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[[File:US Third Fleet warships enroute to the Philippines January 1945.jpg|thumb|right|200px|{{Center|The [[US]] Third Fleet {{circa|January 1945}}}}]]

[[File:US Third Fleet warships enroute to the Philippines January 1945.jpg|thumb|right|200px|{{Center|The [[US]] Third Fleet {{circa|January 1945}}}}]]

A '''Naval Fleet''' is usually a [[wikt:permanent|permanent]] formation. Fleets are generally assigned to a particular [[ocean]] or [[sea]]. Many fleets are named after the particular ocean or sea they are assigned to. Since 1942 the [[United States Navy]] uses numbers to identify their fleets.<ref>Norman Polmar, ''The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet'' (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1939), p. 29</ref>  

A '''naval fleet''' is usually a [[permanent|permanent]] formation and is generally assigned to a particular [[ocean]] or [[sea]]. Many fleets are named after the particular ocean or sea to which they are assigned. Since 1942, the [[US Navy]] uses numbers to identify its fleets.<ref>Norman Polmar, ''The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet'' (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1939), p. 29</ref>  

A fleet is normally [[Commander|commanded]] by an [[Admiral]].<ref>''Hearings Before the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives: 1908–1909'' (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1908), p. 1110</ref> Usually his rank is [[Admiral of the Fleet]]. Some fleets have been or are commanded by [[Vice-Admiral]]s or even [[Rear-Admiral]]s. Most fleets are divided into several [[squadron]]s. Each squadron is commanded by a [[wikt:subordinate|subordinate]] admiral. Those squadrons in turn are often divided into divisions. In the [[age of sail]], fleets were divided into van, centre and rear squadrons. These were named after each squadron’s place in the [[line of battle]]. In more modern times, the squadrons are typically composed of groups of the same [[wikt:class|class]] of [[warship]]s. Examples would be [[frigate]]s<ref>John Roberts, ''Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy'' (Barnsley: Seaforth, 2009), p. 18</ref> or [[destroyer]]s.<ref>Harold A Skaarup, ''Out of Darkness—Light: 1983-1997'' (New York: iUniverse, 2005), p. 474</ref>

A fleet is normally [[Command (military)|commanded]] by an [[admiral]].<ref>''Hearings Before the Committee on Naval Affairs of the House of Representatives: 1908–1909'' (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1908), p. 1110</ref> Usually, his rank is [[Admiral of the Fleet]]. Some fleets have been or are commanded by [[Vice-Admiral]]s or even [[Rear-Admiral]]s. Most fleets are divided into several [[squadron]]s, each of which is commanded by a [[subordinate|subordinate]] admiral. Those squadrons in turn are often divided into divisions.

Since many smaller [[navy|navies]] only contain a single fleet, the term ''the fleet'' usually means ''the navy''.<ref>Holger H. Herwig, ''Luxury' Fleet: The Imperial German Navy 1888-1918'' (New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 77</ref>

During the [[age of sail]], fleets were divided into van, centre and rear squadrons. They were named after each squadron’s place in the [[line of battle]]. In more modern times, the squadrons are typically composed of groups of the same [[class|class]] of [[warship]]s. Examples would be [[frigate]]s<ref>John Roberts, ''Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy'' (Barnsley: Seaforth, 2009), p. 18</ref> or [[destroyer]]s.<ref>Harold A Skaarup, ''Out of Darkness—Light: 1983-1997'' (New York: iUniverse, 2005), p. 474</ref>  

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:Navy]]

[[Category:Military terminology]]

[[Category:Naval ships of the United States]]