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The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level unit of the U.S. armed forces, under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its homeport is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii, headed by Commander Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), usually a four-star admiral. Prior to 24 October 2002, the commander was titled Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT).

A Pacific Fleet was created in 1907 when the Asiatic Squadron and the Pacific Squadron were joined. In 1910, the ships of the First Squadron, were organized back into a separate Asiatic Fleet. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence.

The fleet's modern incarnation dates from the splitting of the United States Fleet up into the Atlantic and Pacific fleets prior to World War II.

Until May of 1940, this unit was stationed on the west coast of the United States. During the summer of that year, as part of the U.S. response to Japanese expansionism, it was instructed to take an 'advanced' position at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Long term basing at Pearl was opposed by the Admiral commanding, James Richardson, so strongly that he personally protested in Washington. Political considerations were thought sufficiently important that he was relieved by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel who was in command at the time of Pearl Harbor.

Admiral Claude C. Bloch commanded the local Naval District at Pearl, as distinct from the Fleet, at the time of the Attack.

Currently, the Pacific Fleet consists of the numbered 3rd and 7th Fleet.

Composition of the Pacific Fleet - May 1941

At this time, the fleet consisted of 9 battleships, 3 aircraft carriers, 12 heavy cruisers, 8 light cruisers, 50 destroyers, 33 submarines, and 100 patrol bombers. This was approximately the unit's strength at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Commanders

Early years

1941 – present

See also

External links

Fleets | United States Navy organization

Pazifikflotte (USA) | 太平洋艦隊

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "United States Pacific Fleet".

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