The Scouting Fleet was created in 1922 as part of a major, post-

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

reorganization of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. The Atlantic and Pacific fleets, which comprised a significant portion of the ships in the United States Navy, were combined into a new entity, the

United States Fleet The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. The acronym CINCUS, pronounced "sink us", was used for Commander in Chief, United States Fleet. This was replaced by COMINCH in December 1941 ...

. Defined as "the principal naval force of the United States," the new fleet was composed of four elements: (a) the Battle Fleet, (b) the Scouting Fleet, (c) the Control Force, and (d) the Fleet Base Force. Under the general heading of "Forces Not Assigned to the United States Fleet" came six categories: (a) Asiatic Fleet; (b) Naval Forces, Europe; (c) Special Service Squadrons; (d) Submarine Divisions, Atlantic; (e) Submarine Divisions, Pacific; and (f) Naval District Forces. While there was a reorganization in 1930, and the renaming of the Battle Fleet and Scouting Fleet as the Battle Force and Scouting Force, this would be the core structure of the United States Navy until the beginning of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. The Scouting Fleet (comprising battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and aircraft squadrons) was organized to conduct reconnaissance in force, in order to enable the Battle Fleet in its task of engaging, defeating, and destroying the main body of an enemy fleet. While there were numerous interwar exercises, and other deployments, the Scouting Fleet was initially primarily deployed in the Atlantic ocean, with the Battle Fleet in the Pacific ocean. Established in 1922, the fleet consisted mainly of older battleships and initially operated in the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

ocean. Returning from European waters on 21 October 1922, became the

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the f ...

of BatDiv 6, Scouting Fleet, and operated with the Scouting Fleet over the next 3½ years. In 1931, it was redesignated as the "Scouting Force." At this time, it consisted of the remaining cruisers and destroyers that were not with the

Battle Force The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. The General Order of 6 December 1922 organized the United States Fleet, with the Battle Fleet as the Pacific presence. This ...

and a "Training Squadron" of three old battleships and eight destroyers. This force operated exclusively in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. In 1932, the force was moved to the Pacific. In 1940 it survived the division of the Fleet into the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Atlantic Fleet, and served in the early part of World War II as an umbrella command for task forces.

Commanders

* VADM

John Daniel McDonald John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(1922–1923) * VADM

Newton A. McCully Vice Admiral Newton Alexander McCully (1867–1951) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the Spanish–American War and World War I. Biography McCully, the son of Newton A. and Caroline Fretwell McCully, was born on 19 June 186 ...

(June 20, 1923 - December 21, 1924) * VADM

Josiah S. McKean Josiah ( or ) or Yoshiyahu; la, Iosias was the 16th king of Judah (–609 BCE) who, according to the Hebrew Bible, instituted major religious reforms by removing official worship of gods other than Yahweh. Josiah is credited by most biblical s ...

(December 22, 1924 – September 3, 1926) * VADM

Ashley H. Robertson Ashley is a place name derived from the Old English words '' æsc'' (“ash”) and '' lēah'' (“meadow”). It may refer to: People and fictional characters * Ashley (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name ...

(September 4, 1926 – May 30, 1927) * VADM Montgomery M. Taylor (June 1, 1927 - July 10, 1928)"Taylor Commands Scouting Fleet." ''The Hartford Courant.'' July 13, 1928, p. 6. * VADM William Carey Cole (July 11, 1928 - June 13, 1930) * VADM Arthur L. Willard (June 14, 1930 - June 23, 1932) * RADM Frank Hodges Clark (June 24, 1932 - May 19, 1933) * VADM

Frank H. Brumby Frank Hardeman Brumby (September 11, 1874 – July 16, 1950) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who commanded the Battle Force of the United States Fleet from 1934 to 1935. Early career Born in Athens, Georgia, to Belle Hardeman B ...

(May 20, 1933 - June 14, 1934) * VADM

Arthur J. Hepburn Arthur Japy Hepburn (October 15, 1877 – May 31, 1964) was an admiral in the United States Navy, whose active-duty career included service in the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. He held a number of high posts in the year ...

(June 15, 1934 - June 23, 1936 * VADM William T. Tarrant (June 24, 1936 - July 2, 1938) * VADM Adolphus Andrews (July 3, 1938 - February 1, 1941) * VADM Wilson Brown (February 2, 1941 - March 1942)

References

Bibliography

* Military units and formations of the United States Navy Military units and formations established in 1922 Military units and formations disestablished in the 1940s {{USN-stub