Battle Fleet

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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 fleet comprised the main body of ships in the Navy, with the smaller Scouting Fleet as the Atlantic presence. The battleships, including most of the modern ones, and new aircraft carriers were assigned to this fleet.

In 1930, the nomenclature changed to Battle Force, but the structure remained the same. In 1939, the Battle Force had five carriers, 12 battleships, 14 light cruisers, and 68 destroyers.

On 1 February 1941, General Order 143 reorganized the United States Fleet with three separate fleets reporting, the Atlantic, Pacific and Asiatic Fleets.

In the modern navy, Battle Force refers to the Navy's active warships.

[edit] Commander in Chief, Battle Fleet (COMBATFLT)

Date	Incumbent
5 July 1921 - 30 June 1923	Admiral Edward W. Eberle
30 June 1923 - 14 October 1925	Admiral Samuel S. Robison
14 October 1925 - 4 September 1926	Admiral Charles F. Hughes
4 September 1926 - 10 September 1927	Admiral Richard H. Jackson
10 September 1927 - 26 June 1928	Admiral Louis R. de Steiguer
26 June 1928 - 21 May 1929	Admiral William V. Pratt
21 May 1929 - 24 May 1930	Admiral Louis M. Nulton
24 May 1930 - 1 April 1931	Admiral Frank H. Schofield

[edit] Commander Battle Force (COMBATFOR)

Date	Incumbent
1 April 1931 - 15 September 1931	Admiral Frank H. Schofield
15 September 1931 - 11 August 1932	Admiral Richard H. Leigh
11 August 1932 - 20 May 1933	Admiral Luke McNamee
20 May 1933 - 1 July 1933	Admiral William H. Standley
1 July 1933 - 15 June 1934	Admiral Joseph M. Reeves
15 June 1934 - 1 April 1935	Admiral Frank H. Brumby
1 April 1935 - 30 March 1936	Admiral Harris Laning
30 March 1936 - 31 December 1936	Admiral William D. Leahy
2 January 1937 - 29 January 1938	Admiral Claude C. Bloch
29 January 1938 - 24 June 1939	Admiral Edward C. Kalbfus
24 June 1939 - 6 January 1940	Admiral James O. Richardson
6 January 1940 - 31 January 1941	Admiral Charles P. Snyder
31 January 1941 - 20 September 1942	Vice Admiral William S. Pye