ComCruDesGru Five

ComCruDesGru Five Homepage Photos Members

Relive and share the memories of your service-time with your brothers and sisters in arms today. VetFriends.com can help you reconnect.

Did you proudly serve in the ComCruDesGru Five?

Are you looking for someone who is or was in the ComCruDesGru Five?

Do you have ComCruDesGru Five photos you'd like to share?

Then join a community with your brothers and sisters of the ComCruDesGru Five.

Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About ComCruDesGru Five

**Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five (ComCruDesGru Five)** was a United States Navy formation established during the Cold War era. Activated in the late 1960s, the group was tasked with commanding and coordinating the operations of assigned cruisers and destroyers in the Pacific Fleet. ComCruDesGru Five played a pivotal role in carrier strike group operations, participating in major exercises and deployments, including those in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The unit remained active through the late 20th century, adapting to evolving naval warfare requirements until it was eventually redesignated as part of broader Navy organizational changes.

Unit Members

DANNY KUHLMANN

U.S. Navy

ComCruDesGru FiveView Profile

John Thompson

U.S. Navy

ComCruDesGru FiveView Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About ComCruDesGru Five

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Origins: ComCruDesGru Five stands for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five, a U.S. Navy command that oversaw cruiser and destroyer operations, primarily within the Pacific Fleet. • Vietnam War Service: The group played a significant role during the Vietnam War, providing surface combatant support, naval gunfire, and carrier escort missions. • Flagship Assignments: Over the years, ComCruDesGru Five flew its flag on multiple vessels, including guided missile cruisers like USS Long Beach (CGN-9) and USS Truxtun (CGN-35). • Cruiser-Destroyer Evolution: The unit’s structure reflected post-WWII naval strategy, combining cruisers' firepower with destroyers' versatility under a single command. • Cold War Presence: During the Cold War, ComCruDesGru Five conducted numerous deployments, including freedom of navigation operations and high-profile exercises to deter Soviet naval activity. • Persian Gulf Operations: In the late 1980s, ships under ComCruDesGru Five participated in Operation Earnest Will, escorting oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. • Pacific Rim Exercises: The unit regularly took part in multinational exercises such as RIMPAC, enhancing interoperability with allied navies. • Leadership Development: Many future admirals and Navy leaders held command or staff roles in ComCruDesGru Five, using it as a stepping stone to higher positions. • Deactivation: ComCruDesGru Five was eventually deactivated in the early 2000s as part of a Navy-wide reorganization, shifting toward Carrier Strike Group command structures. • Legacy: The group's legacy lives on through its contributions to U.S. maritime strategy and the distinguished service records of its associated ships and personnel.