United States 4th Fleet
Encyclopedia
The United States Fourth Fleet is a command of the United States Navy
in the South Atlantic, operating as a component of the joint U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Fleet Forces Command
. The Fourth Fleet is based at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida
and is responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean
, and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans around Central
and South America
.
The Fleet began operations again in the summer of 2008 but was not fully staffed until 2009, in keeping with a manpower study conducted by U.S. Fleet Forces Command
. According to the United States Department of Defense
, the Fourth Fleet's aim is to assist in narcotics interdiction
efforts, humanitarian and goodwill interventions, and joint training with regional security partners.
, along with the other numbered fleets. The fleet was later absorbed by U.S. Second Fleet and disbanded in 1950 prior to being re-established in 2008. On April 24, 2008, Admiral Gary Roughead
, the Chief of Naval Operations
, announced that the United States Fourth Fleet would be re-established, effective July 1, with responsibility for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean Sea
, as well as around Central
and South America
. Rear Admiral Joseph D. Kernan
was named Commander, Fourth Fleet and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command
.
and Brazil
made formal inquiries as to the fleet's mission in the region. In Venezuela
, President Hugo Chavez
accused the United States of attempting to frighten the people of South America by reactivating the fleet
and vowed that his country's new Sukhoi Su-30
jets could sink any US ships invading Venezuelan waters. Cuba
n ex-president Fidel Castro
warned that it could be lead to more incidents such as the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the South Atlantic, operating as a component of the joint U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Fleet Forces Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
. The Fourth Fleet is based at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and is responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans around Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
The Fleet began operations again in the summer of 2008 but was not fully staffed until 2009, in keeping with a manpower study conducted by U.S. Fleet Forces Command
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
. According to the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, the Fourth Fleet's aim is to assist in narcotics interdiction
Interdiction
Interdiction is a military term that refers to the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction...
efforts, humanitarian and goodwill interventions, and joint training with regional security partners.
History
The Fourth Fleet was originally established on 24 September 1942, during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, along with the other numbered fleets. The fleet was later absorbed by U.S. Second Fleet and disbanded in 1950 prior to being re-established in 2008. On April 24, 2008, Admiral Gary Roughead
Gary Roughead
Gary Roughead is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from September 29, 2007 to September 22, 2011. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, from May 17, 2007, to September 29, 2007. Prior to that he served as...
, the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, announced that the United States Fourth Fleet would be re-established, effective July 1, with responsibility for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
, as well as around Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Rear Admiral Joseph D. Kernan
Joseph D. Kernan
Joseph D. "Joe" Kernan is a United States Navy vice admiral. He serves as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command , Miami, Florida. He assumed his current assignment on May 23, 2011.He is second-in-command of one of ten unified commands under the Department of Defense...
was named Commander, Fourth Fleet and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command is the naval element of United States Southern Command . Its areas of operation include South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters. Its headquarters are located at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. USNAVSO is currently under the command...
.
Commanders of the Fourth Fleet
- Jonas H. IngramJonas H. IngramAdmiral Jonas Howard Ingram was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II...
(1943 – Nov 1944) - William R. MunroeWilliam R. MunroeWilliam R. Munroe was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy.On October 1, 1941, Rear Admiral Munroe was the commanding officer of Battleship Division Three in the Atlantic Fleet. He was the commandant of the Third Naval District from March 31, 1944 to November 6, 1944. Then, as a vice admiral,...
(Nov 1944 – 1945) - Thomas CooleyThomas CooleyThomas Cooley may refer to:*Thomas Cooley , Irish architect*Thomas F. Cooley, American professor of economics at the New York University Stern School of Business*Thomas M. Cooley , Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court...
(1945 – mid 1946) - Daniel E. BarbeyDaniel E. BarbeyVice Admiral Daniel Edward Barbey was an officer in the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he participated in the 1912 United States occupation of Nicaragua and the 1915 United States occupation of Veracruz. While serving with the War...
(September 1946 – March 1947) - Charles McMorrisCharles McMorrisCharles "Soc" Horatio McMorris was an American rear admiral during World War II, most notably commanding forces at the Battle of the Komandorski Islands and Aleutian Islands.-Biography:...
mid 1947 - July 1948 - Rear Admiral Joseph D. KernanJoseph D. KernanJoseph D. "Joe" Kernan is a United States Navy vice admiral. He serves as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command , Miami, Florida. He assumed his current assignment on May 23, 2011.He is second-in-command of one of ten unified commands under the Department of Defense...
(1 July 2008 – 12 June 2009) - Rear Admiral Victor G. Guillory (12 June 2009 – present)
Reaction to reestablishment
This reactivation, without informing regional governments, sparked concern within some South American governments. The governments of ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
made formal inquiries as to the fleet's mission in the region. In Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, President Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
accused the United States of attempting to frighten the people of South America by reactivating the fleet
and vowed that his country's new Sukhoi Su-30
Sukhoi Su-30
The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat military aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions.The Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family...
jets could sink any US ships invading Venezuelan waters. Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n ex-president Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
warned that it could be lead to more incidents such as the 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
2008 Andean diplomatic crisis
The 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic stand-off between the South American countries of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. It began with an incursion into Ecuadorian territory across the Putumayo River by the Colombian military on March 1, 2008, leading to the deaths of over twenty...
.