{{more footnotes, date=October 2013 COMBATPAC was the title, from 1922 to 1944, of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

officer who commanded the

battleships A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...

of the larger United States

Battle Fleet The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This f ...

in the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

(Commander, Battleships, Pacific). When formed in 1922, the Battle Fleet (renamed

Battle Force The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This f ...

in 1930 and Pacific Fleet in 1941), included various type commands. The battleship type was led by the COMBATPAC, generally a three-star vice admiral or two-star

rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

. The COMBATPAC had five rear admirals (lower half) reporting to him, each leading a Battleship Division of four ships. In late 1944, the battleships was reorganized into two type commands, each led by a vice admiral. Battleships Squadron One consisted of the Old Battleships, while Battleship Squadron Two consisted of the Fast Battleships.

Commanders

Former Commanders, Battleships, Battle Fleet (Commander, Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet) *Vice Admiral William R. Shoemaker, USN (1922) *Vice Admiral

Henry A. Wiley Admiral Henry Ariosto Wiley (31 January 1867 – 20 May 1943) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. Biography Born in Pike County, Alabama, Wiley graduated from the United States ...

, USN (20 June 1923 - 26 August 1925) *Vice Admiral

Richard H. Jackson Richard Harrison Jackson (May 10, 1866 – October 2, 1971) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. Originally cashiered from the Navy for poor grades at the U.S. Naval Academy, he was commissioned ensign by special act of Congress for ...

, USN (5 October 1925 - 4 September 1926) *Vice Admiral

Louis R. de Steiguer Admiral Louis Rodolph de Steiguer (March 18, 1867 – April 20, 1947) was an officer in the United States Navy, U.S. Navy. He was Commander of the Battle Fleet, U.S. Battle Fleet from 1927 to 1928. Early career Born in Athens, Ohio, on March 18, ...

, USN (1926-1927) *Vice Admiral

William V. Pratt William Veazie Pratt (28 February 1869 – 25 November 1957) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He served as the President of the Naval War College from 1925 to 1927, and as the 5th Chief of Naval Operations from 1930 to 1933. Early l ...

, USN (1927-1928) *Vice Admiral

Louis M. Nulton Louis McCoy Nulton (August 8, 1869 – November 10, 1954) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who was List of Superintendents of the United States Naval Academy, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 1925 to 1928 and command ...

, USN (26 June 1928 - 21 May 1929) *Vice Admiral Lucius A. Bostwick, USN (May 1929 - May 1930) Former Commanders, Battleships, Battle Force *Vice Admiral

Richard H. Leigh Admiral Richard Henry Leigh CBE (August 12, 1870 – February 4, 1946) was a United States Navy officer who served during the late 19th and early 20th century. His service included active duty in the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American ...

, USN (May 1930-1931) *Vice Admiral

Luke McNamee Luke McNamee (April 4, 1871 – December 30, 1952) was a United States Navy Admiral, businessman, and the 10th and 12th Naval Governor of Guam. He served in the Navy for 42 years, during which time he held multiple commands. During the Spanish–A ...

, USN (1931-1932) *Vice Admiral

David F. Sellers David F. Sellers (February 4, 1874 – January 27, 1949) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He was the first person from New Mexico to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. Biography David Foote Sellers was a native of Austin, Te ...

, USN (1932-1933) *Vice Admiral

Joseph M. Reeves Joseph Mason "Bull" Reeves (November 20, 1872 – March 25, 1948) was an admiral in the United States Navy and an early and important supporter of U.S. Naval Aviation. Though a battleship officer during his early career, he became known as the ...

, USN (June 1933- 1 July 1933) *Vice Admiral Walton R. Sexton, USN (1934) *Vice Admiral

William D. Leahy William Daniel Leahy () (May 6, 1875 – July 20, 1959) was an American naval officer who served as the most senior United States military officer on active duty during World War II. He held multiple titles and was at the center of all major ...

, USN (1935-1936) *Vice Admiral

Clarence S. Kempff Clarence may refer to: Places Australia * Clarence County, New South Wales, a Cadastral division * Clarence, New South Wales, a place near Lithgow * Clarence River (New South Wales) * Clarence Strait (Northern Territory) * City of Clarence, a loca ...

, USN (30 March 1936 - 2 January 1937) *Vice Admiral

Edward C. Kalbfus Edward Clifford Kalbfus (November 24, 1877 – September 6, 1954), List of military figures by nickname#O, nicknamed "Old Dutch", was a Admiral (United States), four-star admiral in the United States Navy who was commander of the Battle Force of t ...

, USN (2 January 1937 - 29 January 1938) *Vice Admiral

John W. Greenslade John Wills Greenslade (January 11, 1880 – January 6, 1950) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. He enjoyed a significant military career, participating in several conflicts and distinguish ...

, USN (29 January 1938 to 20 May 1939) *Vice Admiral

Charles P. Snyder (admiral) Charles Philip Snyder (July 10, 1879 – December 3, 1964) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as the U.S. Navy's first Naval Inspector General during World War II. Early career Born in Charleston, West Virginia in Kan ...

, USN (1939 - January 1940) *Vice Admiral

William S. Pye Vice Admiral William Satterlee Pye (9 June 1880 – 4 May 1959) was a U.S. Navy officer who served during World War I and World War II, but never saw combat action. His last active-duty appointment was as President of the Naval War College, in ...

, USN (January 1940 - January 1941) *Rear Admiral Walter S. Anderson, USN (January 1941 - 10 April 1942) Former Commanders, Battleships, Pacific Fleet *Rear Admiral Walter S. Anderson, USN (10 April 1942 - 28 September 1942) *Vice Admiral

Herbert Fairfax Leary Herbert Fairfax Leary (May 31, 1885 – December 3, 1957) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A son of Rear Admiral Richard P. Leary, he distinguished himself during World War I while on the st ...

, USN (28 September 1942 - 16 April 1943) *Vice Admiral

Willis Augustus Lee Willis Augustus "Ching" Lee Jr. (May 11, 1888 – August 25, 1945) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Lee commanded the American ships during the second night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 14–15, 1 ...

, USN (16 April 1943 - 15 December 1944) Former Commanders, Battleship Squadrons, Pacific Fleet Squadron One *Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf, USN (15 December 1944 - 2 September 1945) Squadron Two * Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee, USN (15 December 1944 - 25 August 1945) * Rear Admiral

John F. Shafroth Jr. John Franklin Shafroth Jr. (March 31, 1887 – September 1, 1967) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. He distinguished himself as Commander of destroyer USS ''Terry'' during World War I and re ...

, USN (25 August 1945 - 2 September 1945)

References

* Battle Force of 194

* Change of Command announced for 193

* Report of Commander, Battleships, Battle Force following the attack on Pearl Harbo

*1941-1945 Commander, Battleships, Pacific lis

*1945 Organization of the US Pacific Fleet, US Navy History and Heritage Comman

*1934 Photo of US Fleet Staff, VADM Walton Sexton include

* Battleships, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, Commander Vice Admiral Greenslade and Staff, circa 1938 photo, US Navy History and Heritage Comman

*US Navy Biography of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee, Jr

*US Navy Biography of Admiral Jesse B. Oldendor

*US Navy Photo of Vice Admiral Leahy as Commander, Battleships, Battle Force 193

*US Navy Photo of Vice Admiral Leahy and Battleships, Battle Force Staf

*US Navy Photo of Vice Admiral Clarence S. Kempff assuming command of Battleships, Battle forc

*US Navy Photo of Vice Admiral Davis F. Sellers and Battleships, Battle Force Staff 193

*US Navy Biography of Admiral Louis M. Nulton, USN (Retired

*US Navy Photo Vice Admiral H. A. Wiley, USN as Commander, Battleship

*US Navy Biography of Admiral Henry A. Wiley, USN (Retired

*US Navy Biography of Admiral Louis Rudolph De Steigue

*US Navy Biography of Admiral Joseph M. Reeves, USN (Retired

*VADM W.R. Shoemaker, Commander Battleships 1922 listed in Army-Navy Register Defense Time

*VADM William R. Shoemaker listed as Commander, Battleships 1922 in Our Navy, the Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy, Volume 1

*1940 New York Times Obituary of Admiral Lucius A. Bostwic

*NH 55465 Admiral William V. Pratt, Admiral Louis McCoy Nulton, and Vice Admiral Lucius A. Bostwick Photo

* Admiral William V. Pratt, USN, Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Fleet (left); Admiral Louis McCoy Nulton, USN, Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet (center); and Vice Admiral Lucius A. Bostwick, USN, Commander Battleship Divisions, Battle Fleet, on a battleship, circa 1930 photo.

*US Navy History and Heritage Command DANFS information on USS Bostwick (DE-103), which includes biographical information and service summary for Vice Admiral Lucius A. Bostwic

Type commands of the United States Navy, BatPac Battleship units and formations of the United States Navy

Commanders

See also

References