The Sixth Fleet is a
numbered fleet 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 ...
operating as part of
United States Naval Forces Europe
United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA), is the United States Navy component command of the United States European Command and United States Africa Command. Prior to 2020, CNE-CNA was previously referred to as United States Naval Forces ...
. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at
Naval Support Activity Naples Naval Support Activity Naples (NSA Naples) is a United States Navy military complex, located adjacent to Naples International Airport in Capodichino, Naples, Italy.
The Activity is under Italian military control and can be managed anytime by Itali ...
, Italy.
The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in 2011 is that it "conducts the full range of Maritime Operations and Theater Security Cooperation missions, in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties, in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa." The current commander of the Sixth Fleet is Vice Admiral
Thomas E. Ishee.
The Sixth Fleet was established in February 1950 by redesignation of the former Sixth Task Fleet, which in turn was the 1948 redesignation of U S Naval Forces, Mediterranean.
Since that time, it has been continually engaged in world affairs around the Mediterranean, and, on occasion, further afield. It was involved in numerous NATO maritime exercises, the
U.S. Lebanese intervention of 1958, confrontation with the Soviets during the
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egy ...
(also known as the October War) of 1973, clearance of the Suez Canal after 1973, several confrontations with Libya during the 1980s (including
Operation El Dorado Canyon), and maintenance of task forces in the
Adriatic
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) ...
during the wars in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Most recently it launched airstrikes on Libya again during the
Libyan Civil War
Demographics of Libya is the demography of Libya, specifically covering population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, and religious affiliations, as well as other aspects of the Libyan population. The ...
of 2011.
History
![US 6th Fleet underway in the Med c1954](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/US_6th_Fleet_underway_in_the_Med_c1954.jpg)
The United States has maintained a naval presence in the Mediterranean since the early 19th century, when U.S. Naval forces first engaged the
Barbary pirates
The Barbary pirates, or Barbary corsairs or Ottoman corsairs, were Muslim pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Salé, Rabat, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, Libya, Tripoli. This area was known i ...
to prevent them from interfering with commercial shipping. The earliest unit was the
Mediterranean Squadron.
On 1 February 1946, U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters (
NavNAW
The United States Eighth Fleet was a numbered fleet of the United States Navy established 15 March 1943 from Northwest African Force. It operated in the Mediterranean Sea during World War II with a main mission of amphibious warfare, and then wa ...
), was redesignated U.S. Naval Forces, Mediterranean. The force was responsible to
U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF), is the United States Navy component command of the United States European Command and United States Africa Command. Prior to 2020, NAVEUR-NAVAF was previously referred to as United States ...
in London, and had as its flagship a destroyer tender, anchored at Naples, Italy. In 1946,
President Truman
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
dispatched the battleship to the Eastern Mediterranean, ostensibly to return the body of
Münir Ertegün
Munir Ertegun ( Turkish spelling: Münir Ertegün; 1883 – 11 November 1944) was a Turkish legal counsel in international law to the "Sublime Porte" (imperial government) of the late Ottoman Empire and a diplomat of the Republic of Turkey duri ...
, former Turkish Ambassador to Washington, back to Istanbul. However, perhaps a much stronger motive was to demonstrate U.S. power in view of Soviet threats to Turkey and Iran. The cruiser relieved the tender as
flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
and began operating with the fleet. In June 1946 , flying the flag of Vice Admiral
Bernhard Bieri, Commander, Naval Forces Mediterranean, was despatched to
Trieste
Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into provi ...
.
On 5 September 1946, , flying the flag of Rear Admiral
John H. Cassady
John Howard Cassady (April 3, 1896 – January 25, 1969) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He was Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1954 to 1956. Prior to his assignment, Cassady had ...
, Commander
Carrier Division 1, and accompanied by , , and , visited
Piraeus
Piraeus ( ; el, Πειραιάς ; grc, Πειραιεύς ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens' city centre, along the east coast of the Saronic ...
, the port of Athens. , escorted by USS ''Fargo'' and , visited Greece in December 1946.
The title of Naval Forces Mediterranean was changed to Commander Sixth Task Fleet and then, in 1950, Commander, Sixth Fleet. Sixth Fleet's NATO guise was the principal player in
Exercise Longstep
Exercise Longstep was a ten-day NATO naval exercise held in the Mediterranean Sea during November 1952 under the overall command of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN, the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCAFSOUTH). This exercise in ...
during November 1952. In 1957, a naval exercise,
Operation Deep Water, took place within the
Allied Forces Southern Europe
Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) is a NATO military command based in Lago Patria, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after effectively redesigning its predecessor command, Allied Forces Sou ...
area of responsibility
Area of responsibility (AOR) is a pre-defined geographic region assigned to Combatant commanders of the Unified Command Plan (UCP), that are used to define an area with specific geographic boundaries where they have the authority to plan and cond ...
. It was conducted by
Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe
Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) is the principal naval service command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO), replacing Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe (STRIKFORS ...
(STRIKFORSOUTH), commanded by
Vice Admiral Charles R. Brown
Charles Randall Brown (23 December 1899 – 8 December 1983) was a United States Navy four-star admiral.
Brown was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1917, graduating in 1921. He was assigned to in July and then transferred ...
USN, who also commanded the Sixth Fleet.
STRIKEFORSOUTH was effectively the NATO designation for the U.S. Sixth Fleet, though additional NATO headquarters personnel would eventually be assigned, while maintaining American control over its nuclear weapons on board U.S. aircraft carriers as mandated by the
Atomic Energy Act of 1946
The Atomic Energy Act of 1946 (McMahon Act) determined how the United States would control and manage the nuclear technology it had jointly developed with its World War II allies, the United Kingdom and Canada. Most significantly, the Act rule ...
.
Sixth Fleet supported American land forces during
Operation Blue Bat
The 1958 Lebanon crisis (also known as the Lebanese Civil War of 1958) was a political crisis in Lebanon caused by political and religious tensions in the country that included a United States military intervention. The intervention lasted for aro ...
in Lebanon in 1958.
On 20 January 1967, following France's withdrawal from the
NATO Military Command Structure, and the removal of NATO troops from France, Sixth Fleet Headquarters was moved from
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer (, ; oc, Vilafranca de Mar ; it, Villafranca Marittima ) is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera and is located south-west of the Principality of ...
, France to Gaeta, Italy.
During the Cold War, the Sixth Fleet had several confrontations with the
Soviet Navy's
5th Operational Squadron
The 5th Squadron (Russian: пятая эскадра, translit. ''pyataya eskadra'', was a squadron of the Soviet Navy.
The squadron was first established in 1963–64 during the Cold War. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) genera ...
, notably during the 1973
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egy ...
.
During the Yom Kippur War
Elmo Zumwalt
Elmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. (November 29, 1920 – January 2, 2000) was a United States Navy officer and the youngest person to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. As an admiral and later the 19th Chief of Naval Operations, Zumwalt played a m ...
describes part of the Sixth Fleet buildup as follows:
On 25 October JCS directed TG 20.1, and escorts, to ome under the command of..ComSixthFleet as TG 60.3 and proceed to join TG 60 south of Crete. Additionally, and escorts (TG 60.2) and TF61/62 he amphibious task forceswere directed to join TG 60.1 south of Crete. ...TG 100.1 (Baltic destroyers) were ordered to proceed to the Mediterranean and chop to ComSixthFleet...
5 April 1974, the United States and Egypt agreed that the United States would provide extensive assistance to clear the
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal ( arz, قَنَاةُ ٱلسُّوَيْسِ, ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. The long canal is a popular ...
of mines, unexploded ordnance, and sunken ships. These operations took the form of Nimbus Star (mine and ordnance clearance), Nimbus Moon (land and sub-surface naval ordnance clearance), and Nimrod Spar, in which a private salvage contractor would clear the canal of the ten sunken ships under the supervision of the Sixth Fleet's Task Force 65. Captain J. Huntly Boyd, the Navy's Supervisor of Salvage, was sent to the Canal Zone as Commander, Salvage Task Group (CTG 65.7). He supervised the actual salvage clearing operation which was carried out by the Murphy Pacific Marine Salvage Company of New York. A total of ten ships blocked the canal; 200 civilian specialists worked from May to December 1974 to complete the operation. The canal reopened on 5 June 1975, with the Sixth Fleet flagship ''Little Rock'' in attendance.
On the afternoon of 8 June 1967, while in international waters off the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula, Liberty was attacked and damaged by the Israel Defense Forces; 34 American sailors were killed and 174 wounded by the Israeli attack. Though Liberty was severely damaged, with a 39-by-24-foot (11.9 m × 7.3 m) hole amidships and a twisted keel, her crew kept her afloat, and she was able to leave the area under her own power. After the attack, she was escorted to Valletta, Malta, by units of the Sixth Fleet and was given temporary repairs. After the repairs were completed, Liberty returned to the United States on 27 July 1967. She was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 June 1968. She was laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet of Norfolk until December 1970, when she was transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal. In 1973, she was sold for scrapping to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1999, changes to CINCUSNAVEUR's area of responsibility were announced, after amendments to the Unified Command Plan. The United States Atlantic Command areas that had included the waters off Europe and the west coast of Africa were to be transferred to European Command. U.S. European Command already had responsibility for all U.S. land and air military planning in Europe and most of Africa. The change gave EUCOM, and NAVEUR, the responsibility for maritime planning in the same general area of operations. The changes were made effective on October 1, 2000. The Atlantic Command areas that presently include the waters off Europe and the west coast of Africa were also transferred to European Command. This change also extended Sixth Fleet's responsibilities to the mid-Atlantic.
The Sixth Fleet provided military, logistical and humanitarian assistance to support NATO operations in
Kosovo
Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...
from the beginning of
Operation Allied Force. It also participated in
Operation Shining Hope {{unreferenced, date=November 2007
Joint Task Force (JTF) Shining Hope was the United States contribution to Operation Allied Harbor. The mission of JTF Shining Hope was to conduct foreign humanitarian assistance operations in support of US governme ...
and
Operation Joint Guardian. In March 2011, it was involved in
operations in Libya pursuant to
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973
Resolution 1973 was adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 17 March 2011 in response to the First Libyan Civil War. The resolution formed the legal basis for military intervention in the Libyan Civil War, demanding "an immediate cease ...
.
Structure
![USN Fleets (2009)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/USN_Fleets_%282009%29.png)
The fleet once had its headquarters in
Gaeta
Gaeta (; lat, Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples.
The town has played a consp ...
, Italy, commanded by a
Vice Admiral. However, beginning in 2004, the Sixth Fleet staff was combined with United States Naval Forces Europe staff, up to that time headquartered in London. Since then the staff has operated as a single entity with a four star admiral who serves as Commander, Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Naval Forces Africa. This admiral has a three star Deputy Commander who also carries the title Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. The staff as a whole is known as Commander, Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet or CNE-CNA/C6F and works from its facilities at
Naval Support Activity Naples Naval Support Activity Naples (NSA Naples) is a United States Navy military complex, located adjacent to Naples International Airport in Capodichino, Naples, Italy.
The Activity is under Italian military control and can be managed anytime by Itali ...
at the
Capodichino
San Pietro a Patierno is a suburb of Naples, the chief city in Campania, Italy.
Geography
It is one of the largest suburbs of Naples and is relatively lightly populated compared to surrounding areas, with around 20,000 residents. The district of ...
site in
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
, Italy.
is the Sixth Fleet
flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
with its homeport Gaeta, Italy and operating in the Mediterranean.
U.S. Naval forces entering the Mediterranean Sea have their operational control changed to being under Sixth Fleet. This change of command is always referred to as 'CHOPing,' an abbreviation for Change of Operational Control. Sixth Fleet has consisted of up to 40 ships, 175 aircraft and 21,000 people, such as in early 2003, when two carrier battle groups operated in the Mediterranean during
Operation Iraqi Freedom
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
.
Since the submarine tender , based in
La Maddalena
La Maddalena (Gallurese: ''Madalena'' or ''La Madalena'', sc, Sa Madalena) is a town and ''comune'' located on the islands of the Maddalena archipelago in the province of Sassari, northern Sardinia, Italy.
The main town of the same name is locat ...
in Sardinia, changed homeports to Bremerton, Washington, the fleet has just one permanently assigned ship, ''Mount Whitney''. The fleet typically has a number of frigates and destroyers assigned, as well as those vessels transiting between the East Coast and the Suez. Since 2005, Sixth Fleet ships have increasingly been operating around Africa, particularly in the
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean from Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian (zero degrees latitude and longitude) is in the ...
.
The Sixth Fleet is operationally organized into
task forces. Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe included Task Force 502 (Carrier Forces, effectively
Task Force 60
Task Force 60 is a task force of the United States Navy. It is often referred to by the abbreviation CTF 60 (Commander, Task Force 60). As of 2011 Task Force 60 will normally be the commander of Naval Task Force Europe and Africa. Any naval unit ...
), Task Force 503 (Amphibious Forces), Task Force 504 (Landing Forces), Task Force 505 (Logistics Forces), and Task Force 506 (Special Operations Forces).
Destroyer squadron 60
Destroyer Squadron 60
Destroyer Squadron 60 (DESRON 60) is a destroyer squadron of the United States Navy. Destroyer Squadron 60 is one of three U.S. Navy destroyer squadrons permanently based outside the continental United States.
World War Two
During World War Two, ...
(DESRON SIX ZERO) was established on 19 February 2003. It was homeported in
Gaeta
Gaeta (; lat, Cāiēta; Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio, Southern Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples.
The town has played a consp ...
, Italy. The establishment of Destroyer Squadron Sixty provided CNE/COMSIXTHFLT with a permanently assigned destroyer squadron, increasing the Sixth Fleet's options when undertaking national and theater level tasking.
From November 2007 to April 2008, COMDESRON 60 (Commander, Destroyer Squadron 60's commander) served as Commander
Africa Partnership Station
Africa Partnership Station (or APS) is an international initiative developed by United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa, which works cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security in Africa as part of U ...
with an international staff operating off West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
He also serves as Commander, Task Force 365, Task Force West and Central Africa.
Task Force 60
Task Force 60
Task Force 60 is a task force of the United States Navy. It is often referred to by the abbreviation CTF 60 (Commander, Task Force 60). As of 2011 Task Force 60 will normally be the commander of Naval Task Force Europe and Africa. Any naval unit ...
was for many years the Sixth Fleet's Battle Force. When any
carrier strike group enters into the Mediterranean operating area it is usually designated TF 60 and the battle group commander, a one or two-star flag officer, assumes duties as Commander Task Force 60 (CTF 60) from COMDESRON 60. The Task Force is often composed of one or more
aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...
s, each with an accompanying complement of two to six cruisers and destroyers. On board the aircraft carrier is a
Carrier air wing of 65–85 aircraft. This air wing is the primary striking arm of the Strike Group, and includes attack, fighter, anti-submarine, and reconnaissance aircraft.
During the 1986 confrontation with
Libya
Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...
, that led to
Operation El Dorado Canyon, the Sixth Fleet's battle force was under the command of Rear Admiral
David E. Jeremiah
David Elmer Jeremiah (February 25, 1934 – October 7, 2013) was a United States Navy admiral who served as the second vice chairman and also the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After his retirement from the Navy in February 19 ...
. Task Group 60.1 under Rear Admiral J.C. Breast was made up of the ''Coral Sea'' and her escorts, Task Group 60.2 under Jeremiah, ''Saratoga'' and her escorts, and Task Group 60.3 under Rear Admiral
Henry H. Mauz, Jr., ''America'' and her escorts. Task Group 60.5, the Surface Action Group under Captain Robert L. Goodwin, was made up of a missile cruiser, missile destroyer, and another destroyer.
In November 2007, Task Group 60.4 held the
Africa Partnership Station
Africa Partnership Station (or APS) is an international initiative developed by United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa, which works cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security in Africa as part of U ...
role, embarked aboard the amphibious ship .
HSV ''Swift'' was scheduled to join ''Fort McHenry'' in Africa in November 2007. In 2012, Task Group 60.5 was permanently assigned as the Southeast Africa Task Group. The Group may be renamed the South and East Africa Task Group. It held the alternate designation of Task Force 363.
As of 2011 Task Force 60 will normally be the commander of Naval Task Force Europe and Africa. Any naval unit within the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR may be assigned to TF 60 as required upon signal from the Commander of the Sixth Fleet.
Task Force 61, amphibious assault force
Task Force 61 was the Mediterranean
Amphibious Ready Group. It is composed of approximately three amphibious ships and their embarked landing craft. From these ships, United States Marine amphibious forces can move ashore by sea and air in amphibious assault or emergency evacuation missions. Once ashore, the ships of Task Force 61 logistically support the ground forces, until the objective of the landing has been accomplished, and the Marine Forces return to the ships.
As of 2011, according to official NavEur/NavAf Public Affairs sources, Task Force 61 will normally be the commander of the deployed carrier strike group (CSG) and will exercise operational control of all units assigned to TF61 operating in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR.
Task Force 62, landing force (Marine expeditionary unit)
Task Force 62 is the combat-ready ground force composed of a
Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) of approximately 1,900 Marines. Transported in Task Force 61 ships, the MEU is equipped with armor, artillery, and transport helicopters that enable it to conduct operations ashore, or evacuate civilians from troubled areas. This MEU is usually from
II MEF
The II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a ...
on the East Coast.
As of 2011, according to official Public Affairs sources, Task Force 62 will normally be the commander of the deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and will exercise operational control of all units assigned to TF61 operating in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR.
Task Force 63 logistics force
Task Force 63
Task may refer to:
* Task (computing), in computing, a program execution context
* Task (language instruction) refers to a certain type of activity used in language instruction
* Task (project management), an activity that needs to be accomplished ...
is the Logistics Force. Task Force 63 and
Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US m ...
's Sealift Logistics Command (SEALOGEUR) are two separately named formations that actually operate as a unified one with one staff. Task Force 63 is headquartered at
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
, Italy. Composed of oilers, provision ships, and repair ships, its mission is the delivery of supplies at sea, and effecting repairs to other ships and equipment of the Fleet. Commander, Task Force 63 (CTF-63) is the operational commander of all the U.S. 6th Fleet air and sea logistics. While in theater, Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force and Special Mission ships report to CTF-63 along with cargo planes that support 6th Fleet and U.S. European Command logistics missions.
CTF-63 is also responsible for ordering and tracking spare parts and supplies being delivered to ships in theater. CTF-63 is the immediate operational commander of
Maritime Prepositioning ship
Strategic sealift ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's (MSC) prepositioning program. There are currently 17 ships in the program, strategically positioned around the world to support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp ...
Squadron One (MPSRON ONE) based in the Mediterranean Sea. The ships of MPSRON One are deployed year-round. This pre-positions U.S. military cargo at sea. Should a military or humanitarian crisis arise in theater, the squadron can deliver its cargo ashore, enabling a faster U.S. response.
Task Force 64 Integrated Air and Missile Defense Force
The first incarnation of
Task Force 64 consisted of nuclear-powered submarines armed with long-range strategic missiles (
SSBN
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. The United States Navy's hull classification symbols for ballistic missile submarines are SSB and SSBN – ...
). Until the end of the 1970s these ships were homeported in
Naval Station Rota, Spain
Naval Station Rota, also known as NAVSTA Rota ( es, Base Naval de Rota, links=no), is a Spanish-American naval base commanded by a Spanish Rear Admiral. Located in Rota in the Province of Cádiz, NAVSTA Rota is the largest American military com ...
. The mission was nuclear
deterrence
Deterrence may refer to:
* Deterrence theory, a theory of war, especially regarding nuclear weapons
* Deterrence (penology), a theory of justice
* Deterrence (psychology), a psychological theory
* ''Deterrence'' (film), a 1999 drama starring Kev ...
. It is extremely unlikely that any SSBNs are actually still assigned or operate with CNE/C6F in the Mediterranean.
Previously, CTF 64 was responsible for ballistic missile submarines assigned to the Sixth Fleet. CTF 64's administrative title, was Commander Submarine Group 8. ComSubGru 8's operational functions were accomplished through four Task Forces: CTF 64, CTF 69 (attack submarines), NATO's CTF 442, or deployed SSBNs and CTF 439, the operational title for Commander Submarines Allied Naval Forces South—the rear admiral's NATO hat. (globalsecurity.org)
TF 64 then became a Special Operation force, previously headquartered by the now-disbanded Naval Special Warfare Unit 10 at
Rota, Spain. NSWU 10 disbanded in 2005, and it is now unclear whether CTF 64 is operating currently. During the initial stages of
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
in Afghanistan, Task Force 64 became the administrative command structure created to interface with all non-UK/US special forces and smaller ground combat forces provided by various national governments and under American operational control. This may have been because NSWU 10 elements deployed to Afghanistan to form part of the HQ.
On 24 March 2016 TF64 assumed control of 6th Fleet's missile defense mission.
Task Force 65
April 1967 saw the threat of civil war in Greece commencing with the military coup that ended parliamentary rule there. Although King
Constantine II of Greece held his throne, the possibility of violence in the streets of Athens loomed as a potential threat to the American citizens suddenly caught up in the turmoil. It seemed that evacuation by ship might be necessary and the Sixth Fleet commander ordered the formation of a special operations task force. Under the command of Rear Admiral
Dick H. Guinn
Dick Henry Guinn (March 27, 1918 – August 26, 1980) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A Naval Academy graduate, he distinguished himself as pilot and flight leader of Fighter Squadron 94 dur ...
, Task Force 65, with ''America'' as
flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...
, sailed eastward to stand by for evacuation, should that step be necessary. Violence never materialized in Greece, and the task force was not called upon to act. On 29 April, Rear Admiral
Lawrence R. Geis relieved Rear Admiral Guinn as Commander,
Carrier Division 4
Carrier may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos
* ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game
* ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...
, Commander, TF 60, Commander, TF 65, and Commander, TF 502 (NATO). With a new admiral on board, and the Greek political crisis behind her, ''America'' sailed into Taranto Harbor, Italy, on the first day of May for eight days of relaxation. During three days of general visiting in Taranto, ''America'' hosted 1,675 visitors who came aboard to tour the hangar and flight decks. ''America'' departed Taranto on 8 May for routine task group operations in the Ionian and
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea (; it, Mar Tirreno , french: Mer Tyrrhénienne , sc, Mare Tirrenu, co, Mari Tirrenu, scn, Mari Tirrenu, nap, Mare Tirreno) is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenian pe ...
s, she followed these with a port visit to Livorno.
Rear Admiral Brian McCauley served as Commander
Task Force 65
The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in ...
during the
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal ( arz, قَنَاةُ ٱلسُّوَيْسِ, ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. The long canal is a popular ...
clearance operations, from April 1974 to June 1975.
Task Force 65/
Destroyer Squadron 60
Destroyer Squadron 60 (DESRON 60) is a destroyer squadron of the United States Navy. Destroyer Squadron 60 is one of three U.S. Navy destroyer squadrons permanently based outside the continental United States.
World War Two
During World War Two, ...
located in Naples, Italy. Commander, Task Force 65/Commander Destroyer Squadron SIX ZERO exercises operational and tactical control of all forward deployed surface combatants operating in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM AORs under the direction of Naval Forces Europe/Africa. TF 65 surface combatants execute myriad operations from as far north as the Norwegian Sea and south to the Cape of Good Hope including Ballistic Missile Defense, Sea Lines of Communication enforcement, Maritime Interdiction Operations, direct support to NATO combined and Joint operations and exercises, Counter-terrorism operations, Counter-piracy operations, Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership operations, whole of government Africa Partnership Station deployments and Theater Security Cooperation activities both in port and underway.
It can be seen from this 2011 official description that the CDS 60 task force designator has been switched from TF 60 to TF 65.
In November 2007, the destroyer ''Forrest Sherman'' circumnavigated the
African continent
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
while performing theater security operations with local military forces as the flagship of Task Group 60.5, the U.S. Navy's Southeast Africa task force.
Task Force 66
Task Force 66
Task may refer to:
* Task (computing), in computing, a program execution context
* Task (language instruction) refers to a certain type of activity used in language instruction
* Task (project management), an activity that needs to be accomplished ...
will usually be the commander of the deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and will exercise operational control of all units assigned to TF66 operating in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR.
Task Force 67 land-based maritime patrol aircraft
Task Force 67
Task Force 67 was created by William Halsey, Jr. during Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II and consisted of several destroyers and cruisers:
* heavy cruiser
* heavy cruiser
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**
* heavy cruiser
* light cruiser
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**
**
**
* destroyer
* ...
is composed of land-based maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft operate over the waters of the Mediterranean in anti-submarine, reconnaissance, surveillance, and mining roles.
In the past, Task Force 67's has been provided by Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean (COMFLTAIRMED), but it is unclear whether FLTAIRMED still exists. The Task Force commander also previously held the role of
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
AFSOUTH's Commander, Maritime Air, Allied Naval Forces South with the NATO task force designator TF 431.
Task Force organisation 1999:
[This Task Force organization for TF-67 was taken from "CTF-67 Command History CY-97", sourced from FLTAIRMED website, 29 May 1999.]
* TG-67.1 Maritime Surv & Recce Det Sigonella (Sicily)
** TU-67.1.1 Patrol Squadron Sigonella (VP)
* TG-67.2 Maritime Surv & Recce Det Rota (Spain)
** TU-67.2.1 Patrol Squadron Rota (when activated; VP)
* TG-67.3 Patrol Squadron, Souda Bay, (Crete)(When activated)
* TG-67.4 VQ-2 (Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two)(Whidbey Island, Washington) (EP-3)
*
* TG-67.8 CROF Souda Bay, Crete
As of 2011, officially Task Force 67's mission is to provide responsive, interoperable, and expeditionary combat ready maritime patrol aircraft and supporting forces to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Africa
and Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (CNE-CNA-C6F), NATO and Unified Commanders to conduct effective Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), maintain
Maritime Domain Awareness
Maritime domain awareness (MDA) is defined by the International Maritime Organization as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment.
MDA is said to w ...
(MDA), enhance regional stability, promote cooperative maritime safety and security, and be decisive while conducting overseas contingency operations.
At some point between 1999 and 2012, probably after 11 September 2001, TG-67.6 was activated in
Djibouti
Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
. This is within the
United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of operations; before the changeover of responsibility for the
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
from
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM or CENTCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1983, taking over the previous responsibilities of the Rapid Deployment Joint Tas ...
to AFRICOM, this task group was a component of the
United States Fifth Fleet
The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It has been responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean since 1995 after a 48-year hiatus. It shares a commander and headq ...
's
Task Force 57
Task Force 57 (TF 57) is a US Navy task force.
It was previously active during World War II. Task Force numbers were in constant use, and there were several incarnations of TF 57 during World War II. Land based bombers of the United States Air Fo ...
.
Task Force 68, maritime force protection force
Established 17 March 2005, CTF 68 is to command force protection forces such as construction battalions, mobile mine assembly units, and Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Teams (FAST) platoons which are part of Marine Corps Security Force Company Europe (MCSFCoEUR).
Task Force 68 is the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force. Units typically assigned to TF 68 are Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, Naval Construction units and Marines which make up the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Teams (FAST).
A possibly more recent mission for CTF 68 is Commander, Task Force SIX EIGHT conducts Explosive Ordnance Disposal operations, Naval Construction, Expeditionary Security and Theater Security Cooperation in order to maintain strategic assess, develop interoperability with coalition, joint, inter-agency and other partners, and increase security and stability in Europe and Africa. On order, conduct Point and Area Defense to protect and defend critical infrastructure and High Value Assets against terrorist attack. Be prepared to conduct Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations.
Task Force 69 submarine warfare
Task Force 69 is responsible for planning and coordinating area submarine and anti-submarine warfare operations in the Mediterranean. Specifically,
Task Force 69 is composed of
attack submarine
An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "mul ...
s that provide capability to destroy enemy surface ships and submarines, as well as protect other Sixth Fleet ships from attack.
As of 2011, according to official U.S. Navy public affairs contributions to Wikipedia, Task Force 69 is the Submarine Force and exercises operational control of all Submarine assets in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR.
Past command ships
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* (Current)
Sixth Fleet commanders
# 1945 – July 1946 VADM
Jules James
Jules James, (February 14, 1885 – March 12, 1957), was a career U.S. Naval officer. During World War II he commanded U.S. Naval forces in Bermuda and then later oversaw the construction of a large number of U.S. Navy ships while commanding t ...
(then designated U S Naval Forces, Mediterranean)
# June 1946 – July 1948 VADM Bernhard H. Bieri (redesignated in 1948 U S Sixth Task Force)
# July 1948 – November 1949 VADM
Forrest Sherman
# November 1949 – March 1951 VADM
John J. Ballentine
John Jennings Ballentine (4 October 1896 – 21 May 1970) was an early United States Naval Aviator who commanded the escort carrier and the fleet carrier during World War II. After the war, he commanded the United States Sixth Fleet and Naval A ...
(redesignated in 1950 U S Sixth Fleet)
# March 1951 – May 1952 VADM
Matthias B. Gardner
Matthias Bennett Gardner (28 November 1897 24 August 1975) was an American naval officer, rear admiral and later, vice admiral of the United States Navy. He served during the World War II at various posts and units, including assistant commande ...
# May 1952 – March 1954 VADM
John H. Cassady
John Howard Cassady (April 3, 1896 – January 25, 1969) was an admiral in the United States Navy. He was Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean from 1954 to 1956. Prior to his assignment, Cassady had ...
# June 1954 – March 1955 VADM Thomas S. Combs
# March 1955 – April 1956 VADM
Ralph A. Ofstie
# April 1956 – August 1956 VADM
Harry D. Felt
# August 1956 – September 1958 VADM
Charles R. Brown
Charles Randall Brown (23 December 1899 – 8 December 1983) was a United States Navy four-star admiral.
Brown was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1917, graduating in 1921. He was assigned to in July and then transferred ...
# Sept 1958 – September 1959 VADM
Clarence Ekstrom
Clarence Eugene Ekstrom (March 10, 1902 – January 11, 1986) was a naval aviator and vice admiral in the United States Navy, who served during World War II.
Biography
Ekstrom was born in Waupaca, Wisconsin, and graduated from the United Stat ...
# September 1959 – July 1961 VADM
George Anderson
# July 1961 – March 1963 VADM
David L. McDonald
David Lamar McDonald (September 12, 1906 – December 16, 1997) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who served as the 17th Chief of Naval Operations from 1 August 1963 to 1 August 1967 during the Vietnam War era.
Early life and education
...
# March 1963 – June 1964 VADM William Gentner
# June 1964 – September 1966 VADM
William E. Ellis
# September 1966 – April 1967 VADM
Frederick Ashworth
Frederick Lincoln "Dick" Ashworth (24 January 1912 – 3 December 2005) was a United States Navy officer who served as the weaponeer on the B-29 ''Bockscar'' that dropped a Fat Man atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan on 9 August 1945 during World W ...
# April 1967 – August 1968 VADM William Martin
# August 1968 – August 1970 VADM
David C. Richardson
# August 1970 – October 1971 VADM
Isaac C. Kidd Jr.
Isaac Campbell Kidd Jr. (August 14, 1919 – June 27, 1999) was an American admiral in the United States Navy who served as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO's Atlantic Fleet, and also as commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 19 ...
# October 1971– June 1973 VADM
Gerald E. Miller
Gerald Edward Miller (July 1, 1919 – November 6, 2014) was a Vice admiral (United States), vice admiral in the United States Navy. He was a commander of the United States Sixth Fleet (from October 1971 – June 1973). He graduated in 1942 from th ...
# June 1973 – September 1974 VADM
Daniel J. Murphy
Daniel Joseph Murphy Sr. (March 24, 1922 – September 21, 2001) was a four-star Admiral (United States), admiral in the United States Navy and an official in the Jimmy Carter, Carter and Ronald Reagan, Reagan administrations.
Murphy grew up in ...
# September 1974 – August 1976 VADM
Frederick C. Turner
# August 1976 – September 1978 VADM
Harry D. Train II
Harry Depue Train II (born November 5, 1927) is a retired United States Navy Admiral (United States), admiral and a Fellow, Senior Fellow at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.
# September 1978 – July 1979 VADM
James D. Watkins
James David Watkins (March 7, 1927 – July 26, 2012) was a United States Navy Admiral (United States), admiral and former Chief of Naval Operations who served as the United States Secretary of Energy during the George H. W. Bush administration, ...
# July 1979 – June 1981 VADM
William N. Small
William Newell Small (February 22, 1927 – December 9, 2016) was a four star admiral in the United States Navy who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief, NATO Allied Forces Southern Europe and United States Naval Forces E ...
# June 1981 – July 1983 VADM
William H. Rowden
William Henry Rowden (May 12, 1930 – October 15, 2022) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. He was a former commander of the United States Sixth Fleet (from June 1981 – July 1983). He also served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations ...
# July 1983 – February 1985 VADM
Edward H. Martin
Edward Holmes Martin (September 30, 1931 – December 23, 2014) was a Vice admiral (United States), vice admiral in the United States Navy. Martin attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in the class of 1954. He was also an alumnus of ...
# February 1985 – June 1986 VADM
Frank Kelso II
# June 1986 – August 1988 VADM Kendall Moranville
# August 1988 – November 1990 VADM
J. D. Williams
J.D. Williams (born May 22, 1978) is an American actor known for his starring roles in the HBO television programs '' Oz'' as Kenny Wangler, ''The Wire'' as Bodie Broadus and ''Pootie Tang'' as Froggy, ''Surviving Family'' (2012) as Bobby, ''T ...
# November 1990– July 1992 VADM
William Owens
# July 1992 – December 1993 VADM
Thomas J. Lopez
Admiral Thomas Joseph Lopez (born January 29, 1940) is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as Commander in Chief, United States Naval Forces Europe
United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA), is the United States Nav ...
# December 1993 – April 1995 VADM
Joseph Prueher
Joseph Wilson Prueher (born November 25, 1942) is a former admiral of the United States Navy who was United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 1999 to 2001. He was succeeded as ambassador by Clark T. Randt Jr.
Early li ...
# April 1995 – July 1996 VADM
Donald L. Pilling
Donald Lee Pilling (June 4, 1943 – May 26, 2008) was a four-star United States Navy admiral who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1997 to 2000.
Military career
A 1965 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Pilling's sea ...
# July 1996 – July 1998 VADM
Charles S. Abbot
Charles Stevenson "Steve" Abbot (born January 19, 1945) is a retired United States Navy Admiral who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command (DCINCEUR) from 1998 to 2000.
Military career
Abbot was born on January 19, ...
# July 1998 – October 2000 VADM Daniel Murphy Jr
# October 2000 – October 2001 VADM
Gregory G. Johnson
Admiral Gregory Gordon Johnson (born July 11, 1946) is a retired United States Navy admiral and former commander of United States Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces Southern Europe.
Naval career
Johnson is from Westmanland, Maine. He attende ...
# October 2001 – November 2003 VADM
Scott Fry
Vice Admiral Scott Allen Fry (born Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania), is a former Director of the Joint Staff for the United States Department of Defense, who previously served as commander of the United States Sixth Fleet, Sixth ...
# November 2003– May 2005 VADM
H. G. Ulrich III
# May 2005 – September 2007 VADM
J. "Boomer" Stufflebeem
# September 2007 – August 2008 VADM
James A. Winnefeld, Jr.
Sandy Winnefeld (born James Alexander Winnefeld Jr.; April 24, 1956) is a retired United States Navy admiral who serves as the chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board since May 4, 2022. While on active duty, Winnefeld served as the ...
# August 2008 – November 2009 VADM
Bruce W. Clingan
# November 2009 – October 2011 VADM
Harry B. Harris Jr.
# October 2011 – October 2013 VADM
Frank Craig Pandolfe
Frank Craig Pandolfe (born 1958) is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, and last served as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Before, he was the Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, the Joint Staff. He ...
# October 2013 – December 2014 VADM
Philip S. Davidson
Philip Scot Davidson (born August 24, 1960) is a retired four-star admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the 25th commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command from May 30, 2018 to April 30, 2021. He previously served as the comm ...
# December 2014 – October 2016 VADM
James G. Foggo III
# October 2016 – March 2018 VADM
Christopher W. Grady
Christopher Watson Grady (born November 28, 1962) is a United States Navy Admiral (United States), admiral who serves as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since December 20, 2021. He most recently served as the commander of Unit ...
# March 2018 – July 2020 VADM
Lisa M. Franchetti
# July 2020 – September 2022 VADM
Eugene H. Black III
Eugene Henry Black III (born 1964) is a United States Navy vice admiral and career surface warfare officer who serves as the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy since October 7, 2022. He previously served as the 30 ...
# September 2022 – present VADM
Thomas E. Ishee
See also
*
Gilla Gerzon
Gilla Gerzon ( he, גילה גרזון), known to many United States military personnel as the "mother of the 6th fleet,"Brill, Arthur P., Jr"Expeditionary USO,"''Sea Power'', Oct 1997, retrieved September 20, 2012 is an Israeli who served as di ...
– served as director of the
Haifa, Israel
Haifa ( he, חֵיפָה ' ; ar, حَيْفَا ') is the third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropol ...
USO
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
Footnotes
External links
* United States Navy
Official Commander of 6th Fleet Website* United States Navy
Official Commander of 6th Fleet Twitter page* United States Navy
Official Commander of 6th Fleet Facebook pageBlack Sea Port VisitsOrder establishing TF 68 as Maritime Force Protection Force
{{US Navy navbox
6
Military units and formations established in 1950