| Unit Name: | United States First Fleet |
| Start Date: | 1 January 1947 |
| Disbanded: | 1 February 1973 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Command Structure: | United States Pacific Fleet |
The First Fleet was a numbered fleet of the United States Navy, in operation from January 1947 to 1 February 1973 in the western Pacific Ocean as part of the Pacific Fleet. In 1973, it was disestablished and its duties assumed by the United States Third Fleet.
Vice Admiral Alfred Montgomery was named as Commander, First Task Fleet, in an air station report of July 1947, with an inspection visit by a group of senior officers. The old cruiser was sunk as an atomic bomb test target during First Task Fleet maneuvers in May 1948.[1] became the flagship of Vice Admiral Gerald Bogan (Commander First Task Fleet) on 25 March 1949. served as flagship for Commander First Fleet early in 1949 for three weeks of amphibious operations in Alaskan waters to evaluate cold weather equipment. served as flagship for Commander, First Fleet, from January 1960 to March 1963. served as flagship in San Diego from 1969 until April 1972, except for yard overhaul in 1970 when assumed the role.[2]
On 17 November 2020, Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite announced the intention to create a new numbered fleet for the Indian Ocean to be called First Fleet. SECNAV Braithwaite speculated that the new fleet could be headquartered in Singapore or Western Australia.[3] [4]
The first ten squadrons and commanders are those of the U.S. Navy type commands in the Pacific Fleet active at the time.
The Navy website says, regarding this list of commanders, that "..This position was originally titled Commander, Central Pacific Force. On 26 April 1944 it was renamed Commander, Fifth Fleet. It then became Commander, First Task Fleet on 1 January 1947. It was subsequently renamed First Fleet on 11 February 1950. The Command was combined with ASW Forces Pacific and became Third Fleet as of 1 February 1973."[6]