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V^/ n guard in about 30 million square miles of the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean is the largest of the deployed fleets of the U. S. Navy, the Seventh Fleet. This enormous ocean area borders nations containing about half of the world’s population. The Seventh Fleet was born in early 1943, and in the years since World War II, it has been the only American fleet to fight.
The presence and strength of the Seventh Fleet made possible the successful defense of the Republic of Korea during the Korean War more than two decades ago. In those days, there was no threat from any other sea power; the U. S. Navy was unchallenged and supreme at sea. The assignment of the fleet to the Taiwan patrol at that time guaranteed the survival of the Republic of China government and the security of Taiwan against Communist attack from the mainland of China. Taiwan could have been protected in no other way.
The American effort in the Vietnam War was made possible only through control of the sea. The Seventh Fleet secured the sea-lanes, projected strong air power against the enemy ashore, conducted amphibious landings, provided naval gunfire support to Allied troops, and made an indispensable contribution by air and mine warfare to the negotiated end of the U. S. military involvement. The fleet could have done far more—far more quickly—to help bring about an end to that tragic war. The wisdom of the political decisions that restrained the Seventh Fleet and other U. S. forces for so long will be the subject of long debate by scholars, but the naval capability there cannot be questioned.
Toward the end of the Vietnam War a new reality emerged: the Seventh Fleet no longer enjoyed unchallenged supremacy in the Western Pacific. The Soviet Pacific Fleet today faces the Seventh Fleet with a powerful force of nuclear and conventionally powered submarines, armed to the teeth with missiles and torpedoes. It has a number of modern, missile-equipped surface ships and is backed by numerous, effective long- range maritime aircraft carrying air-to-surface missiles. So the attitude and policy of the Soviet Union in a crisis are factors to be considered, as never before, if the employment of the Seventh Fleet is contemplated.
Several other rival navies in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility are growing in modern capability and strength. Although the tactics of the Seventh Fleet have been modified as necessary to confront the modern arms possessed by some of these navies, they pose no serious
threat to the Seventh Fleet today. Further development of the People’s Republic of China Navy at the present pace would be cause for concern, but the modernization of the U. S. Navy should keep the Seventh Fleet in a commanding position.
U. S. striking power in the Western Pacific is exemplified by these aircraft carriers steaming in the South China Sea: left to right, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS America (CV-66), USS Ranger (CV-61), and USS Oriskany (CV-34).
Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Iran, and Canada. The fleet keeps watch on the forces of potential adversaries and is always on the lookout to help mariners in distress at sea or to render humanitarian assistance ashore in case of natural disasters. In 1975, for example, the Seventh Fleet provided major assistance to the small Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius, which had been hard hit by a tropical cyclone. Flood relief in the Philippines is a periodic task.
There are those in the United States who believe that
U. S. NAVY
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The mission of the Seventh Fleet is to conduct operations necessary to support our national objectives. That simple mission statement keeps the fleet hopping. A heavy training and exercise schedule is required to keep up the fitness to fight across the whole spectrum of naval warfare. A visible presence must be maintained in the area, and visits to friendly countries are both a pleasure and a duty. In many cases, exercises to strengthen mutual defense are conducted with the military of these nations; recently combined exercises have been held with the armed forces of the Republic of Korea, the Republic of China, the Republic of the
the Seventh Fleet has no business being in the Far East and Indian Ocean. This belief is shared by few governments in that area. Indeed, there have been repeated statements on the vital importance of the presence of the Seventh Fleet by the leaders of friendly governments. Despite a substantial opposition, Japanese leadership has emphatically supported and provided bases for the Seventh Fleet. Premier Chou En Lai of the People’s Republic of China has been reported as favor- lng the presence of the Seventh Fleet.
Throughout the Seventh Fleet area there are ancient tensions and fears. Because of the presence of the American fleet, the Japanese need not fear the U.S.S.R. or the mainland Chinese. Taiwan is safe, the Republic °f Korea can expect effective support, and the Philippines are immune from invasion, so long as the Seventh Pleet is deployed and used to enforce the peace.
The composition and organization of the Seventh Pleet provide remarkable flexibility for quick response to any routine task or emergency. It is currently a strong fleet, including a full Marine division and Marine ait wing, 55-60 ships, and 55,000-60,000 sailors and Marines. The fleet has more than 500 Navy and Marine aircraft of all types and is normally composed of the following:
Carriers 3
Cruisers 4-5
Destroyers or frigates 18-19
Amphibious ships 8
Submarines 5
Tow, salvage, and rescue ships 5-6
P-epair ship or tender 1
Mobile logistic support force ships 9-11
Charged with search, reconnaissance, and surveillance through daily air patrols in the Seventh Fleet ocean area, about 30 P-3 Orion antisubmarine patrol planes and one reconnaissance squadron of specially-equipped aircraft of Task Force 72 operate from Japan, the Philippines, and Guam. Flights in international air space are conducted from the far Arabian Sea to the Sea °f Okhotsk. Task Force 72 has primary responsibilities ln ASW and as the eyes and ears of the fleet.
The principal punch of the Seventh Fleet is delivered by the carrier striking force. Task Force 77 draws on °ther task force commanders for the supporting ships and aircraft to form carrier task groups. Roving through the area with Task Force 72 aircraft and mobile Mgistic support ships, these carriers and their associated cruisers, destroyers, and submarines can be found from time to time as far west as the Persian Gulf, down under off Australia, in the Sea of Japan, and in the South China or Philippine Seas. When necessary, a special concentration can be achieved rapidly, as
happened during the evacuation of South Vietnam.
The cruisers and destroyers of the Seventh Fleet carry a heavy load. Escorting the carriers, participating in exercises throughout the Seventh Fleet area, and racing to the rescue at sea when called, the ships of Task Force 75 lead a busy life. The May 1975 rescue of the containership Mayaguez and her crew, assisted by the USS Harold E. Holt (DE-1074) and the USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) shows the readiness and flexibility of these ships. After two days of high-speed steaming, the former received a Marine boarding party, an explosive ordnance demolition team, and a Military Sealift Command volunteer group from hovering helos, went alongside the Mayaguez, boarded her, and towed her to sea. Later, the Henry B. Wilson delivered naval gunfire on hostile positions ashore on the Tang Island to assist Marines landed there. She even armed her gig and used it successfully to suppress and divert fire, aiding extraction of the Marines from the island. With very little time for planning, all this was done with cool professionalism, in the best tradition of destroyermen.
The amphibious force, Task Force 76, and the Fleet Marine Force, Task Force 79, are virtually inseparable partners in carrying out their jobs. The 31st Marine Amphibious Unit, composed of a battalion of marines and assigned helos for vertical assault, embarks in Amphibious Ready Group Alfa. Amphibious Ready Group Bravo carries a battalion landing team. These ready groups are capable of amphibious assault providing tailored landing teams with tanks, artillery, and helicopter gunships. An amphibious command ship carries the Navy and Marine Corps commanders and their staffs to run the show.
The submarines of the Seventh Fleet are few in number, and thus Task Force 74 has to make every minute count. As a submarine proceeds from one area to another, she will be simultaneously providing tracking services to aircraft and surface ships. The role of the nuclear attack submarine in the defense of a carrier task group is now widely acknowledged. A feature of fleet exercises, therefore, is submarine protection and support for other naval forces.
While the fleet depends upon bases for refit and upkeep, as well as stores and supplies of all kinds, its range would be narrow indeed, except for the mobile logistic support force of Task Force 73. Normally, Seventh Fleet ships reserve periods at sea for taking on fuel, food, ammunition, and stores to exercise at underway replenishment. The oilers, ammunition ships, stores ships, and ships that combine two or more of these capabilities are a vital part of the Seventh Fleet. The fast combat support ships are especially valuable with their great capacity for fuel, ammunition, food, and general cargo; they can carry more fuel than the
largest fleet oiler and more ammunition than the largest ammunition ship. The combat stores ship is a welcome sight to ships long at sea with her general provisions, refrigerated food stocks, and aviation supplies.
Most of the ships and aircraft of the Seventh Fleet deploy for a period of six months, but one attack carrier, two cruisers, a destroyer squadron, and two combat stores ships are homeported in Japan; a submarine and the tactical support squadron are based in the Philippines; and the reconnaissance squadron is based in Guam. The Marine division and Marine air wing are based in Japan and furnish forces for operations at sea; their personnel are on unaccompanied, one-year tours.
When there is an emergency, the Seventh Fleet is augmented as required by the situation from the rest of the Pacific Fleet. Ships about to depart the Seventh Fleet may be held on if necessary. When it became obvious that evacuation of South Vietnam was imminent, the Seventh Fleet was temporarily boosted by a full carrier task group and an amphibious squadron. Almost all of the Seventh Fleet ships were concentrated off Saigon, ready for any eventuality.
The magnificent base at Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, provides needed repairs, supplies, and recreation to the Seventh Fleet. Yokosuka and Guam follow in that order of importance as bases for the Seventh Fleet. Some support is also available at Singapore and Sasebo. Aircraft of the fleet are supported or based in the Philippines at Cubi Point (part of the Subic Bay complex), Kadena on Okinawa, and at Atsugi and Misawa on the island of Honshu, Japan. These bases are not subordinate to the Commander, Seventh Fleet but are charged with fleet support.
Scheduling operations of the Seventh Fleet are quite complicated. Much of the planning work is done at quarterly scheduling conferences attended by representatives from all task forces, as well as representatives from the United Kingdom, Australian, and New Zealand Navies. These conferences review the forces assigned to the Seventh Fleet, including Allied ships and aircraft that will exercise with it, and piece together a schedule of exercises, refit periods, port visits, and various special operations. Some of the guidelines that must be observed include: port loading must be within the capability of the particular port to absorb the liberty party; ship repair facilities must not be overtaxed; economical speed must be used when exercise realism does not require fast movement; exercises with Allies are a priority commitment. But after about three days of hard work, the schedulers come up with a compromise plan to submit to the Seventh Fleet Commander and higher authority for approval.
The story, of course, does not end there. The Seventh
Fleet operating schedule is under practically constant revision for one reason or another. Important world developments, such as a war in the Middle East or the fall of a friendly government mean that the whole schedule has be taken apart and put back together agatn. Minor events, such as a material casualty, can cause the substitution of one ship for another in an exercise, with a cascade effect. Unusual activity by the Soviet Navy calls for a surveillance effort which dislocates the Seventh Fleet employment schedule. Change ls the normal mode of Seventh Fleet operations and becomes an accepted way of life.
The USS Oklahoma City is the fleet flagship. Styled these days as the "command ship,” the guided-missile cruiser carries the fleet commander on a series of protocol visits. He needs to know the chiefs of friendly navies in the area, as well as other senior foreign officers and officials in order to be ready to cooperate in mutual defense and e ercises to improve combat readiness. It ls important, also, for the fleet commander to know as many as possible of the U. S. ambassadors in the area in order to provide the best support.
Wherever the Oklahoma City (CG-5) is, her specially- configured communications suit serves the flag and staff ln the direction of fleet operations. A continual stream of reports, instructions, plans, and discussions flows etween the Commander, Seventh Fleet, his subordinate commanders, and his boss, the Commander- *n-Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet. A qu et Sunday afternoon ln port may suddenly become hectic when a disaster at Sea requires quick reaction by the staff duty officer to 8et a plane or ship on scene as quickly as possible. At Sea, the Oklahoma City, may join an amphibious task group, with her 6-inch guns and Talos missile battery, or she may help protect a carrier. She is a well-preserved °ld lady, first commissioned in 1944. Her smartness sets che fleet standard.
. The fleet is not without problems. The rush of mternational events has called our ships out of port repeatedly when they should be undergoing needed upkeep and materiel improvement. There remains a great deal of work left over from these intensive efforts required in the national interest. Money to buy spare Parts, make repairs, and provide consumable stores has een short. Many gaps appear in the rosters of skilled personnel and, some cases, ships have been unable to steam at full power due to lack of men to stand watch; Under these circumstances, even routine maintenance suffers, and the overall quality of material readiness goes °Wn- Instead of being able to conduct all of the Vanced exercises needed, too much time has to be sPent doing leftover maintenance work and in kinder- gaften or first grade exercises at sea due to lack of experienced personnel. Yet, progress is made, and the
fleet is at a much higher standard of combat effectiveness for blue water operations in 1976 than it was at the end of the Vietnam War, which so narrowed the operational focus.
Because of the great distances in the Seventh Fleet operating area, logistic support would be greatly simplified if more nuclear-powered surface ships were available. The distance from Norfolk to Alexandria, Egypt for example, approximates that from San Diego to Guam—but then on to the Arabian Sea is another 6,000 miles. Nuclear power is especially suited for the Pacific Fleet.
Another problem within the Seventh Fleet has been a lack of knowledge by one community of another. Parrol planes working with surface ships have not fully understood the surface ships’ capabilities and limitations and vice versa, causing operations to falter. A program of cross-fertilization has provided insight into the other man’s game. For example, pilots look at and go to sea in submarines, and submariners do the same with aircraft carriers. A thorough understanding of the capabilities and limitations of other types of ships and units is necessary in order to strengthen team play and mutual support. Progress has been made, but much more effort is necessary to make everyone appreciate that it is the fleet that wins the battles and not just the destroyers alone, or attack aviation independently, or submarines on distant patrol.
If deterrence, toward which the Seventh Fleet plays a part, should break down, and there should be a war with the Soviet Union, there is concern about the control of the sea-lanes by the United States and her
Allies. Much discussion goes into setting up convoy routes, surveillance of the ocean, and protection of naval bases. It must not be forgotten that until and unless the U. S. Navy maintains control of the sea in this vast area, none of the Indian and Pacific Ocean sea-lanes would be safe. The target in such a war would be the combat forces of the enemy. And that is what the training program of the Seventh Fleet aims at. The readiness to meet and defeat any potential enemy is the paramount objective.
On a given day in the Seventh Fleet, one might find several ships well east of Japan entering or leaving the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. An antisubmarine warfare exercise is in progress off Tokyo Bay. An aircraft carrier with her cruiser-destroyer screen and a submarine are exercising in the Okinawa operating area, while another carrier task group is in port at Subic for maintenance. A third carrier task group is visiting Mombasa, Kenya. An amphibious exercise involving ships and Marines of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo is in progress on the coast of Korea. Marines of Task Force 79 are exercising on Okinawa, and at Iwakuni, Japan, and Camp Fuji at the base of the famous mountain. Individual ships are exercising in operating areas off Subic and Guam. Ship visits are in progress in Hong Kong; Beppu, Japan; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Manila; Sattahip, Thailand; Singapore; and Penang, Malaysia. A salvage ship is towing a barge from Sasebo to Subic. Various types of ships are undergoing upkeep at Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Guam, as well as Subic. Oilers, ammunition ships, and stores ships are underway to replenish the at-sea forces of the Seventh Fleet. Patrol planes of Task Force 72 are conducting ocean surveillance in the Indian Ocean in support of the carrier task group there and range along the Asian mainland at a respectful distance on the lookout for unusual happenings. Soviet intelligence collection ships are watching and being watched off Guam, Subic, and the southern coast of Korea. British and Australian destroyers are engaged in an antisubmarine warfare exercise with U. S. destroyers and a submarine in the Subic operating area. Several cruisers and destroyers are making preparations for a missile shoot on the Poro Point Range nearby.
The fleet commander leads an exceptionally active life. His first attention is focused on improving the ability of the fleet to fight in war. This means constant work to perfect and improve war plans. Exercises must be carefully tailored to test the plans and train the units of the Seventh Fleet to carry them out. The Seventh Fleet must also be ready to conduct a number of contingency operations, and the planning effort to keep contingency plans current never ends.
It is important for the fleet commander to see his principal subordinate commanders frequently. When the flagship is in port, it is often necessary for him to be flying off for a visit or an inspection. He cannot afford to be tied to the location of his command ship. The fleet commander tries hard to visit all of his ships, squadrons, and units ashore frequently enough to keep personal touch with their efficiency and morale. He may give drills so that he can personally check readiness. Informal discussions with officers and men of the fleet provide instructive insight into the feelings and attitudes and also provide an opportunity for junior personnel to hear his views.
A good part of the effectiveness of the Commander, Seventh Fleet, stems from his social contact with senior officers and officials of other countries. It is a great deal easier to settle difficult problems with people after you get to know them well at a pleasant dinner or athletic afternoon. Foreign dignitaries may not be able to judge the efficiency and effectiveness of the fleet except by the quality of service and food. So, no detail is spared.
Ceremony plays a considerable part in the life of the flagship. Honors to a visiting chief of state must go off with precision. The parade of lesser officials and officers whose rank warrants some ceremony is interesting and varied. Study of the customs and courtesies expected in each country' is most important, because attention to protocol is a hallmark of the fleet commander.
Duty as Commander, Seventh Fleet is probably the best the U. S. Navy has to offer because of the size of the fleet, the enormous area in which it operates, and the scope allowed in exercising command. The opportunity to deal directly with the officers and men of the fleet, to work with ships and aircraft underway on exercises, representing the most powerful naval force in the area during visits to exotic foreign ports, and the chance to make so many overseas friends combine to make it a splendid experience. He lives a great six years in a two-year tour.
Vice Admiral Stcclc graduated from the Naval Academy ■ *n *944 and entered the submarine service. He commanded
I the diesel submarine Hardhead (SS-365), and then as first % commanding officer of the nuclear-powered attack sub
marine Seadragon (SSN-584) he took her on the first transit of the Northwest Passage by any vessel via the WHM classic Parry Channel, went under icebergs for the first time, and visited the North Pole. He was the first commanding officer of the USS Daniel Boone (SBN-629), making the first Polaris patrols in the Pacific Ocean. As a flag officer he was successively Commander, U. S. Naval Forces Korea; Commander, Antisubmarine Warfare Group Four; on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; and was for nearly two years Commander, Seventh Fleet. He is the author of two books, Seadragon: Northwest under the Ice and Vengeance in the Depths, and the coauthor of a third, Nuclear Submarine Skippers and What They Do. He has also written a number of articles published in the Proceedings and other journals. Vice Admiral Steele retired from active duty on 1 September 1975.