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From: deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: USN fleet numbering
Message-ID: <1991May2.040153.20142@amd.com>
Date: 1 May 91 21:41:51 GMT
References: <1991Apr29.051115.4449@amd.com>
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 42
Approved: military@amd.com


From: deichman@cod.nosc.mil (Shane D. Deichman)


(look, ma!  no quoted text!  :-)

		[ THANK YOU!! --CDR ]

Regarding a posting asking about the USN's somewhat illogical
method of numbering their fleets (i.e., 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th),
I asked one of the local "oldtimers" about the evolution of this
numbering scheme.

He said that there used to be just a 1st Flt and a 2nd Flt (a bit
of protocol -- even numbered fleets are LANT, odd numbered are PAC).
There was a political brouhaha about this, saying that there shouldn't
be a "1st" Flt since that implies precedence over all others.  At the
time, 1st Flt was homeported in San Diego.

So, when 1st Flt moved to Pearl, they recristened it "3rd Flt."  This
lasted until the higher fleets (i.e., 6th and 7th) were split from
the 2nd and 3rd Flts.  There was no precedence over this move or this
numbering style -- at least none that my contact was aware of.  The 
duties of each fleet were:  2nd and 3rd Flts were for "Training and
Readiness," while the 6th and 7th Flts were operational units.

There was once talk of making a 5th Flt, which would basically incorp-
orate the PACFLT fleets (3rd and 7th) into one command.  This concept
never evolved.  I have also heard about a 10th Flt, but don't know
much about that...  (Heard one surface skimmer refer to it as a "Ghost
Fleet...")

My contact has never, in his 30+ years of Navy service, heard any mention
of a 4th Flt.

It should be noted that CINCENT, the Central Command, has the authority
to take units from the various numbered fleets in time of war (e.g., the
recent "Iraqi Invitational Gulf Tournament.")

Hope this helps....

-shane