United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa

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Coat of arms of the United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa
Former crest of the Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces Europe ; since 2002 only Commander, US Naval Forces Europe of the United States Naval Forces Europe

The United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa ( NAVEUR-NAVAF ) are a major military unit of the US Navy and form the naval component of the US European Command and the US Africa Command . On September 20, 2005, the US Naval Forces Europe were merged with the 6th US fleet . The commander of the NAVEUR commanded since 2005, the US Naval Forces Europe and Allied Joint Force Command Naples of NATO , with his deputy in command holds on the US 6th Fleet.

The command of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the US 6th Fleet is located in the military area of Naples-Capodichino Airport (Naval Support Activity Naples) .

history

The oldest presence of the US Navy in Europe since 1801 was the " Mediterranean Squad ". After the American Civil War , it was incorporated into the European Squadron in 1865 and finally into the Atlantic Fleet in 1905 . In 1917 the US Naval Forces Operating Command was established in European Waters for the period of the First World War .

In 1922 the US Naval Forces Europe were set up. The history of the command up to the Second World War is not precisely documented. However, in March 1942, the duties of the " Special Naval Observer " Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley - stationed in London since 1940 - expanded and he took over command as Commander US Naval Forces Europe ( COMNAVEUR ). This command was established to operate the US Navy bases in the United Kingdom and to collect intelligence and research from Allied intelligence services. Numerous links were made with British and other governments in exile. In addition, the command took part in the planning of the invasions in North Africa ( Operation Torch ) and France ( Operation Neptune ).

When Admiral Harold R. Stark took over command in April 1942, he was also given command of the 12th US Fleet , which operated in European waters and consisted of a battleship , two cruisers , an aircraft carrier and six destroyers .

After the end of the Second World War, the US Navy had fulfilled its tasks in the occupied European countries by autumn 1945, all naval forces had been disarmed, war material was recorded, and ports were put back into operation. As the center of gravity gradually shifted and the geographic area expanded, the command was renamed Commander US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ( COMNELM ) in November 1946 . Six months later, in April 1947, the title was changed again, this time to Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean ( CINCNELM ).

In December 1950, Admiral Robert B. Carney became the new CINCNELM and in June 1951 also took over command as Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe ( CINCSOUTH ) of NATO. The CINCNELM - headquarters was then moved from London to Naples. In June 1952, however, the two commandos were separated. The CINCNELM headquarters were moved back to London and Admiral Jerauld Wright took over command from then on, while Carney remained in Naples as NATO Commander South ( CINCSOUTH ).

In September 1958, the then Commander Admiral James Holloway, Jr. also took over command as US Commander Eastern Atlantic ( USCOMEASTLANT ). This command supplied the parts of the US Atlantic fleet with intelligence and logistical support that operated in the European area.

In February 1960 the title of the command was changed again to Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe ( CINCUSNAVEUR ). The CINCNELM title has since been reserved for commandos in the Middle East , from Turkey and Egypt to the Indian Ocean . However, although there were separate commands, they were subordinate to a commander. The CINCNELM command was finally disbanded on February 1, 1964, and the Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic command on December 1, 1963. Since then, the title has been Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic . During the following years the commander had four commands: the US 6th Fleet, Commander Fleet Air Mediterranean , Commander Middle East Force and Commander US Naval Activities United Kingdom . Because of its growing importance in the Persian Gulf region , Commander Middle East Force was placed under the command of US Naval Forces Central Command ( NAVCENT ) on October 1, 1983 , the naval component of the US High Command for the Middle East ( US Central Command ).

The two commands CINCSOUTH and CINCNAVEUR were again commanded by a single person, Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. , when he took over the post of CINCNAVEUR on January 1, 1983 . Crowe stayed at his NATO headquarters in Naples. Former Commander Ronald J. Hays remained in London and became Deputy CINCNAVEUR and also retained the title of US Commander Eastern Atlantic . The headquarters of the US Naval Forces Europe remained in London and Crowe exercised his command in both locations. The post of US Commander Eastern Atlantic was then reassigned to CINCSOUTH and CINCNAVEUR on February 28, 1989 under Admiral James B. Busey .

On April 9, 1997, the title of US Commander Eastern Atlantic was finally given up because he was no longer necessary for the subordinate relationship to the commander of the US Atlantic fleet. Five years later, in 2002, the command was again renamed Commander US Naval Forces Europe . On March 15, 2004, the Allied Forces Southern Europe were replaced by the Allied Joint Force Command Naples ( JFC Naples ). In August 2005, the headquarters were merged and are now located in the NATO headquarters in Naples.

On September 20, 2005, the US Naval Forces Europe were merged with the 6th US fleet. The commander of the NAVEUR has commanded US Naval Forces Europe and JFC Naples since 2005 , with his deputy being in command of the 6th US fleet stationed in Gaeta , Italy.

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) was established on October 1, 2007 and has been active since October 1, 2008. The United States Naval Forces Africa and the United States Naval Forces Europe share the structures and resources.

Area of ​​responsibility

The area of ​​responsibility of the 6th US fleet and thus also the US Naval Forces Europe consists of almost half the Atlantic , from the North Pole to the Antarctic , as well as the Adriatic , the Baltic , the Barents , the Black and the Caspian Sea , the Mediterranean and the North Sea as well as the southeast Atlantic and the southwest Indian Ocean .

management

In the history of the US Navy in Europe, the supreme command of all US Navy forces has undergone many changes. In addition, many US commanders held positions in NATO at the same time . All commanders are listed below, including the changing commanders' titles:

Surname Beginning of the appointment End of appointment Commanding title
Robert P. Burke 17th July 2020 --- Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander US Naval Forces Africa & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
James G. Foggo III. 20th October 2017 17th July 2020 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander US Naval Forces Africa & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Michelle J. Howard June 7, 2016 20th October 2017 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander US Naval Forces Africa & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Mark E. Ferguson III. July 22, 2014 June 7, 2016 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander US Naval Forces Africa & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Bruce W. Clingan February 24, 2012 July 22, 2014 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander US Naval Forces Africa & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Samuel J. Locklear III. October 2010 February 24, 2012 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander US Naval Forces Africa & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Mark P. Fitzgerald November 30, 2007 October 2010 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
since October 1st, 2008 also Commander US Naval Forces Africa after activation of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Henry G. Ulrich III. May 23, 2005 November 30, 2007 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Michael G. Mullen October 8, 2004 May 23, 2005 Commander US Naval Forces Europe & Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Gregory G. Johnson October 2001 October 8, 2004 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe
since October 2002 Commander US Naval Forces Europe and since March 2004 Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples
James O. Ellis October 1998 October 2001 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe
T. Joseph Lopez July 1996 October 1998 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
on April 9, 1997, the title of US Commander Eastern Atlantic was relinquished
Leighton W. Smith, Jr. April 1994 July 1996 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Jeremy M. Boorda December 1991 April 1994 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Jonathan T. Howe May 1989 December 1991 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
James B. Busey IV. March 1987 May 1989 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe
since February 1989 also US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Arthur S. Moreau, Jr. November 1985 December 1986 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe
Lee Baggett, Jr. May 1985 November 1985 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe
WN Small May 1983 May 1985 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe
William J. Crowe, Jr. January 1983 May 1983 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (NATO)
Ronald J. Hays September 1980 January 1983 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
from January to March 1983 Deputy Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe
Joseph P. Moorer August 1977 September 1980 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
David H. Bagley May 1975 August 1977 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Harold E. Shear May 1974 May 1975 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Worth H. Bagley August 1973 May 1974 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
William F. Bringle June 1971 August 1973 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Waldemar FA Wendt July 1968 June 1971 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
John S. McCain, Jr. May 1967 July 1968 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
John S. Thach March 1965 May 1967 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Charles D. Griffin June 1963 March 1965 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe, Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
On December 1, 1963, the command of Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic was dissolved.
David L. McDonald April 1963 June 1963 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe, Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
Harold P. Smith February 1960 April 1963 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, US Commander Eastern Atlantic & Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Europe
Robert L. Dennison March 1959 February 1960 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean & US Commander Eastern Atlantic
James L. Holloway, Jr. February 1958 March 1959 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean & Commander Subordiante Command US Atlantic Fleet
since September 1958 US Commander Eastern Atlantic
JH Cassady March 1954 May 1956 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean & Commander Subordiante Command US Atlantic Fleet
Jerauld Wright June 1952 March 1954 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
since August 1953 also Commander Subordinate Command US Atlantic Fleet (USLANTFLT)
Robert B. Carney December 1950 June 1952 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
Richard L. Connolly April 1947 December 1950 Commander-in-Chief US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
Richard L. Connolly September 1946 April 1947 Commander US Naval Forces Europe
since November 1946 Commander US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
H. Kent Hewitt August 1945 September 1946 Commander US Naval Forces Europe
Harold R. Stark April 1942 August 1945 Commander US Naval Forces Europe
Robert L. Ghormley March 1942 April 1942 Commander US Naval Forces Europe
Robert L. Ghormley August 1940 March 1942 Special Naval Observer

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Description on militarybases.com ( Memento from March 16, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ Charles D. Griffin , in: Internationales Biographisches Archiv 29/1965 of July 12, 1965, in the Munzinger Archive ( beginning of article freely available)