COMSIXTHFLEET

• Establishment: The United States Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLEET) was formally established in 1950, but its roots trace back to US naval operations in the Mediterranean during World War II. • Area of Operations: The Sixth Fleet is responsible for naval operations in Europe and Africa, particularly the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and adjacent waters. • Flagship: The command ship for COMSIXTHFLEET is usually the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), a sophisticated command and control vessel. • Cuban Missile Crisis: During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the Sixth Fleet played a critical role in the naval quarantine (blockade) of Cuba. • Headquarters: The Sixth Fleet’s headquarters is located in Naples, Italy, at Naval Support Activity Naples. • Cold War Confrontations: The fleet was central to numerous Cold War confrontations, including show-of-force missions and surveillance operations against the Soviet Navy. • Humanitarian Missions: The Sixth Fleet has frequently conducted humanitarian operations, such as disaster relief in Lebanon (1958), Bosnia (1990s), and Libya (2011). • Operation Odyssey Dawn: In 2011, the fleet led maritime operations during the NATO intervention in Libya, enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone. • Submarine Operations: The Sixth Fleet’s area is known for frequent submarine operations, both US and adversary, due to the strategic nature of the Mediterranean. • Tradition of "Med Cruises": Deployments to the Mediterranean, known as "Med Cruises," have long been a rite of passage for US Navy sailors, with Sixth Fleet at the heart of these deployments.