The Scouting Fleet was created in 1922 as part of a major, post-

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

reorganization 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 ...

. The Atlantic and Pacific fleets, which comprised a significant portion of the ships in the United States Navy, were combined into a new entity, the

United States Fleet The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The acronym CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander in Chief, United States Fleet. This was replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 ...

. Defined as "the principal naval force of the United States," the new fleet was composed of four elements: (a) the

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 ...

, (b) the Scouting Fleet, (c) the Control Force, and (d) the Fleet Base Force. Under the general heading of "Forces Not Assigned to the United States Fleet" came six categories: (a) Asiatic Fleet; (b) Naval Forces, Europe; (c) Special Service Squadrons; (d) Submarine Divisions, Atlantic; (e) Submarine Divisions, Pacific; and (f) Naval District Forces. While there was a reorganization in 1930, and the renaming of the Battle Fleet and Scouting Fleet as the Battle Force and Scouting Force, this would be the core structure of the United States Navy until the beginning of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. The Scouting Fleet (comprising battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and aircraft squadrons) was organized to conduct reconnaissance in force, in order to enable the Battle Fleet in its task of engaging, defeating, and destroying the main body of an enemy fleet. While there were numerous interwar exercises, and other deployments, the Scouting Fleet was initially primarily deployed in the Atlantic ocean, with the Battle Fleet in the Pacific ocean. Established in 1922, the fleet consisted mainly of older battleships and initially operated in the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

ocean. Returning from European waters on 21 October 1922, became the flagship of BatDiv 6, Scouting Fleet, and operated with the Scouting Fleet over the next 3½ years. In 1931, it was redesignated as the "Scouting Force." At this time, it consisted of the remaining cruisers and destroyers that were not with the Battle Force and a "Training Squadron" of three old battleships and eight destroyers. This force operated exclusively in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. In 1932, the force was moved to the Pacific. In 1940 it survived the division of the Fleet into the

U.S. Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor� ...

and the Atlantic Fleet, and served in the early part of World War II as an umbrella command for task forces.

Commanders

* VADM John Daniel McDonald (1922–1923) * VADM Newton A. McCully (June 20, 1923 - December 21, 1924) * VADM Josiah S. McKean (December 22, 1924 – September 3, 1926) * VADM Ashley H. Robertson (September 4, 1926 – May 30, 1927) * VADM Montgomery M. Taylor (June 1, 1927 - July 10, 1928)"Taylor Commands Scouting Fleet." ''The Hartford Courant.'' July 13, 1928, p. 6. * VADM William Carey Cole (July 11, 1928 - June 13, 1930) * VADM Arthur L. Willard (June 14, 1930 - June 23, 1932) * RADM Frank Hodges Clark (June 24, 1932 - May 19, 1933) * VADM Frank H. Brumby (May 20, 1933 - June 14, 1934) * VADM Arthur J. Hepburn (June 15, 1934 - June 23, 1936 * VADM William T. Tarrant (June 24, 1936 - July 2, 1938) * VADM

Adolphus Andrews Adolphus Andrews (October 7, 1879 – June 19, 1948) was a decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. A Naval Academy graduate and veteran of three wars, he is most noted for his service as Commander, Eastern Sea ...

(July 3, 1938 - February 1, 1941) * VADM Wilson Brown (February 2, 1941 - March 1942)

References

Bibliography

* Military units and formations of the United States Navy Military units and formations established in 1922 Military units and formations disestablished in the 1940s {{USN-stub