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In March of 1999, in the U.S. Navy’s professional journal Naval Institute Proceedings, there was an article by British Brigadier Robert Alan Fry of the Royal Marines. The title was “End of the Continental Century.” The article discussed the close of the 20th century, one that was characterized by continental powers engaged in land wars, and the return to a former age of maritime predominance - what he called a New Columbian Age.
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The USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), amphibious command and control ship of the Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, operating in the Pacific theater.
Photo by PH3 Daniel Mrnnuto, USN |
At the dawn of the 21st century, we can see his characterization clearly in the Asia- Pacific region. The tremendous growth in economic power and world trade is centered in this area of the world. The nations of Asia and the Pacific account for 1/3 of the world’s gross product and 33 percent of the United States’ two-way trade. Much of this growth can be attributed to the realization throughout the region that stability, peace, open trade and interdependence are the path to prosperity for all of the Asia-Pacific nations. Fry closes his article with the idea that “a maritime national strategy is the appropriate response to the emerging environment, and one that enjoys a resonance with the wider themes of history.” For a maritime nation like the United States, this theme is an important part of its national strategy.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), the naval component for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command (USCINCPAC) has contributed much to the security and economic prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region for over a century. With more than 180 ships, 1400 aircraft and 280,000 personnel spread from the central U.S. to the Indian Ocean, the U.S. Pacific Fleet is one of the largest fighting forces in the world. At any given time, approximately half the fleet is underway either on deployment, conducting unit level training, or participating in exercises with other nations.
Comprised principally from two sea-based, warfighting commands, the Third Fleet and the Seventh Fleet, this force is capable of conducting and supporting the full-range of naval and joint missions called for by the Pacific Command. Of course, its combat power is centered in the Seventh Fleet and its forces forward deployed in Asia.
Forward Deployed Naval Forces
Vital to our interactions with friends and allies in the Pacific is the Commander, Seventh Fleet embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge, assigned to Yokosuka, Japan. Responsible for naval operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, the Seventh Fleet may be actively involved in the U.S. Pacific Command’s two-tiered command and control system when he is designated a commander of a joint task force for any number of scenarios. These would include military action that is deemed appropriate to assist with humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations, or for military action in a presence or crisis response environment, to include force projection when required and appropriate in certain contingencies.
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Historic Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is headquarters for the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the berths for multinational naval ships during exercises such as Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Photo by PH2(SW) Arlo Abrahamson, USN |
In addition, Commander, Seventh Fleet also serves as the Commander, Combined Naval Component Command of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command in support of operations in the Korean Theater of Operations, if directed. It is also an active participant in USCINCPAC’s engagement strategies within the region through various staff talks, port visits and exercises conducted on a bilateral or multilateral basis.
The Commander, Seventh Fleet conducts navy-to-navy staff talks with 10 different countries within the Pacific area of responsibility. These talks are extraordinarily important as we continue to improve our interoperability and closer understanding of each other’s goals and objectives. The mutual benefits gained cannot be overstated and will remain a key ingredient to our overall engagement strategy throughout the Asia-Pacific Rim. Obviously, we need to build on our national security strategy through the shaping of our naval environment by responding in a positive and predicable manner to emergent situations. Moreover, since we are continuously training, we are always prepared to meet any situation to include the uncertainties of any potential crisis or conflict.
The key to our Pacific Fleet Strategy and the centerpiece of our theater forward presence mission are the Seventh Fleet’s forward deployed naval forces. Such forces permit us to focus our naval strategy on one of our five key mission areas that includes Forward Naval Presence. These forces will permit us to maintain maritime supremacy within the theater, allow us to be capable of projecting power from the sea, and complement our strategic deterrence and strategic sealift mission areas. These forward deployed naval forces consist of the Kitty Hawk carrier battle group in Yokosuka, Japan and the Essex amphibious ready group in Sasebo. To accomplish what our forward deployed Seventh Fleet assets do on a day-in, and day-out basis, it would require from three to five times the additional ships/assets to perform the same routine functions from mainland U. S. bases. Deployed naval forces are normally deployed away from homeport approximately 183 days per year in support of our theater engagement and operational requirements.
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