Navy Reestablishes U.S. Fourth Fleet

navy.mil ^ | 4/24/08 | Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alan Gragg

[Typical_Whitey]

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the reestablishment of U.S. 4th Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its first commander.

U.S. 4th Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, and Central and South America and the surrounding waters.

Located in Mayport, Fla., and dual-hatted with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), U.S. 4th Fleet reestablishment addresses the increased role of maritime forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus, and demonstrates U.S. commitment to regional partners.

"Reconstituting the Fourth Fleet recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, and sends a strong signal to all the civil and military maritime services in Central and Latin America," said Roughead. "Aligning the Fourth Fleet along with our other numbered fleets and providing the capabilities and personnel are a logical execution of our new Maritime Strategy."

U.S. 4th Fleet was original established in 1943 as one of the original numbered fleets, and was given a specific mission. During World War II, the U.S. needed a command in charge of protecting against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines in the South Atlantic. U.S. 4th Fleet was disestablished in 1950 when U.S. 2nd Fleet took over its responsibilities.

Initially, the new 4th Fleet will be headquartered with COMUSNAVSO and take advantage of the existing infrastructure, communications support and personnel already in place in Mayport. As a result, U.S. 4th Fleet will not involve an increase in forces assigned in Mayport.

"This is a significant change and presents us the opportunity to garner the right resources for the missions we run for Southern Command," said Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr., Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO). "As a numbered fleet, we will be in a better position to ensure the Combatant Commander has the right assets available when needed."

U.S. 4th Fleet will retain responsibility as COMUSNAVSO, the Navy component command for SOUTHCOM. Its mission is to direct U.S. naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

For more information from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command visit www.cusns.navy.mil.

For more information from U.S. Southern Command visit www.southcom.mil.

[Typical_Whitey]

Excellent move. Peace through strength ping. Nancy Pelosi and the Libs must be beside themselves since they defend their boy Chavez so eagerly...

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

[arderkrag]

Teddy would be proud.

Roosevelt corollary

In 1904, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted the right of the United States to intervene in Latin America. This was the most significant amendment to the original doctrine and was widely opposed by critics, who argued that the Monroe Doctrine was originally meant to stop European influence in the Western Hemisphere while the Corollary much more directly asserted U.S. hegemony in that area, essentially making them a "hemispheric policeman."

[mtbopfuyn]

Hey, Hugo! How’s it going?

[arderkrag]

Ah. Found it:

All that this country desires is to see the neighboring countries stable, orderly, and prosperous. Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship. If a nation shows that it knows how to act with reasonable efficiency and decency in social and political matters, if it keeps order and pays its obligations, it need fear no interference from the United States. Chronic wrongdoing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere the adherence of the United States to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power.

Hear the sabers rattling, Hugo?

[jimtorr]

I wonder how this affects Commander, U.S. Forces Carribean, located in Key West? He had command responsibility for all U.S. Forces on land or sea in the Gulf, Carribean, coastal waters and Central America back in the mid ‘80’s.

I supported that Joint Command in ‘86 - ‘87.

[rockinqsranch]

Curious as to whether this move is really in anticipation of the Dems actions as described in this article at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2006473/posts

[paulcissa]

Hey, Hugo! How’s it going?

LOL~ "Candy-Gram for Mr. Chavez!"

[revtown]

Excellent indeed. There’s recently been huge oil discoveries in Brazil and the Falkland Islands..

All your oil belongs to us ;)

[Bean Counter]

Good! The first order of business should be conducting regular carrier cyclic ops and CQ off the coast of Venezuela...

[bobjam]

The Navy is seriously considering stationing the USS George H.W. Bush (under construction) at Mayport. If this carrier were assigned to the new Fourth Fleet...

[LS]

Interesting. Think this is aimed at Chavez?

[mad_as_he$$]

Yes, but did they give them any assets?

[Robe]

Kernan is the first SEAL to command a numbered fleet.

He commanded Platoons at Underwater Demolition Team 12, SEAL
Delivery Vehicle Team 1, and SEAL Team 5. Additionally while
assigned to SEAL Team 5, he served as Detachment Officer-in-Charge
of four deployed SEAL platoons and Deputy Commander, Naval Special Warfare Task Force, Middle East Force.

Impressive guy !!

[kellynla]

BTTT

[magslinger]

If this carrier were assigned to the new Fourth Fleet...

It might be the fact that my caffeine levels haven't reached optimum, yet, but I'm not following you here. Why would assigning CVN 77 to Fourth Fleet be special? I'd assumed they would get a CVN anyway.

[Non-Sequitur]

I wonder how this affects Commander, U.S. Forces Carribean, located in Key West? He had command responsibility for all U.S. Forces on land or sea in the Gulf, Carribean, coastal waters and Central America back in the mid ‘80’s.

It got rolled up under Centcom in the 90's.

[Non-Sequitur]

The Navy is seriously considering stationing the USS George H.W. Bush (under construction) at Mayport. If this carrier were assigned to the new Fourth Fleet...

Carriers won't be permanently assigned to the 4th Fleet, just like they aren't permanently assigned to the 6th or 5th Fleets. They'll be detached from the 2nd Fleet and deployed to the 4th as necessary.

[Dutchgirl]

I'd assumed they would get a CVN anyway.

Jacksonville lost the Saratoga and JFK and is currently not equipped to support nuclear. The Navy pulled out of Cecil Field in favor of Oceania and then, after thousands of homes were built in the area, and businesses were lured into an economic zone, proposed re-opening the field, which was shot down by the voters.

But this is a navy town and is one of the few places in Florida that will not have difficulty supporting nukes.

[Non-Sequitur]

Jacksonville lost the Saratoga and JFK and is currently not equipped to support nuclear.

Other than dredging the channel and the harbor for the larger ship and deeper draft I'm not aware of anything else they'd have to do. Nuclear carriers require no different support that I'm aware of than conventional ones do. Other than not needing refueling.