United States Sixth Fleet The Sixth Fleet is the United States Navy ' s operational fleet and staff of United States Naval Forces Europe . The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples , Italy . The officially stated mission of the Sixth Fleet in 2011 is that it ' conducts the full range of Maritime Operations and Theater Security Cooperation missions in concert with coalition , joint , interagency and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa . ' The commander of the Sixth Fleet is Vice Admiral Frank Craig Pandolfe . The Sixth Fleet was established in February 1950 by redesignation of the former Sixth Task Fleet . Since that time , it has been continually engaged in world affairs around the Mediterranean , and , on occasion , further afield . It was involved in numerous NATO maritime exercises , the U . S . Lebanese intervention of 1958 , confrontation with the Soviets during the Yom Kippur War ( also known as the October War ) of 1973 , clearance of the Suez Canal post 1973 , several confrontations with Libya during the 1980s ( including Operation El Dorado Canyon ) , and maintenance of task forces in the Adriatic during the wars in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s . Most recently it launched airstrikes on Libya again during the Libyan civil war of 2011 . Since the establishment of NATO it has constituted the most powerful Allied maritime striking force in the NATO Southern Region , and has retained the title of Naval Striking and Support Force Southern Europe ( STRIKFORSOUTH ) in its NATO identity . However with the reorganization of NATO in the early twenty - first century the title became Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO . Thomas A . Bryson ' s ' Tars , Turks , and Tankers : The Role of the United States Navy in the Middle East ' covers the fleet ' s activities from 1950 to 1980 . History . The United States has maintained a naval presence in the Mediterranean since the early 19th century , when U . S . Naval forces first engaged the Barbary pirates to prevent them from interfering with commercial shipping . The earliest unit was the Mediterranean Squadron . On February 1 , 1946 , U . S . Naval Forces , Northwest African Waters ( NavNAW ) , was redesignated U . S . Naval Forces , Mediterranean . The force was responsible to U . S . Naval Forces , Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean in London , and had as its flagship , a destroyer tender , anchored at Naples , Italy . In 1946 , President Truman dispatched the battleship to the Eastern Mediterranean , ostensiably to return the body of Münir Ertegün , former Turkish Ambassador to Washington , back to Istanbul . However perhaps a much stronger motive was to demonstrate U . S . power in view of Soviet threats to Turkey and Iran . The cruiser relieved the tender as flagship and began operating with the fleet . In June 1946 , flying the flag of Vice Admiral Bernhard Bieri , Commander , Naval Forces Mediterranean , was despatched to Trieste . On 5 September 1946 , , flying the flag of Rear Admiral John H . Cassady , Commander Carrier Division 1 , and accompanied by , , and visited Piraeus , the port of Athens . , escorted by USS " Fargo " and visited Greece in December 1946 . The title of Naval Forces Mediterranean was changed to Commander Sixth Task Fleet and then , in 1950 , Commander , Sixth Fleet . Sixth Fleet ' s NATO guise was the principal player in Exercise Longstep during November 1952 . In 1957 , a naval exercise , Operation Deep Water , took place within the Allied Forces Southern Europe area of responsibility . It was conducted by Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe ( STRIKFORSOUTH ) , commanded by Vice Admiral Charles R . Brown , USN , who also commanded the Sixth Fleet . STRIKEFORSOUTH was effectively the NATO designation for the U . S . Sixth Fleet , though additional NATO headquarters personnel would eventually be assigned , while maintaining American control over its nuclear weapons on board U . S . aircraft carrier as mandated by the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 . Sixth Fleet supported American land forces during Operation Blue Bat in Lebanon in 1958 . During the Cold War , the Sixth Fleet had several confrontations with the Soviet Navy ' s 5th Operational Squadron , notably during the 1973 Yom Kippur War . During the Yom Kippur War Elmo Zumwalt describes part of the Sixth Fleet buildup as follows : " On 25 October JCS directed TG 20 . 1 , and escorts , to [ come under the command of ] . . ComSixthFleet as TG 60 . 3 and proceed to join TG 60 south of Crete . Additionally , and escorts ( TG 60 . 2 ) and TF61 / 62 [ the amphibious task forces ] were directed to join TG 60 . 1 south of Crete . . . . TG 100 . 1 ( Baltic destroyers ) were ordered to proceed to the Mediterranean and chop to ComSixthFleet . . ' In an exchange of notes on April 13 and 25 , 1974 , the United States and Egypt agreed that the United States would provide extensive assistance to clear the Suez Canal of mines , unexploded ordnance , and sunken ships . These operations took the form of Nimbus Star ( mine and ordnance clearance ) , Nimbus Moon ( land and sub - surface naval ordnance clearance ) , and Nimrod Spar , in which a private salvage contractor would clear the canal of the ten sunken ships under the supervision of the Sixth Fleet ' s Task Force 65 . Captain J . Huntly Boyd , the Navy ' s Supervisor of Salvage , was sent to the Canal Zone as Commander , Salvage Task Group ( CTG 65 . 7 ) . He supervised the actual salvage clearing operation which was carried out by the Murphy Pacific Marine Salvage Company of New York . A total of ten ships blocked the canal ; 200 civilian specialists worked from May to December 1974 to complete the operation . The canal reopened on June 5 , 1975 , with the Sixth Fleet flagship " Little Rock " in attendance . The Sixth Fleet provided military , logistical and humanitarian assistance to support NATO operations in Kosovo from the beginning of Operation Allied Force . It also participated in Operation Shining Hope and Operation Joint Guardian . In March 2011 , it was involved in operations in Libya pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 . The New York Post criticized the shrinking of the fleet since 2003 to the point in 2010 where it could exercise no control in preventing the Gaza flotilla raid . Structure . The fleet once had its headquarters in Gaeta , Italy , commanded by a Vice Admiral . However , beginning in 2004 , the Sixth Fleet staff was combined with United States Naval Forces Europe staff , up to that time headquartered in London . Since then the staff has operated as a single entity with a four star admiral who serves as Commander , Naval Forces Europe and Commander , Naval Forces Africa . This admiral has a three star Deputy Commander who also carries the title Commander , U . S . 6th Fleet . The staff as a whole is known as Commander , Naval Forces Europe - Africa / Commander , U . S . 6th Fleet or CNE - CNA / C6F and works from its facilities at Naval Support Activity Naples at the Capodichino site in Naples , Italy . is the Sixth Fleet flagship with its homeport Gaeta , Italy and operating in the Mediterranean . U . S . Naval forces entering the Mediterranean Sea have their operational control changed to being under Sixth Fleet . This change of command is always referred to as ' CHOPing , ' an abbreviation for Change of Operational Control . Sixth Fleet has consisted of up to 40 ships , 175 aircraft and 21 , 000 people , such as in early 2003 , when two carrier battlegroups operated in the Mediterranean during Operation Iraqi Freedom . Since the submarine tender , based in La Maddalena in Sardinia , changed homeports to Bremerton , Washington , the fleet has just one permanently assigned ship , the " Mount Whitney " . The fleet typically has a number of frigates and destroyers assigned , as well as those vessels transiting between the East Coast and the Suez . Since 2005 , Sixth Fleet ships have increasingly been operating around Africa , particularly in the Gulf of Guinea . The Sixth Fleet is operationally organized into task force s . Naval Striking and Support Forces , South included Task Force 502 ( Carrier Forces , effectively Task Force 60 ) , Task Force 503 ( Amphibious Forces ) , Task Force 504 ( Landing Forces ) , Task Force 505 ( Logistics Forces ) , and Task Force 506 ( Special Operations Forces ) . Destroyer Squadron 60 . Destroyer Squadron 60 ( DESRON SIX ZERO ) was established on 19 February 2003 . It was homeported in Gaeta , Italy . The establishment of Destroyer Squadron Sixty provided CNE / COMSIXTHFLT with a permanently assigned destroyer squadron , increasing the Sixth Fleet ' s options when undertaking national and theater level tasking . From November 2007 to April 2008 , COMDESRON 60 ( Commander , Destroyer Squadron 60 ' s commander ) served as Commander Africa Partnership Station with an international staff operating off West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea . He also serves as Commander , Task Force 365 , Task Force West and Central Africa . Task Force 60 . Task Force 60 is the Sixth Fleet ' s Battle Force . When any carrier strike group enters into the Mediterranean control zone it is usually designated TF 60 and the battle group commander , a one or two - star flag officer , assumes duties as Commander Task Force 60 ( CTF 60 ) from COMDESRON 60 . The Task Force is often composed of one or more aircraft carrier s , each with an accompanying complement of two to six cruisers and destroyers . On board the aircraft carrier is an Carrier air wing of 65 – 85 aircraft . This air wing is the primary striking arm of the Strike Group , and includes attack , fighter , anti - submarine , and reconnaissance aircraft . During the 1986 confrontation with Libya , that led to Operation El Dorado Canyon , the Sixth Fleet ' s battle force was under the command of Rear Admiral David E . Jeremiah . Task Group 60 . 1 under Rear Admiral J . C . Breast was made up of the " Coral Sea " and her escorts , Task Group 60 . 2 under Jeremiah , the " Saratoga " and her escorts , and Task Group 60 . 3 under Rear Admiral Henry H . Mauz , Jr . , the " America " and her escorts . Task Group 60 . 5 , the Surface Action Group under Captain Robert L . Goodwin , was made up of a missile cruiser , missile destroyer , and another destroyer . In November 2007 , Task Group 60 . 4 held the Africa Partnership Station role . In 2012 , Task Group 60 . 5 was permanently assigned as the Southeast Africa Task Group . The Group may be renamed the South and East Africa Task Group . It held the alternate designation of Task Force 363 As of 2011 Task Force 60 will normally be the commander of Naval Task Force Europe and Africa . Any naval unit within the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR may be assigned to TF 60 as required upon signal from the Commander of the Sixth Fleet . Task Force 61 , Amphibious Assault Force . Task Force 61 was the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group . It is composed of approximately three amphibious ships and their embarked landing craft . From these ships , United States Marine ground forces can move ashore by sea and air in amphibious assault or emergency evacuation missions . Once ashore , the ships of Task Force 61 logistically support the ground forces , until the objective of the landing has been accomplished , and the Marine Forces return to the ships . As of 2011 , according to official NavEur / NavAf Public Affairs sources , Task Force 61 will normally be the commander of the deployed carrier strike group ( CSG ) and will exercise operational control of all units assigned to TF61 operating in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR . Task Force 62 , Landing Force ( Marine Expeditionary Unit ) . Task Force 62 is the combat - ready ground force composed of a Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU ) of approximately 1 , 900 Marines . Transported in Task Force 61 ships , the MEU is equipped with armor , artillery , and transport helicopters that enable it to conduct operations ashore , or evacuate civilians from troubled areas . This MEU is usually from II MEF on the East Coast . As of 2011 , according to official Public Affairs sources , Task Force 62 will normally be the commander of the deployed Amphibious Ready Group ( ARG ) and will exercise operational control of all units assigned to TF61 operating in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR . Task Force 63 Logistics Force . Task Force 63 is the Logistics Force . Task Force 63 and Military Sealift Command ' s Sealift Logistics Command ( SEALOGEUR ) are two separately named formations that actually operate as a unified one with one staff . Task Force 63 is headquartered at Naples , Italy . Composed of oilers , provision ships , and repair ships , its mission is the delivery of supplies at sea , and effecting repairs to other ships and equipment of the Fleet . Commander , Task Force 63 ( CTF - 63 ) is the operational commander of all the U . S . 6th Fleet air and sea logistics . While in theater , Military Sealift Command ' s Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force and Special Mission ships report to CTF - 63 along with cargo planes that support 6th Fleet and U . S . European Command logistics missions . CTF - 63 is also responsible for ordering and tracking spare parts and supplies being delivered to ships in theater . CTF - 63 is the immediate operational commander of Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One ( MPSRON ONE ) based in the Mediterranean Sea . The ships of MPSRON One are deployed year - round . This pre - positions U . S . military cargo at sea . Should a military or humanitarian crisis arise in theater , the squadron can deliver its cargo ashore , enabling a faster U . S . response . Task Force 64 Special Operations . The first incarnation of Task Force 64 consisted of nuclear - powered submarines armed with long - range strategic missiles ( SSBN ) . Until the end of the 1970s these ships were homeported in Naval Station Rota , Spain . The mission was nuclear deterrence . It is extremely unlikely that any SSBNs are actually still assigned or operate with CNE / C6F in the Mediterranean . Previously , CTF 64 was responsible for ballistic missile submarines assigned to the Sixth Fleet . CTF 64 ' s administrative title , was Commander Submarine Group 8 . ComSubGru 8 ' s operational functions were accomplished through four Task Forces : CTF 64 , CTF 69 ( attack submarines ) , NATO ' s CTF 442 , or deployed SSBNs and CTF 439 , the operational title for Commander Submarines Allied Naval Forces South — the rear admiral ' s NATO hat . ( Globalsecurity . org ) TF 64 then became a Special Operation force , previously headquartered by the now - disbanded Naval Special Warfare Unit 10 at Rota , Spain . NSWU 10 disbanded in 2005 , and it is now unclear whether CTF 64 is operating currently . During the initial stages of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan , Task Force 64 became the administrative command structure created to interface with all non - UK / US special forces and smaller ground combat forces provided by various national governments and under American operational control . This may have been because NSWU 10 elements deployed to Afghanistan to form part of the HQ . Task Force 65 . Rear Admiral Brian McCauley served as Commander Task Force 65 during the Suez Canal clearance operations , from April 1974 to June 1975 . Task Force 65 / Destroyer Squadron 60 located in Naples , Italy . Commander , Task Force 65 / Commander Destroyer Squadron SIX ZERO exercises operational and tactical control of all forward deployed surface combatants operating in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM AORs under the direction of Naval Forces Europe / Africa . TF 65 surface combatants execute myriad operations from as far North as the Norwegian Sea and south to the Cape of Good Hope including Ballisitic Missile Defense , Sea Lines of Communication enforcement , Maritime Interdiction Operations , direct support to NATO combined and Joint operations and exercises , Counter - terrorism operations , Counter - piracy operations , Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership operations , whole of government Africa Partnership Station deployments and Theater Security Cooperation activities both inport and underway . It can be seen from this 2011 official description that the CDS 60 task force designator has been switched from TF 60 to TF 65 . In November 2007 , the destroyer " Forrest Sherman " circumnavigated the African continent while performing theater security operations with local military forces as the flagship of Task Group 60 . 5 , the U . S . Navy ' s Southeast Africa task force . Task Force 66 . Task Force 66 will usually be the commander of the deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU ) and will exercise operational control of all units assigned to TF66 operating in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR . Task Force 67 Land - Based Maritime Patrol Aircraft . Task Force 67 is composed of land - based maritime patrol aircraft . These aircraft operate over the waters of the Mediterranean in anti - submarine , reconnaissance , surveillance , and mining roles . In the past , Task Force 67 ' s has been provided by Commander , Fleet Air Mediterranean ( COMFLTAIRMED ) , but it is unclear whether FLTAIRMED still exists . The Task Force commander also previously held the role of NATO AFSOUTH ' s Commander , Maritime Air , Allied Naval Forces South with the NATO task force designator TF 431 . Task Force organisation 1999 : As of 2011 , officially Task Force 67 ' s mission is to provide responsive , interoperable , and expeditionary combat ready maritime patrol aircraft and supporting forces to Commander , U . S . Naval Forces , Europe / Commander , U . S . Naval Forces , Africa and Commander , U . S . Sixth Fleet ( CNE - CNA - C6F ) , NATO and Unified Commanders to conduct effective Anti - Submarine Warfare ( ASW ) , maintain Maritime Domain Awareness ( MDA ) , enhance regional stability , promote cooperative maritime safety and security , and be decisive while conducting overseas contingency operations . At some point between 1999 and 2012 , probably after Sept 11 , 2001 , TG - 67 . 6 was activated in Djibouti . This is within the United States Africa Command ( AFRICOM ) area of operations ; before the changeover of responsibility for the Horn of Africa from United States Central Command to AFRICOM , this task group was a component of the United States Fifth Fleet ' s Task Force 57 . Task Force 68 , Maritime Force Protection Force . Established 17 March 2005 , CTF 68 is to command force protection forces such as construction battalions , mobile mine assembly units , and Fleet Anti - Terrorism Security Teams ( FAST ) platoons which are part of Marine Corps Security Force Company Europe ( MCSFCoEUR ) . Task Force 68 is the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force . Units typically assigned to TF 68 are Explosive Ordnance Disposal units , Naval Construction units and Marines which make up the Fleet Anti - Terrorism Security Teams ( FAST ) . A possibly more recent mission for CTF 68 is Commander , Task Force SIX EIGHT conducts Explosive Ordnance Disposal operations , Naval Construction , Expeditionary Security and Theater Security Cooperation in order to maintain strategic assess , develop interoperability with coalition , joint , inter - agency and other partners , and increase security and stability in Europe and Africa . On order , conduct Point and Area Defense to protect and defend critical infrastructure and High Value Assets against terrorist attack . Be prepared to conduct Non - Combatant Evacuation Operations . Task Force 69 Submarine Warfare . Task Force 69 is responsible for planning and coordinating area submarine and anti - submarine warfare operations in the Mediterranean . Specifically , Task Force 69 is composed of attack submarine s that provide capability to destroy enemy surface ships and submarines , as well as protect other Sixth Fleet ships from attack . As of 2011 , according to official U . S . , Navy public affairs contributions to Wikipedia , Task Force 69 is the Submarine Force and exercises operational control of all Submarine assets in the USEUCOM or USAFRICOM AOR .