The operating forces of the Navy (fig. 1-8) include
the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The composition of both Pacific and
Atlantic Fleets, including forces and
commands by type as follows:
a. Fleet Marine Forces
b. Naval Air Forces
c. Naval Surface Forces
d. Submarine Forces
e. Training Commands
U.S. Naval Forces, Europe
Mine Warfare Command
Military Sealift Command
Operational Test and Evaluation Force
Naval Reserve Force
U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command
U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command
Shore activities of the Department of the
Navy assigned to the operating forces
As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the
operating forces have two organizational chains
of command. One is a permanent administrative
chain (fig. 1-9), and the other is a task-oriented
operational chain (fig. 1-10) structured to meet
particular requirements. For example, a destroyer
may administratively belong to a squadron
(DESRON) that is part of a cruiser-destroyer
group (CRUDESGRU). CRUDESGRU, in turn,
is part of the surface force (SURFLANT) that
reports to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet
(CINCLANTFLT). Operationally the same
destroyer may be deployed as part of a task
element, unit, group, and force that are part of
the Seventh Fleet answering to CINCPACFLT.
A task force is a subdivision of a fleet
composed of several types of ships according to
operational necessity. Thus, a task force may
include battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers,
amphibious craft, and auxiliary vessels such as
tenders or supply ships. Sometimes a fleet is large
enough and its duties are extensive enough to
require division into many task forces. When that
happens, the task forces become part of groupings
called task fleets. The division of a task force (TF)
creates task groups. Task groups have numbers
corresponding to the particular task force of
which they are a part. For instance, if TF 77 has
a task group assigned to reconnaissance, its set
number will be TG 77.3. We may subdivide task
groups even further into task units and task
elements. For example, TU 77.3.1 is Task Unit
1 of Task Group 3 of Task Force 7 of the Seventh
Fleet.
Fleet Marine Forces are type commands under
the administrative control of the Commandant of
the Marine Corps. These forces operate under
their respective fleet commander in chief as do
other type commands.
Figure 1-8.-Operating forces reporting to the CNO.
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