with the flagship USS West Virginia.
Aircraft, Battle Force made up of two Carrier Divisions were under Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. with the flagship USS Enterprise. Cruisers, Battle Force made up of two Cruiser Divisions were under Rear Admiral Herbert F. Leary with the flagship USS Honolulu. Destroyers, Battle Force made up of two Destroyer Flotillas were under Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel. Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet was commanded by Vice Admiral Wilson Brown with the flagship USS Indianapolis.
Cruisers, Scouting Force made up of three Cruiser Divisions were under Rear Admiral John H. Newton with the flagship USS Chicago. Aircraft, Scouting Force made up of three Patrol Wings were under Rear Admiral John S. McCain Sr. Submarines, Scouting Force made up of five Submarine Squadrons were under Rear Admiral Thomas Withers. In December 1941, the fleet consisted of nine battleships, three aircraft carriers, 12 heavy cruisers, eight light cruisers, 50 destroyers, 33 submarines, and 100 patrol bombers. That day, the Japanese Combined Fleet carried out the attack on Pearl Harbor, drawing the United States into World War II in the Pacific.
Subsequently, Pacific Fleet engagements during World War II included the Battle of Guam, the Marshalls-Gilberts raids, the Doolittle Raid, the Solomon Islands campaign, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Battle of Okinawa. More minor battles included the Battle of Dutch Harbor.
The Submarine Force began a sustained campaign of commerce raiding against Japan's merchant marine, beginning the first day of the war. This effort ultimately claimed 1,314 ships totaling about 5.3 million tons by the imperfect postwar reckoning of the Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee. The West Loch disaster occurred at Pearl Harbor on the 21st of May 1944. When the attack took place, all three carriers were absent. Saratoga was in San Diego collecting her air group following a major refit. Enterprise was en route back to Hawaii following a mission to deliver aircraft to Wake Island. Lexington had just departed on a similar mission to Midway.
The Pacific Fleet took part in Operation Magic Carpet, the return of U.S. servicemen after the end of the Second World War. Since 1950, the Pacific Fleet has been involved in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the two Taiwan Straits Crises, and a number of other operations including the Mayaguez Incident of 1975. The RIMPAC exercise series began in 1971.
On the 7th of March 1984, the Secretaries of Transportation and Navy signed a Memorandum of Agreement which created the Maritime Defense Zones. The Pacific MDZ is an echelon three Navy command under the Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet. On the 1st of October 1990, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Alaska was established as the Naval Component Commander to Commander, Alaskan Command. The very large PACEX 89 in the North Pacific involved the USN, Canadian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, and ROK Navy. At the end of Exercise PACEX '89 a 54-ship formation was assembled for photos.
Other operations undertaken since include participation in the Alaskan Oil Spill Joint Task Force, including participation of Commander, Amphibious Group Three, as deputy CJTF. This was the defence response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill of March 1989. Also, the Pacific Fleet was involved in Classic Resolve during the December 1989 Philippine coup attempt. Enterprise, CVW-11 and Battle Group FOXTROT joined forces with USS Midway near Manila Bay.
Around the 10th of September 1990, ships visited Vladivostok. This marked the first United States Navy visit to the Soviet Union's Pacific port of Vladivostok since before World War II. During Operation Fiery Vigil in June 1991, vessels participated in the sealift phase of the evacuation. Other contingency operation after 1991 included Operation Sea Angel Bangladesh relief led by Commander III Marine Expeditionary Force. In 1996 two carrier battle groups were sent to the Taiwan area during the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis. Later ships provided support to the entry of INTERFET in East Timor in 1999.
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Common questions
When was the United States Pacific Fleet created?
A Pacific Fleet was created in 1907 when the Asiatic Squadron and the Pacific Squadron were combined. This new force operated under a unified command structure for just three years before internal reorganization took place.
Who commanded the United States Pacific Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbor?
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel served as Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He assumed command after Admiral James O. Richardson was relieved due to opposition to long-term basing at Pearl Harbor.
What ships made up the United States Pacific Fleet on the 7th of December 1941?
On the 7th of December 1941, the fleet consisted of nine battleships, three aircraft carriers, 12 heavy cruisers, eight light cruisers, 50 destroyers, 33 submarines, and 100 patrol bombers. The fleet also included the Fourteenth Naval District commanded by Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch.
Where was the Battle Force stationed until May 1940?
Until May 1940, the Battle Force was stationed on the West Coast of the United States with headquarters, battleships, aircraft carriers, and heavy cruisers located at San Pedro close to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Light cruisers, destroyers, and submarines were stationed at San Diego.
How many ships did the Submarine Force claim to sink during World War II?
The Submarine Force ultimately claimed 1,314 ships totaling about 5.3 million tons by the imperfect postwar reckoning of the Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee. This sustained campaign of commerce raiding against Japan's merchant marine began the first day of the war.