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The 5th Fleet was initially established 26 April 1944 from Central Pacific Force, and disbanded after the war. During the first Gulf War , the region was patrolled by ships from the other numbered fleets, but no fleet existed with this defined area of responsibility. By July 1995 , a new numbered fleet was deemed necessary. After a 48-year hiatus, the US 5th Fleet was reactivated and it now cruises the Persian Gulf, Red Sea , and Arabian Sea . Its headquarters are at NSA Bahrain located in Manama , Bahrain . For the early years of its existence, its forces normally consisted of an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (CVBG), an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), Surface Combatant s, Submarine s, maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, and logistics ships. However, with the War On Terrorism , the naval strategy of the US has changed. The regular deployments of the Cold War are now a thing of the past. Consequently, the policy of always maintaining a certain number of ships in various parts of the world is also over. However, its usual configuration now includes a Carrier Strike Group, Amphibious Ready Group or Expeditionary Strike Group, and other ships and aircraft with approximately 20,000 people serving afloat and 3,000 support personnel ashore. The forces of the 5th Fleet peaked in early 2003 , when five USN aircraft carriers, six USMC LHA s and LHD s, their escorting and supply vessels, and over 30 Royal Navy vessels were under its command. In the aftermath of the fall of Baghdad in April 2003, the very large force of ships was quickly drawn down. Until and unless further very serious tensions occur in the area, forces are likely to remain at a lower level than has been the case in recent years. The commander of the 5th Fleet is dual-hatted as Naval Forces Central Command . EXTERNAL LINKS |
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