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54-704: 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 was active in 1946–47 as the heavy striking arm of the United States Atlantic Fleet . In 1941, the forces that eventually evolved into the Eighth Fleet were designated Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, under

108-639: A branch of U.S. military service, separate from the U.S. Navy, within the Department of the Navy. Furthermore, per sections 8001(a)(1), 5061(4), and 5062(a) of title 10, U.S. Code, (1) the United States Navy does not include the United States Marine Corps (2); the U.S. Marine Corps is a separate component service, from either the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Coast Guard within the Department of the Navy; and (3)

162-678: A courtesy call with the newly crowned King Saud bin Abdul Aziz in Jidda , Saudi Arabia . Later, Wright attended the coronation ceremonies of King Hussein of Jordan in May 1953. In June 1953, Wright served as the senior U.S. Navy representative at the coronation pageant of Queen Elizabeth II , including flying his flag from the heavy cruiser USS Baltimore during the Coronation Naval Review of Spithead on 15 June. Admiral Wright also made

216-579: A period after World War II, the Sixteenth and Nineteenth Fleets were assigned as the reserve elements for Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. The organization of the Navy has changed incrementally over time. During World War II administrative organization for many ship types included divisions, for example Battleship Divisions (abbreviated BatDivs), Cruiser Divisions, Destroyer Divisions, or Escort Divisions (CortDivs, also rendered ComCortDiv for Commander, Escort Division), usually composed of two ships, often members of

270-498: Is a statutory organization within the executive part of the Department of the Navy, and its purpose is to furnish professional assistance to the secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in carrying out their responsibilities. The OPNAV organization consists of: Policy documents emanating from the CNO are issued in the form of OPNAV Instructions . OPNAV is one of

324-835: Is a unique aspect of the Navy-Marine relationship. Although the Posse Comitatus Act , which prevents federal military personnel from acting in a law enforcement capacity, applies only to the Army and Air Force, Department of Defense rules effectively require the Navy and Marine Corps to act as if Posse Comitatus did apply, preventing them from enforcing Federal law. The United States Coast Guard fulfills this law enforcement role in naval operations. It provides Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) to Navy vessels, where they perform arrests and other law enforcement duties during Navy boarding and interdiction missions. In times of war, or when directed by

378-514: Is being stood up and is scheduled for completion in September 2008, which may mean a realignment of USN responsibilities for the West African area. As a result, NAVEUR is now sometimes referred to as US Naval Forces Europe-Africa and even NAVAF. There is currently however no approved plan to establish a separate Naval Forces Africa HQ. Two new task groups are active, Commander Task Group 60.4 which runs

432-714: Is commanded by Admiral Stuart B. Munsch , who also serves as NATO 's Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples . The deputy commander is currently Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson , who concurrently serves as the Sixth Fleet commander. The earliest presence of U.S. Navy forces in Europe was the Mediterranean Squadron , the European Squadron following the American Civil War , the forces were combined as part of

486-723: Is currently organized as such: The Navy maintains several "Naval Forces Commands" which operate naval shore facilities and serve as liaison units to local ground forces of the Air Force and Army. Such commands are answerable to a Fleet Commander as the shore protector component of the afloat command. In times of war, Commander Naval Forces Korea becomes a Task Force (Task Force 78) of the United States Seventh Fleet . Other Naval Force Commands may similarly augment to become number fleet task forces. The following shore-based bureaus, commands and components are directly subordinate to

540-505: 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 Naval Forces Europe – Naval Forces Africa and sometimes referred to as United States Naval Forces Europe – Africa . Naval Forces Europe and Africa provides overall command, operational control, and coordination of U.S. Naval Forces in

594-454: The Chief of Naval Operations :" Per sections 8001(a)(2), 8061, 8061(4), and 8063 of title 10, U.S. Code, the United States Marine Corps is (1) a separate branch of the naval service from the U.S. Navy; (2) the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Navy are distinct legal entities; (3) is, along with the U.S. Navy (and U.S. Coast Guard, when assigned) a component of the Department of the Navy; and (4)

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648-761: The Africa Partnership Station deployment series, and Commander Task Group 60.5, the Southeast Africa Task Group. The Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of responsibility (AOR) covers approximately half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antarctica; as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North Seas. NAVEUR-NAVAF covers all of Russia, Europe and nearly

702-641: The North Atlantic Fleet in 1906. In 1917, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters developed as a command under the leadership Admiral William S. Sims to oversee the European aspects of United States Navy operations during World War I . His principal subordinates were Rear Admirals Henry B. Wilson in France and Albert P. Niblack at Gibraltar . Following the cessation of hostilities and

756-858: The Secretary of the Navy . However, it is considered to be a distinct, separate service branch and not a subset of the Navy; the highest ranking Marine officer, the Commandant of the Marine Corps , does not report to a Navy officer. Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients are awarded the Navy variant, and Marines are eligible to receive the Navy Cross . The United States Naval Academy trains Marine Corps commissioned officers while prospective Navy officers undergo instruction by Marine NCO Drill Instructors at OCS . Naval Aviation includes Navy and Marine aviators , flight officers , and aircrew . The relationship extends to

810-679: The United States Sixth Fleet . Still under Hewitt's command, the renamed Eighth Fleet supported the landings in Sicily, Operation Husky , and at Salerno , Operation Avalanche, the first sustained land assault and invasion of the European mainland in World War II. Eighth Fleet then supported the August 1944 landing of Allied troops on the coast of southern France, Operation Dragoon , with heavy naval gunfire and naval air attacks. Hewitt remained as

864-738: The Allied occupation of Turkey, Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol was sent to Istanbul as Senior Naval Officer Turkey, commanding the U.S. Naval Detachment in Turkish Waters. Bristol arrived in Istanbul on 28 January 1919, and raised his flag on USS  Scorpion  (PY-3) . In August 1919 Bristol also received the diplomatic appointment of U.S. High Commissioner, responsible to the State Department for diplomatic matters in Turkey. In his naval capacity Bristol

918-582: The CINCNELM Headquarters was moved from London to Naples. In June 1952, the two commands were separated: CINCNELM Headquarters returned to London and Admiral Jerauld Wright became CINCNELM and Admiral Carney remained in Naples as CINCSOUTH. Wright became the Commander-in-Chief effective 14 June 1952. CINCELM was organized into the following subordinate commands: Wright's operational control over

972-552: The Deputy Commander-in-Chief, U.S. European Command , also noted: Jeruald Wright was promoted to the rank of admiral effective 1 April 1954. In September 1958, Admiral James L. Holloway Jr. , CINCNELM, was assigned additional duty as U.S. Commander Eastern Atlantic (USCOMEASTLANT). Under the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet , USCOMEASTLANT provided intelligence and logistic support for LANTFLT units deployed in

1026-549: The Eastern Seaboard for the Mediterranean might start out as Task Group 20.1; on crossing the mid-Atlantic boundary between Fleet Forces Command and United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa , it might become ('inchop') Task Group 60.1. The United States Navy currently has seven active numbered fleets. Various other fleets have existed, but are not currently active. Additional numbered fleets have existed; for

1080-936: The European and African Command area of responsibility. As the Navy component in Europe, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, plans, conducts, and supports naval operations in the European theater during peacetime, contingencies, in general war and as tasked by Commander, U.S. European Command. NAVAF works with European, African, and South American governments, including in the disruption of militant networks, deterrence of illicit trafficking, and against piracy and maritime crime. With its headquarters now at Naval Support Activity Naples , Naval Forces Europe and Africa directs all its naval operations through Commander, United States Sixth Fleet co-located in Naples , Italy, and support activities ashore through Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia (CNREURAFSWA), also headquartered in Naples. Naval Forces Europe and Africa

1134-509: The Marine unit shall be on the right of line or head of the column. The senior line officer, regardless of service, functions as the commander of troops." (As this is a Department of Defense/Department of the Navy regulation, no further 10 U.S. Code authority, other than already cited above, is required for the Secretary of the Navy, who supervises both the U.S Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as

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1188-580: The Middle East Force was reassigned to the administrative command of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) on 1 October 1983. CINCSOUTH and CINCUSNAVEUR again shared an Admiral when Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., who was CINCSOUTH, also took the title of CINCUSNAVEUR on 1 January 1983. Admiral Crowe retained his NATO command and headquarters in Naples, Italy. Vice Admiral Ronald J. Hays , in London, became Deputy CINCUSNAVEUR and retained

1242-956: The President, the Coast Guard operates as a service in the Navy and is subject to the orders of the Secretary of the Navy until it is transferred back to the Department of Homeland Security . At other times, Coast Guard Port Security Units are sent overseas to guard the security of ports and other assets. The Coast Guard also jointly staffs the Navy's Naval Coastal Warfare Groups and Squadrons (the latter of which were known as Harbor Defense Commands until late-2004), which oversee defense efforts in foreign littoral combat and inshore areas. Additionally, Coast Guard and Navy vessels sometimes operate together in search and rescue operations. United States Naval Forces Europe - Naval Forces Africa The United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa ( NAVEUR-NAVAF ),

1296-543: The Sixth Fleet proved to be a source of friction with Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten , RN , NATO's Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean (CINCAFMED). Mountbatten felt that the Sixth Fleet should be assigned to his command while Wright wanted to maintain control of the fleet, particularly its nuclear-armed aircraft carriers, pursuant to both U.S. Navy policy and the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 . The dispute tested

1350-508: The U.S. Coast Guard whenever it is assigned to the Department of the Navy, to specify that the Marine Corps takes precedence over the Navy and Coast Guard in Naval formations, parades, and ceremonies. This same military precedence is specified in DoD Instruction 1005.8 and U.S. Navy Regulations, Chapter 10, Paragraph 1007.) This is a symbol of the special status and honor granted to US Marines, and

1404-575: The U.S. Marine Corps is not a component of the U.S. Navy. In 1834, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) came under the Department of the Navy . Historically, the United States Navy has enjoyed a unique relationship with the Marines, partly because they both specialize in seaborne operations. At the highest level of civilian organization, the USMC is part of the Department of the Navy and reports to

1458-682: The US Eighth Fleet was redesignated as the Second Task Fleet , a part of the Atlantic Fleet . This article about a specific military unit is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Numbered fleet The chief of naval operations presides over the Navy Staff , formally known as the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations ( OPNAV ). The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

1512-482: The US Navy and US Marine Corps is also one of mutual respect, and that respect is manifested in various policies and procedural regulations. For example, per US Marine and Navy drill manuals, in a formation consisting of both Marine and Navy units, per MCO P5060.20, Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual, Paragraph 15001. "ARRANGEMENT OF UNITS IN FORMATION 1. In ceremonies involving the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy units,

1566-657: The USCOMEASTLANT area. In February 1960, the title of the command was changed to Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR) and the CINCNELM title was retained for command in the Middle East from Turkey and Egypt to the middle of the Indian Ocean. Although these were separate commands, they were placed under the control of one commander. The CINCNELM command was disestablished on 1 February 1964. During most of

1620-615: The United States for repairs. From January 1921 until April 1922, Vice Admiral Albert P. Niblack served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters. In October 1922, Pittsburgh returned to the Mediterranean and became flagship for two of Niblack's successors as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces European Waters, Admiral Philip Andrews in 1924–1925 and Vice-Admiral Roger Welles in 1925–1926. At some point after 1926, Naval Forces, European Waters, went into abeyance. Later, in March 1942,

1674-666: The arrangements for United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Winthrop Aldrich to present a bronze plaque of John Paul Jones from the U.S. Naval Historical Center to the British government, initiating his long-time association with the famous naval hero of the American Revolution . During a high-level conference in Washington, D.C. from 20 October – 4 November 1953, Wright was informed that that CINCNELM

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1728-558: The chief function of the U.S. Navy in the occupied countries was completed; enemy naval forces had been disarmed, war material had been located and accounted for, and harbors had been reopened and were in operation. As operational emphasis changed and the geographical area expanded, the command's title was changed to more specifically define the Navy's role. In November 1946, COMNAVEUR became COMNELM (Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ) and six months later, in April 1947,

1782-520: The command of Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt , who took command in April 1942. This force, also called Task Force 34, became the U.S. component of the Operation Torch landings in November 1942. The force was then renamed U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest Africa Waters or COMNAVNAW. On 1 February 1946, U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters, were redesignated U.S. Naval Forces, Mediterranean, which later became

1836-519: The command of the Marine Corps under the auspices of the Fleet Marine Force , often called the "green side". Because of the lack of full-scale amphibious operations in recent conflicts, there has been pressure to cut the "gator navy" below the two-regiment requirement of the Marines. This is a reduction from the programmatic goal of 2.5 Marine Expeditionary Brigades and actual structure of 2.07 MEB equivalents in 1999. The relationship between

1890-525: The diplomatic skills of both men. CINCNELM forces participated in NATO Operation Mariner and Operation Weldfast exercises during 1953, and units of the Sixth Fleet did participate in NATO exercises while staying under U.S. control. As CINCNELM, Wright maintained strong diplomatic ties with allies within his area of responsibility. He made a 14-day goodwill trip to the Middle East that culminated with

1944-530: The duties of the existing Special Naval Observer London were expanded to command naval forces. Commander, Naval Forces, Europe was established to maintain Navy bases in the United Kingdom and to report intelligence and research data being provided by Allied intelligence organizations. Numerous liaison channels were opened with the British Government and with governments in exile. The command also assisted in

1998-448: The entire continent of Africa. It encompasses 105 countries with a combined population of more than one billion people and includes a landmass extending more than 14 million square miles. The AOR covers more than 20 million square nautical miles of ocean, touches three continents and encompasses more than 67 percent of the Earth's coastline, 30 percent of its landmass, and nearly 40 percent of

2052-493: The fleet commander until 1945, when he moved on to chair a Pearl Harbor investigation. The fleet was disbanded on 15 September 1945, with its forces becoming part of United States Twelfth Fleet . With the reorganization of the Navy after World War II in December 1945, Eighth Fleet was reactivated on 1 March 1946 under the command of Admiral Marc A. Mitscher . Under the overall command of Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Eighth Fleet

2106-485: The intervening years, CINCUSNAVEUR has exercised direct command over four subordinate commanders: Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT); Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean (COMFAIRMED); Commander, Middle East Force (COMIDEASTFOR) (until 1983); and Commander, U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom (COMNAVACT UK). After the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force became United States Central Command ,

2160-402: The naval forces component of each Unified Combatant Command . While not widely publicized, groups of ships departing U.S. waters for operational missions gain a Task force type designation, almost always with the Second or Third Fleets. On entry into another numbered fleet's area of responsibility, they are redesignated as a task group from that fleet. For example, a carrier task group departing

2214-508: The operational theater as well. As amphibious assault specialists, Marines often deploy on, and attack from, Navy vessels; while being transported on Navy ships, they must obey the orders of the captain of the vessel. Marine aviation tailhook squadrons train and operate alongside Navy squadrons, flying similar missions and often flying sorties together. Other types of Marine air squadrons operate from amphibious assault ships in support of Marine amphibious operations. Navy and Marine squadrons use

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2268-555: The planning and preparation of the invasions of North Africa and France. By 1944 the headquarters had been established at 20 Grosvenor Square , in central London. The building was only vacated by the Navy when the headquarters moved to Italy in 2009. When Admiral Harold R. Stark became COMNAVEUR in April 1942, he was given the additional duties as Commander, United States Twelfth Fleet . The fleet, which operated in European waters, consisted of one battleship , two cruisers , an aircraft carrier and six destroyers . By autumn of 1945,

2322-431: The responsibility for maritime planning in the same general area of operations. The changes were made effective on 1 October 2000. The Atlantic Command areas that presently include the waters off Europe and the west coast of Africa were also transferred to European Command. In 2002, the command changed its name to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (COMUSNAVEUR). On 15 March 2004, NATO's Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples

2376-510: The same NATOPS aviation manuals and procedures. The USMC does not train chaplains , hospital corpsmen or medical doctors; thus officers and enlisted sailors from the Navy fulfill these roles. They generally wear Marine uniforms that are emblazoned with Navy insignia and markings to distinguish themselves from Marines. Corpsmen and chaplains enjoy a great sense of camaraderie with the Marines due in part because they work closely with them and often are embedded with Marine units. They operate under

2430-461: The same class. These made up squadrons (e.g. Battle Squadron, Cruiser Squadron, Escort Squadron (CortRon) etc.) of several divisions. Yet the exigencies of World War II forced the creation of the task force system where ships no longer fought solely as part of same-type divisions or squadrons. This was gradually reflected in administrative arrangements; by the 1970s, formations such as Cruiser-Destroyer Groups (CruDesGrus) came into existence. The Navy

2484-444: The three headquarters staffs in Department of the Navy mainly based at the Pentagon , with the others being the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and Headquarters Marine Corps . The operating forces consists of nine components: Fleets in the United States Navy take on the role of force provider; they do not carry out military operations independently, rather they train and maintain naval units that will subsequently be provided to

2538-428: The title of USCOMEASTLANT. The CINCUSNAVEUR Headquarters remained in London with Admiral Crowe spending time at both locations. The responsibility of U.S. Commander Eastern Atlantic was added to that of the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe and Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe on 28 February 1989 during Admiral James Buchanan Busey IV 's assignment as Commander in Chief. In September 1996 it

2592-476: The title was changed, this time to Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (CINCNELM). A Northern European Force of five to six ships (cruisers and destroyers) were active from 1946 to 1956. Missouri visited Turkey amid the Turkish Straits crisis of 1946–48. Admiral Robert B. Carney became CINCNELM in December 1950. In June 1951, he assumed additional duty as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH), and

2646-445: Was activated and its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe was deactivated. COMUSNAVEUR continues to be dual-hatted as COMJFC Naples. In August 2005 COMUSNAVEUR headquarters completed its relocation to Naples, Italy from London in the United Kingdom. By a directive of 20 September 2005, Naval Forces Europe and Sixth Fleet were merged. NavEur is now co-located with his NATO headquarters. U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom

2700-537: Was agreed that CINCUSNAVEUR could support CINCLANTFLT forces without the USCOMEASTLANT designation. 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,

2754-429: Was deactivated in September 2007. USNAVEUR is now focusing more attention on Africa, specifically the Gulf of Guinea region, partially because of the increasing importance of the oil reserves there. Ships are now often deploying to aid regional African navies, of which the most important in the region is the Nigerian Navy . Connected with this effort, a new geographic combatant command, United States Africa Command ,

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2808-435: Was responsible to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters. In May 1920, USS  Pittsburgh  (CA-4) , flagship of Vice Admiral Harry S. Knapp , Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, European Waters, accompanied by USS  Cole  (DD-155) , evacuated a number of American naval and relief personnel from the Caucasus . In September 1920, the flagship Pittsburg ran aground in the Baltic sea off Libau and returned to

2862-452: Was the heavy striking arm of the Atlantic Fleet. It consisted of the preponderance of Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier assets, initially including the new fast carriers Midway and Franklin D. Roosevelt , and their escorts and support ships. These latter did not include the fast Battleship Division (Battleship Division Two?) made up of USS  Wisconsin and Missouri , retained under direct command of Atlantic Fleet. In January 1947,

2916-435: Was to become a sub-ordinate command of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet reporting directly to Admiral Lynde D. McCormick , the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT). Also, Wright would become the head of NATO's Eastern Atlantic Area, reporting to Admiral McCormick, the first Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT). Admiral McCormick noted in his final fitness report dated March 1954: General Thomas T. Handy ,

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