From WWII to Gulf War

The Seventh Fleet was established on March 15, 1943, in Brisbane, Australia, during World War II, under the leadership of Admiral Arthur S. ‘Chips’ Carpenter. It was positioned in the Southwest Pacific region under the command of Douglas MacArthur. Furthermore, the Seventh Fleet Commander assumes the Joint Naval Forces Commander role in the Southwest Pacific region. The Seventh Fleet is the largest fleet of the U.S. Navy that is stationed in forward locations.

It typically consists of 50–70 ships and submarines, 150 aircraft, and about 27,000 personnel, including sailors and marines. The Fleet is now under the command of Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, a three-star Navy flag officer who assumed the position on July 8, 2021.

Naval Task Force 74 (formerly known as Anzac Squadron) commanded most of the Royal Australian Navy’s ships from 1943 until 1945. The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the most extensive naval engagement in history, saw the significant involvement of the Seventh Fleet led by Admiral Thomas C. Kincaid as a crucial component of the combined naval forces. Following the war’s conclusion, the Seventh Fleet relocated its central command to Qingdao, China. Kincaid implemented Operation Plan 13-45 on August 24, 1945, establishing five significant task units to carry out operations in the Western Pacific.

‘Task Force 71’ is comprised of 75 ships located in North China. ‘Task Force 72’ is the swiftest carrier force responsible for offering aerial protection to the Marine Force and disrupting the activities of Communist forces. ‘Task Force 73’ comprises 75 ships in the Yangtze Patrol Force, while ‘Task Force 74operates in the South China Area Force. Its purpose was to intercept Japanese and Chinese military transports and serve as an amphibious force to stop the deployment of Chinese naval amphibious troops, specifically ‘Task Force 78’.

Following the war’s conclusion, the Fleet underwent a name change and was officially designated as the Western Pacific Fleet on January 1, 1947. Subsequently, the Fleet relocated its primary operating headquarters to the Philippines, where the Navy upgraded its naval infrastructure at Subic Bay and transferred its airport to Stegley Point. Admiral Arthur E. Redford was responsible for commanding the Pacific Fleet during times of peace. However, any activities on the Japanese border or other critical operations were overseen by General Douglas MacArthur through the Naval Forces Far East. On August 19, 1949, the Fleet was officially named the United States Seventh Task Fleet. The United States Seventh Fleet was formally established on February 11, 1950, before the outbreak of the Korean War. It is still referred to as the Seventh Fleet.

Engagements involving the Seventh Fleet

The Korean War: The Korean War was a protracted regional military war between South Korea and North Korea that lasted for over three years, from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. The United States and several other nations actively engaged in the war, with the authorization of the United Nations, the Soviet Union, and the People’s Republic of China representing North Korea and South Korea expressing itself.
Despite the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953, no official agreement was reached on this matter. A cessation of hostilities was achieved by signing a cease-fire agreement between the United States, the North Korean military, and China, acting on behalf of the U.N. forces. The estimated death toll of this war ranges from two and a half to three million people. The Korean War saw significant involvement of the Seventh Fleet units in primary military operations. The inaugural deployment of a naval jet in combat occurred on July 3, 1950, when it was successfully launched from the aircraft carrier Task Force 77 (T.F. 77). The initial deployment to Yingcheon, Korea, was executed with amphibious vessels of the Seventh Fleet. Lua, New Jersey, Mausoleum, and Wisconsin battleships served in the Seventh Fleet during the Korean War. Amidst the war, Air Wing One and Air Wing Six served as the Maritime Patrol Force under Task Force 70, the Formza Strait Patrol Unit under Task Force 72, and the supporting squadron under Task Force 77 and Task Force 79, operating under the Seventh Fleet.

The Vietnam War: The Vietnam War is widely considered the most devastating conflict in global history due to its genocidal nature. The ongoing conflict continues to motivate, invigorate, and encourage individuals to unite in pursuit of peace. America is widely regarded as the preeminent global superpower. America was defeated in the Vietnam War.

The war, which endured for almost two centuries, resulted in the loss of 300,000 Vietnamese lives (although the exact death toll is a subject of debate). A total of 58,000 American soldiers lost their lives throughout this conflict. For the first time in two decades, a contemporary global power has experienced a significant casualty toll among its military personnel. In addition, the Vietnam War serves as a notable example of the United States, a superpower, engaging in combat on one side and ultimately experiencing defeat.

The Vietnam War saw the deployment of the Seventh Fleet. Specifically, this fleet carried out air raids within Vietnam. Approximately 12,000 helicopters of several varieties are employed to transport troops, provide logistical support to troops, and execute accurate attacks in the rugged jungles of Vietnam. Nevertheless, about 5 thousand helicopters were decimated by Vietnamese rebels. The helicopters of note were the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Bell AH-1 Cobra, Boeing CH-46 Sea-Knight, Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw, Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant, and Sikorsky CH-53 C-Stallion. The American ship initiated operations within Vietnam on February 12, 1965, marking the commencement of the Seventh Fleet’s involvement in the Battle of Salisbury Sound. Salisbury was utilised to furnish naval assistance for a military operation known as Operation Flaming Dart, which aimed to conduct airstrikes against North Vietnamese forces. Task Force 71, Task Force 75, Task Force 76, Task Force 77, Task Force 78, Task Force 116, and Task Force 117 were all involved in the Vietnam War. Following the conclusion of the war in 1975, the Seventh Fleet actively engaged in the evacuation of refugees in South Vietnam.

The Gulf War: The commencement of the Gulf War took place on August 2, 1990. The formal conclusion occurred on February 28, 1991. The conflict, widely referred to as Operation Desert Storm, occurred between Iraq and a coalition of 34 nations authorised by the United Nations. The competition commenced on August 2, 1990, when the Iraqi military forcefully entered Kuwait. The objective of this battle was to free Kuwait from the Iraqi army following Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwaiti land in August 1990. U.S. President George H.W. Bush dispatched military personnel to Saudi Arabia and encouraged other nations to join their armed forces.

In August 1990, U.S. President George H.W. Bush authorised the deployment of the 7th Fleet as a reaction to the Iraqi incursion into Kuwait. The fleet commander promptly departed from Yangsoka, Japan, and headed towards the Persian Gulf. The American Central Naval Command was involved in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield following World War II. Approximately 130 warships from the United States and around 50 vessels from the coalition acted in the Gulf War vessels engaged in mine clearing, marine activities, and warfare actions. The Naval Central Command dispatched six aircraft carriers, two battleships, two naval hospital ships, 31 amphibious assault ships, four mine-sweeping vessels, and other warships to assist the combined air and ground forces. Following the conclusion of the Gulf War, the Seventh Fleet repositioned itself in its designated place. 

The writer is an Associate Professor of Khulna University, Bangladesh and Graduate Assistant, University of Southern Mississippi, USA