United States First Fleet
| United States First Fleet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1946 – 1 February 1973 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Part of | United States Pacific Fleet |
The First Fleet was a unit of the United States Navy, in operation from as early as 1946 (but definitely active by 1948 as the First Task Fleet) to 1 February 1973 in the western Pacific Ocean as part of the Pacific Fleet. In 1973, it was disestablished and its duties assumed by the Third Fleet.
Vice Admiral A. E. Montgomery was named as Commander, First Task Fleet, in an air station report of July 1947, with an inspection visit by a group of senior officers. The old cruiser Salt Lake City was sunk as an atomic bomb test target during First Task Fleet manoeuvers in May 1948.[1] USS Salisbury Sound became the flagship of Vice Admiral G.F. Bogan (Commander First Task Fleet) on 25 March 1949. USS Curtiss served as flagship for Commander First Fleet early in 1949 for three weeks of amphibious operations in Alaskan waters to evaluate cold weather equipment. USS Helena served as flagship for Commander, First Fleet, from January 1960-March 1963. USS Providence served as flagship in San Diego from 1969 until April 1972, except for yard overhaul in 1970 when USS Chicago assumed the role.[2]
Commanders
- Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (5 August 1943 – 8 November 1945)
- Admiral John H. Towers (8 November 1945 – 18 January 1946)
- Admiral Frederick C. Sherman (18 January – 3 September 1946)
- Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery (5 September 1946 – 14 August 1947)
- Vice Admiral George D. Murray (14 August 1947-August 1948)
- Vice Admiral Laurence T. DuBose (August 1948-8 January 1949)
- Vice Admiral Gerald F. Bogan (8 January 1949 – 1 February 1950)
- Vice Admiral Harold M. Martin (15 February-28 March 1951)
- Vice Admiral Arthur D. Struble (28 March 1951 – 24 March 1952)
- Vice Admiral Joseph J. Clark (24 March – 20 May 1952)
- Vice Admiral Ingolf N. Kiland (20 May – 16 July 1952)
- Vice Admiral Ralph A. Ofstie (16 July 1952 – 23 February 1953)
- Vice Admiral Harold M. Martin (23 February – 1 October 1953)
- Vice Admiral William K. Phillips (1 October 1953 – 1 August 1955)
- Vice Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood (1 August 1955 – 18 June 1956)
- Vice Admiral Robert L. Dennison (18 June 1956 – 23 July 1958)
- Vice Admiral Ruthven F. Libby (23 July 1958 – 30 April 1960)
- Vice Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr. (30 April – 14 July 1960)
- Vice Admiral Charles L. Melson (14 July 1960 – 12 April 1962)
- Vice Admiral Frank Virden (12 April – 5 May 1962)
- Vice Admiral Robert T. Keith (5 May 1962 – 11 December 1963)
- Vice Admiral Paul D. Stroop (5 May 1962 – 25 January 1964)
- Vice Admiral Ephraim P. Holmes (25 January – 18 July 1964)
- Vice Admiral Lawson P. Ramage (18 July 1964 – 29 July 1966)
- Vice Admiral Bernard F. Roeder (29 July 1966 – 30 September 1969)
- Vice Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Jr. (30 September 1969 – 1 August 1970)
- Vice Admiral Raymond E. Peet (1 August 1970 – 15 May 1972)
- Vice Admiral Nels B. Johnson (15 May – 17 July 1972)
- Vice Admiral James F. Calvert (17 July 1972 – 30 January 1973)[3]
References
- ↑ http://ussslcca25.com/lastday1.htm (USS Salt Lake City SINKEX)
- ↑ "USS Providence (CLG-6, later CG-6. Previously CL-82), 1945-1980". United States Navy. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
- ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/rosters/first%20fleet.htm
- http://www.kadiak.org/navy/1947apr_jun.txt
- http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/AV/av13-history.html (USS Salisbury Sound)
- http://members.tripod.com/~USS_Helena_CA75/helena1.html (USS Helena)
- http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/hm-martn.htm (Naval Historical Center)