View source for United States Third Fleet

{{Short description|Numbered fleet of the United States Navy}}
{{Redirect|Third Fleet}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Commander, U.S. Third Fleet
| image                         = 3rd Fleet Logo.png
| caption                       = Third Fleet Logo
| dates                         = 15 March 1943 – 7 October 1945
----
1 February 1973 – present<br />({{Age in years and months|1973|2|1}})
| country                       = {{Flag|United States|size=25px}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{Navy|United States|size=25px}}
| type                          = Fleet
| role                          = 
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = [[File:Seal of the Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet.svg|25px]] [[United States Pacific Fleet]]
| garrison                      = [[File:U.S. Naval Base Point Loma insignia, 2018.png|25px]] [[Naval Base Point Loma]]
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = 
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| website                       = https://www.c3f.navy.mil/<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = [[Vice admiral (United States)|VADM]] [[John F.G. Wade]]
| commander1_label              = [[#Fleet commanders|Commander]]
| commander2                    = [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|RDML]] Richard W. Meyer
| commander2_label              = Deputy Commander
| commander3                    = [[Command master chief petty officer|CMDCM]] H. Trenton Schmidt
| commander3_label              = Command Master Chief
| notable_commanders            = [[Fleet admiral (United States)|FADM]] [[William F. Halsey]]
| identification_symbol         = 
| identification_symbol_label   = 
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = 
}}

The '''United States Third Fleet''' is one of the [[numbered fleet]]s in the [[United States Navy]]. Third Fleet's area of responsibility includes approximately fifty million square miles of the eastern and northern [[Pacific Ocean]] areas including the [[Bering Sea]], Alaska, the [[Aleutian Islands]], and a sector of the Arctic. Major oil and trade sea lines of communication within this area are critically important to the economic health of the United States and friendly nations throughout the [[Pacific Rim]] region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global Security.org Third Fleet |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/c3f.htm |access-date=10 December 2006}}</ref>

First established in 1943, the Third Fleet conducted extensive operations against [[Japanese Empire|Japanese]] forces in the Central Pacific during [[World War II]]. Deactivated in 1945, the fleet remained inactive until 1973, when it was reactivated and assumed its current responsibilities.

== Mission ==
The Third Fleet plans and executes naval operations in the Pacific Ocean. The fleet provides maritime homeland defense, regional security, and humanitarian operations support through integrated naval and coastguard forces acting as a single Sea Service. It strengthens relations between the U.S. and its allies and partners through joint, inter-agency and multinational exercises and operations like Rim of the Pacific, Pacific Partnership, and Fleet Weeks. The Third Fleet ensures realistic, relevant training to its personnel so they have the necessary skills to promote peace and prevail in conflict.<ref name="Third Fleet">{{cite web |url=https://www.c3f.navy.mil/ |title=Third Fleet: Who We Are |publisher=[[United States Navy]] |access-date=11 August 2016}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The Third Fleet is a combat-ready power in control of ships, submarines, and aircraft stationed in [[California]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], and [[Hawaii]]. The Third Fleet's sea-going force includes five [[aircraft carrier]] strike groups, each consisting of a combination of [[cruiser]]s, [[destroyer]]s, and [[frigate]]s. They also have more than 30 [[submarine]]s and a dozen [[Auxiliary ship|supply ship]]s to support the strike groups. Third Fleet's air forces comprises more than 400 Navy aircraft, including [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets]], [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeyes]], [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II]], [[Bell AH-1Z Viper]] and [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk]] helicopters.<ref name="Third Fleet"/>

== History ==
=== World War II ===
The Third Fleet was originally formed during [[World War II]] on 15 March 1943 under the command of [[William Halsey, Jr.|Admiral William F. Halsey]]. Its on-shore headquarters at [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii was established on 15 June 1944. The ships of the Third Fleet also formed the basis of the [[United States Fifth Fleet|Fifth Fleet]], formed on 26 April 1944, which was the designation of the "Big Blue Fleet" when under the command of Admiral [[Raymond A. Spruance]].{{NoteTag|The "Big Blue Fleet" was the name given to the main fleet of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. The term stems from pre-war planning, called the "color plans" because each nation included was given a color code name. In these plans for potential conflicts, the British [[Royal Navy]] was "Red," the German Navy was "Black," and so forth. The [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] was termed the "Orange Fleet," while the U.S. fleet was the "Blue Fleet". The "Big Blue Fleet" was the massive fleet that the U.S. Navy anticipated it would field to win a war with Japan and which it thought largely would come into being by late 1943 or early 1944.<ref>Potter p. 112</ref>}} Spruance and Halsey alternated command of the fleet for major operations, allowing the other admiral and his staff time to plan for subsequent operations.  A secondary benefit was confusing the Japanese into thinking that there were actually two separate fleets as the fleet designation flipped back and forth.<ref>Potter p. 182</ref>

While under Halsey's command as the Third Fleet, the fleet operated in and around the [[Solomon Islands]], the [[Philippines]], [[Formosa]], [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]], the [[Ryukyu Islands]], and the [[Japanese archipelago|Japanese Home Islands]], first with the [[battleship]] {{USS|New Jersey|BB-62|6}} and, from May 1945 to the end of the war, the battleship {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}} as its [[flagship]]. As the Third Fleet, it took part in the [[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|Palau Islands campaign]] of September–November 1944 and the [[Philippines Campaign (1944-45)|Philippines campaign]] of 1944–1945, defeated the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] in two of the four major actions – the [[Battle of the Sibuyan Sea]] and the [[Battle off Cape Engaño]] – that made up the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]] in October 1944, encountered the damaging [[Typhoon Cobra (1944)|Typhoon Cobra]] in December 1944, endured [[Typhoon Connie]] in June 1945, and took part in the war's final operations in Japanese waters in the summer of 1945, launching air attacks on Tokyo, the naval base at [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], and the island of [[Hokkaidō]] and [[Allied naval bombardments of Japan during World War II|bombarding several Japanese coastal cities]] with naval gunfire.

The [[British Pacific Fleet]] was operating as [[Task Force]] 57 of the Fifth Fleet when Halsey relieved Spruance of command in May 1945. Like the rest of the Fifth Fleet's ships, the British ships were resubordinated from Spruance's Fifth Fleet to Halsey's Third Fleet. The British Pacific Fleet then constituted Task Force 37 under the Third Fleet's operational command through the end of World War II on 15 August 1945.

The Third Fleet's next major combat operation would have been [[Operation Downfall#Olympic|Operation Olympic]], the invasion of [[Kyushu]] in the Japanese Home Islands, scheduled to begin on 1 November 1945, during which it would have operated simultaneously with the Fifth Fleet for the first time.{{contradiction inline|date=July 2023|reason=If there was only one fleet in reality, how would they operate simultaneously?}} The end of the war made this operation unnecessary.

Embarked aboard ''Missouri'', Admiral Halsey led the Third Fleet into [[Tokyo Bay]] on 29 August 1945. On 2 September 1945, the documents of [[Surrender of Japan|surrender of the Japanese Empire]] ending the war were signed on ''Missouri''{{'}}s deck. The Third Fleet remained in Japanese waters until late September 1945, when its ships were directed to proceed to the [[United States West Coast]]. On 7 October 1945, the Third Fleet was designated a reserve fleet and decommissioned from active status.

=== Re-establishment and after ===
[[Image:USN Fleets (1980s).png|thumb|The areas of responsibility of the United States [[United States Second Fleet|Second]] (marked "2F"), Third ("3F"), [[United States Sixth Fleet|Sixth]] ("6F"), and [[United States Seventh Fleet|Seventh]] ("7F") Fleets during the 1980s.]]
[[File:USN Fleets (2009).png|thumb|The areas of responsibility of the United States [[United States Second Fleet|Second]] (marked "2F"), Third ("3F"), [[United States Fourth Fleet|Fourth]] ("4F"), [[United States Fifth Fleet|Fifth]] ("5F"), [[United States Sixth Fleet|Sixth]] ("6F"), and [[United States Seventh Fleet|Seventh]] ("7F") Fleets in 2009.]]
On 1 February 1973, following a reorganization of the [[United States Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]], the Third Fleet was recommissioned as an active fleet and assumed the duties of the former [[United States First Fleet|First Fleet]] and Pacific [[Anti-Submarine Warfare]] Force located at [[Ford Island]], Hawaii. Third Fleet's new duties were to train naval forces for overseas deployment and evaluate state-of-the-art technology for fleet use. Additionally, Third Fleet could deploy in the event of a major conflict.

On 26 November 1986, Commander, Third Fleet shifted his flag from his headquarters ashore to resume status as an afloat commander for the first time since World War II, aboard {{USS|Coronado|AGF-11|6}}. In August 1991, Third Fleet's commander, his staff and the command ship ''Coronado'' shifted homeports to [[San Diego]]. In September 2003, Commander, Third Fleet shifted his flag from the command ship ''Coronado'' to headquarters ashore at Point Loma, San Diego, California.<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Navy Third Fleet (Official Website) |url=https://www.c3f.navy.mil/About-Us/History/ |access-date=11 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213222134/http://www.c3f.navy.mil/HISTORY.HTML |archive-date=13 February 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

USS ''Ronald Reagan'' and other Third Fleet ships participated in the International Fleet Review (IFR) commemorating the 100th birthday of the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] in [[Victoria, British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Torrey W. |last=Lee |title=''Ronald Reagan'' Begins Flight Deck Certification |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53819 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805140714/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53819 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |work=NNS100603-15 |publisher=USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs |date=3 June 2010 |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref> Joining ''Ronald Reagan'' for the naval review were the cruiser {{USS|Chosin|CG-65|2}}, the destroyer {{USS|Sampson|DDG-102|2}}, and the frigate {{USS|Ford|FFG-54|2}}.<ref name=CVN74history2010>{{cite web |title=2010 History |url=http://www.uscarriers.net/cvn76history.htm |work=USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76 |publisher=USCarriers.net |date=16 November 2011 |access-date=28 December 2012}}</ref> The naval review took place 9–12 June 2010, and it involved 21 naval ships and more than 8,000 naval personnel from Canada, the [[French Navy]], the [[Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force]], the [[Royal Australian Navy]], the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]], and the United States.<ref>{{cite web |first=Aaron |last=Stevens |title=USS ''Ronald Reagan'' Draws Excitement in Canadian Naval Centennial's Fleet Review |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=54037 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805053435/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=54037 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |work=NNS100629-07 |publisher=USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs |date=29 June 2010 |access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Nora Tyson]] was installed as the new commander of the Third Fleet, making her the first woman to lead a numbered fleet in the U.S. Navy.<ref name="fox5sandiego1">{{cite web |first=Abbey |last=Gibb |url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2015/07/24/first-woman-to-lead-navy-fleet-takes-over/ |title=First woman to lead Navy Fleet takes over |website=FOX5 San Diego |date=25 July 2015 |access-date=25 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="steele1965">{{cite web |last=Steele |first=Jeanette |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/24/tyson-third-fleet-change-command-swift/ |title=1st woman at helm of U.S. operational fleet |work=SanDiegoUnionTribune.com |date=30 July 1965 |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063338/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/24/tyson-third-fleet-change-command-swift/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Current operations ==
Third Fleet's primary mission is one of conflict deterrence, but in the event of general war, it would conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea. Such operations would be executed well forward and early in a conflict to carry out the primary wartime mission of Third Fleet—the defense of the western sea approaches to the United States, including Alaska and the [[Aleutian Islands]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} There are four Carrier Strike Groups reportedly assigned to the Third Fleet: {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}} and [[Carrier Strike Group Eleven]]; {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}} and [[Carrier Strike Group One]]; {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}} and [[Carrier Strike Group Nine]]; and {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}} and [[Carrier Strike Group Three]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}

In peacetime, Third Fleet continually trains Navy and [[U.S. Marine Corps]] forces for their expeditionary warfare mission. Third Fleet training has been designed to ensure that deploying forces are fully prepared for joint operations. All training is conducted within a joint environment—employing joint doctrine, terminology, procedures, command and control—to ensure that forces are ready to join with the other [[United States armed forces]] branches under a joint command structure.

Commander, Third Fleet is also designated as a [[Task force#Joint Task Force|Joint Task Force]] (JTF) commander. In that capacity, the commander and their staff may be assigned responsibilities for command of joint U.S. forces deployed in response to a specific event or contingency. As such, the JTF commander reports via a joint [[command hierarchy|chain of command]] to a unified commander. Commander, U.S. Pacific Command is the unified commander in the Pacific theater.

To allow 7th Fleet to focus more resources on a potential North Korean contingency, the 3rd Fleet is building up its ability to operate forces beyond the [[International Date Line]], in areas of the Western Pacific hitherto commanded by 7th Fleet. The "3rd Fleet Forward" concept was announced by U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral [[Scott Swift]] in 2015, but 3rd Fleet commander Vice Adm. [[Nora Tyson]] said at the "WEST 2017" conference that the North Korean threat was a main driver behind this effort:<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.usni.org/2017/02/22/3rd-fleet-forward-one-of-several-tools-to-deter-north-korean-aggression |title='3rd Fleet Forward' One Of Several Tools to Deter North Korea |date=2017-02-22 |work=USNI News |access-date=2017-09-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>

<blockquote>
"What we have done in the past really 18 months is we, 3rd Fleet, have worked very closely with 7th Fleet and PACFLT in developing our, 3rd fleet's, capability to command and control forces forward in the Western Pacific, with the assumption that if something were to happen – and as [Vice Admiral [[Joseph Aucoin]], Commander 7th Fleet] said, the number-one probability fight-tonight scenario would be on the [[Korean Peninsula]]. 
"If that were the case, the assumption is that [Aucoin] and his team would be pretty busy up there.. working for General Brooks [ComUSFK/CFC/UNC] and 3rd Fleet would be available to provide that command element to handle whatever else may happen in the Pacific Fleet AOR ...be it a major humanitarian disaster requiring that level of [joint task force] three-star commander, be it some scenario, maritime security issue in the South China Sea. So we have been working very closely with 7th Fleet, [Aucoin] and his team, and PACFLT to ensure that we have the connective tissue where if something were to happen that 3rd Fleet could very quickly respond, complement [Aucoin] and his team and handle whatever scenario may come to pass in the Pacific theater."
</blockquote>

In April 2016, Vice Admiral Tyson deployed a three-ship [[Surface Action Group]] of warships (''Momsen,'' ''Spruance'', and {{USS|Decatur|DDG-73}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cds31/Pages/Surface-Action-Group-to-Demonstrate-3rd-Fleet-Forward-Concept-.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526071850/http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cds31/Pages/Surface-Action-Group-to-Demonstrate-3rd-Fleet-Forward-Concept-.aspx |archive-date=2016-05-26 |title=Surface Action Group to Demonstrate 3rd Fleet Forward Concept}}</ref>) to the Western Pacific. On Oct. 21, one of them, the destroyer USS ''Decatur'' conducted a "[[Freedom of Navigation]]" passage near the [[Paracel Islands]], separately claimed by the PRC, Vietnam and Taiwan. All three ships remained under Third Fleet command during the entire operation. As Tyson partially acknowledged during her WEST 2017 conference remarks, "the Chinese know that this administrative (and) operational innovation is directed at them," said Toshi Yoshihara, a U.S. [[Naval War College]] professor in January 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/01/09/navy-third-fleet-returns-world-war-ii-roots.html |title=Navy's Third Fleet Returns to World War II Roots |last=ContentServer |work=Military.com |access-date=2017-09-27 |language=en}}</ref>

== Component units ==
U.S. Third Fleet component units include the following:<ref>{{cite web |title=Commander, U.S. Third Fleet |url=http://www.c3f.navy.mil/about.html |access-date=28 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415040429/http://www.c3f.navy.mil/about.html |archive-date=15 April 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Carrier Strike Group One]]
* [[Carrier Strike Group Three]]
* [[Carrier Strike Group Nine]]
* [[Carrier Strike Group Eleven]]
* [[Carrier Strike Group Fifteen]]
* [[Expeditionary Strike Group Three]]
* Naval Surface Group Mid-Pacific
* Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One
* Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing
* Mine Countermeasures Group Three
* Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One
* Coastal Riverine Group One
* Navy Air and Missile Defense Command
* Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command
* Submarine and Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare Force Third Fleet

== Task Forces ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! scope="col" | Task Force Name
! scope="col" | Task Force Type
! scope="col" | Location/Notes
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-30]]
| Battle force
| N/A
|-
! scope="row" | [[Task Force 31]]
|Command and Coordination Force
|Source Polmar ''Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet'', 18th Ed., 2005.
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-32]]
|Ready Force
|Source Polmar ''Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet'', 18th Ed., 2005.
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-33]]
|Logistics support force
|Point Loma. [[Military Sealift Command]], Pacific (MSCPAC) is responsible for MSC ships operating in the Eastern Pacific. It is dual-hatted as Commander, Task Force 33, directing the underway delivery of fuel, provisions, ordnance and towing services to Navy combatants in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility.<ref>{{cite web |title=MSC Pacific |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/leadership/mscpac.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720032538/http://www.msc.navy.mil/leadership/mscpac.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-34]]
|Theatre ASW force
|Pearl Harbor, HI<ref>OPNAVNOTE 3111.830, 11 July 2007, [https://doni.daps.dla.mil/Directives/03000%20Naval%20Operations%20and%20Readiness/03-100%20Naval%20Operations%20Support/3111.0830.pdf RENAME AND MODIFY MISSION OF COMMANDER, ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE FORCES PACIFIC]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-35]]
|Surface combatant force
| 
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-36]]
|Amphibious force
| 
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-37]]
|Mine Countermeasures Group Three
| 
|-
! scope="row" | [[CTF-39]]
|Landing force
|
|}

== List of commanders ==
{{expand list|date=April 2021}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!colspan=2|Commander
!colspan=3|Term
|-
!Portrait
!Name
!Took office
!Left office
!Term length
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| military_rank     = [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]]
| image             = Admiral William F. Halsey.jpg
| officeholder      = [[William F. Halsey Jr.]]
| officeholder_sort = Halsey, William Frederick Jr.
| born_year         = 1882
| died_year         = 1959
| term_start        = 15 March 1943
| term_end          = 7 October 1945
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|15 March 1943|7 October 1945}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| military_rank     = [[Vice Admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]]
| image             = VADM Howard F. Kingman, USN.jpg
| officeholder      = Howard F. Kingman
| officeholder_sort = Kingman, Howard Fithian
| born_year         = 1890
| died_year         = 1968
| term_start        = 22 November 1945
| term_end          = 30 November 1946
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|22 November 1945|30 November 1946}}
}}
|-
|colspan=7 align=center | ''Inactive (1946–1973)''
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = VADM William T. Rapp, USN.png
| officeholder      = William T. Rapp
| officeholder_sort = Rapp, William Theodore
| born_year         = 1920
| died_year         = 1988
| term_start        = 1 February 1973
| term_end          = August 1974
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 February 1973|1 August 1974}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = James Henry Doyle Jr.jpg
| officeholder      = [[James H. Doyle Jr.]]
| officeholder_sort = Doyle, James Henry Jr.
| born_year         = 1925
| died_year         = 2018
| term_start        = August 1974
| term_end          = July 1975
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 August 1974|1 July 1975}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Coogan, Robert P.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Robert P. Coogan]]
| officeholder_sort = Coogan, Robert Paul
| born_year         = 1922
| died_year         = 2015
| term_start        = July 1975
| term_end          = September 1976
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 July 1975|1 September 1976}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely, Jr.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Samuel L. Gravely Jr.]]
| officeholder_sort = Gravely, Samuel Lee
| born_year         = 1922
| died_year         = 2014
| term_start        = September 1976
| term_end          = September 1978
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 September 1976|1 September 1978}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 7
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Kinnaird R. McKee DN-SC-86-01010.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Kinnaird R. McKee]]
| officeholder_sort = McKee, Kinnaird Rowe
| born_year         = 1929
| died_year         = 2013
| term_start        = September 1978
| term_end          = October 1979
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 September 1978|1 October 1979}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 8
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = 0141 - Vice Admiral Edward C. Waller.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Edward C. Waller III]]
| officeholder_sort = Waller, Edward C. III
| born_year         = 1926
| died_year         = 2021
| term_start        = October 1979
| term_end          = August 1981
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 October 1979|1 August 1981}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 9
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Edward S Briggs VADM.jpeg
| officeholder      = [[Edward S. Briggs]]
| officeholder_sort = Briggs, Edward Samuel
| born_year         = 1926
| died_year         = 2022
| term_start        = August 1981
| term_end          = September 1981
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 August 1981|1 September 1981}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 10
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = William P Lawrence.jpg
| officeholder      = [[William P. Lawrence]]
| officeholder_sort = Lawrence, William Porter
| born_year         = 1930
| died_year         = 2005
| term_start        = September 1981
| term_end          = August 1983
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 September 1981|1 August 1983}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 11
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Donald S. Jones (4).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Donald S. Jones]]
| officeholder_sort = Jones, Donald S.
| born_year         = 1928
| died_year         = 2004
| term_start        = August 1983
| term_end          = August 1985
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 August 1983|1 August 1985}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 12
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = VADM Thomas R. Kinnebrew, USN.jpg
| officeholder      = Thomas R. Kinnebrew
| officeholder_sort = Kinnebrew, Thomas Richard
| born_year         = 1930
| died_year         = 2009
| term_start        = August 1985
| term_end          = September 1985
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 August 1985|1 September 1985}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 13
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = VADM Kendall E. Moranville, USN.jpg
| officeholder      = Kendall E. Moranville
| officeholder_sort = Moranville, Kendall Elmer
| born_year         = 1932
| died_year         = 2001
| term_start        = September 1985
| term_end          = June 1986
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 September 1985|1 June 1986}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 14
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Diego E. Hernandez.jpeg
| officeholder      = [[Diego E. Hernández]]
| officeholder_sort = Hernández, Diego Edyl
| born_year         = 1934
| died_year         = 2017
| term_start        = August 1986
| term_end          = January 1989
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 August 1986|1 January 1989}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 15
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = VADM James F. Dorsey, USN.jpg
| officeholder      = James F. Dorsey
| officeholder_sort = Dorsey, James Francis
| born_year         = 1934
| died_year         =
| term_start        = January 1989
| term_end          = April 1991
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 January 1989|1 April 1991}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 16
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Rear Admiral Jerry L. Unruh, USN (covered).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Jerry L. Unruh]]
| officeholder_sort = Unruh, Jerry Lee
| born_year         = 1939
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = April 1991
| term_end          = July 1994
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 April 1991|1 July 1994}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 17
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, USN.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Conrad C. Lautenbacher]]
| officeholder_sort = Lautenbacher, Conrad Charles Jr.
| born_year         = 1942
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = July 1994
| term_end          = October 1996
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 July 1994|1 October 1996}}
}}

{{Officeholder table
| order             = 18
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Herbert A. Browne II.jpg
| officeholder      = Herbert A. Browne II
| officeholder_sort = Browne, Herbert A. II
| born_year         = 1943
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = October 1996
| term_end          = November 1998
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 October 1996|1 November 1998}}
}}

{{Officeholder table
| order             = 19
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Portrait of Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn, USN.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Dennis V. McGinn]]
| officeholder_sort = McGinn, Dennis Vincent
| born_year         = 1945
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = November 1998
| term_end          = 6 October 2000
| timeinoffice      = ~{{ayd|1 November 1998|6 October 2000}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 20
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Toney M. Bucchi.jpg
| officeholder      = Toney M. Bucchi
| officeholder_sort = Bucchi, Toney Michael
| born_year         = 1946
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 6 October 2000
| term_end          = 28 May 2003
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|6 October 2000|28 May 2003}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 21
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Portrait of Rear Admiral (lower half) Michael J. McCabe, USN (covered).jpg
| officeholder      = Michael J. McCabe
| officeholder_sort = McCabe, Michael James
| born_year         = 1948
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 28 May 2003
| term_end          = 7 May 2005
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|28 May 2003|7 May 2005}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 22
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Barry Costello.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Barry M. Costello]]
| officeholder_sort = Costello, Barry Michael
| born_year         = 1951
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 7 May 2005
| term_end          = 3 May 2007
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|7 May 2005|3 May 2007}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 23
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Samuel Locklear III, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet - official portrait.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Samuel J. Locklear]]
| officeholder_sort = Locklear, Samuel Jones III
| born_year         = 1954
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 3 May 2007
| term_end          = 13 June 2009
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|3 May 2007|13 June 2009}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 24
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Richard W. Hunt.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Richard W. Hunt]]
| officeholder_sort = Hunt, Richard Wayne
| born_year         = 1953
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 13 June 2009
| term_end          = 21 April 2011
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|13 June 2009|21 April 2011}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 25
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Gerald R. Beaman.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Gerald R. Beaman]]
| officeholder_sort = Beaman, Gerald Roger
| born_year         = 1952
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 21 April 2011
| term_end          = 3 June 2013
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|21 April 2011|3 June 2013}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 26
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Kenneth E. Floyd (3).jpg
| officeholder      = Kenneth E. Floyd<ref>{{cite web |first=Jeanette |last=Steele |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sdut-third-fleet-change-command-floyd-2013jun03-story.html |title=New leader as Navy fleet cuts back |date=2013-06-03 |access-date=2021-04-27 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
| officeholder_sort = Floyd, Kenneth Earl
| born_year         = 1958
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 3 June 2013
| term_end          = 24 July 2015
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|3 June 2013|24 July 2015}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 27
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Nora W. Tyson.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Nora W. Tyson]]
| officeholder_sort = Tyson, Nora Wingfield
| born_year         = 1957
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 24 July 2015
| term_end          = 16 September 2017
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|24 July 2015|16 September 2017}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 28
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = VICE ADMIRAL JOHN D. ALEXANDER.jpg
| officeholder      = [[John D. Alexander (admiral)|John D. Alexander]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Biographies/BioDisplay/Article/2236155/vice-admiral-john-alexander/ |title=Vice Admiral John Alexander |access-date=2021-04-27}}</ref>
| officeholder_sort = Alexander, John David
| born_year         = 1959
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 16 September 2017
| term_end          = 27 September 2019
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|16 September 2017|27 September 2019}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 29
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Scott D. Conn (2).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Scott D. Conn]]
| officeholder_sort = Conn, Scott David
| born_year         = 1962
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 27 September 2019
| term_end          = 3 June 2021
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|27 September 2019|3 June 2021}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 30
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Stephen T. Koehler.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Stephen T. Koehler]]
| officeholder_sort = Koehler, Stephen Thomas
| born_year         = 1964
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 3 June 2021
| term_end          = 16 June 2022
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|3 June 2021|16 June 2022}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 31
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = Vice Adm. Michael E. Boyle.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Michael E. Boyle]]
| officeholder_sort = Boyle, Michael Edward
| born_year         = 1965
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 16 June 2022
| term_end          = 7 June 2024
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|16 June 2022|7 June 2024}}
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 32
| military_rank     = Vice Admiral
| image             = VADM John F.G.Wade.jpg
| officeholder      = [[John F.G. Wade]]
| officeholder_sort = Wade, John Frederic G.
| born_year         = 1968
| died_year         = 
| term_start        = 7 June 2024
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|7 June 2024}}
}}
|}

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |author=Potter, E. B. |author-link=E. B. Potter |year=2005 |title=Admiral Arliegh Burke |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute Press |isbn=978-1-59114-692-6}}
* {{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=Theodore |year=1954 |title=The Magnificent Mitscher |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=1-59114-850-2}}

{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.c3f.navy.mil/ Commander, United States Navy Third Fleet homepage]

{{US Fleets}}
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}

[[Category:Fleets of the United States Navy in World War II|03]]
[[Category:Fleets of the United States Navy|03]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1973]]