About this Unit
The United States Sixth Fleet, under the command of Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT or Sixth Fleet COM), has served as a principal naval force in the Mediterranean Sea since its establishment in 1950. The fleet played a crucial role during the Cold War, maintaining a forward naval presence to deter Soviet influence and support NATO allies. Over the decades, Sixth Fleet has participated in numerous operations, including peacekeeping in Lebanon, intervention in the Balkans, and ongoing counterterrorism missions. Today, Sixth Fleet continues to provide maritime security, crisis response, and partnership building in Europe and Africa, operating from its headquarters in Naples, Italy.
Historical Facts
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Origins in World War II: The Sixth Fleet traces its roots to U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters in 1943, supporting Allied operations in the Mediterranean during World War II.
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Official Establishment: The title "Sixth Fleet" was officially adopted in 1950, reflecting its primary focus on the Mediterranean region during the Cold War.
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Cold War Showdowns: The Sixth Fleet played a pivotal role during Cold War crises, including the 1956 Suez Crisis, 1967 Six-Day War, and 1973 Yom Kippur War, often acting as a deterrent force.
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Lebanon Peacekeeping (1982–1984): Sixth Fleet ships supported U.S. Marines during the Multinational Force in Lebanon and suffered casualties in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing.
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Libya Confrontations: The Sixth Fleet was involved in several confrontations with Libya, including the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident, where F-14 Tomcats shot down two Libyan Su-22s.
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Bosnia and Kosovo Operations: The Fleet launched Tomahawk missile strikes and provided support during NATO operations in Bosnia (1995) and Kosovo (1999).
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Flagship Homeport: The Sixth Fleet’s flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), is homeported in Gaeta, Italy, providing command and control for fleet operations.
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Humanitarian Missions: The Fleet has responded to disasters, such as providing aid after earthquakes in Italy and responding to the Lebanon crisis in 2006 by evacuating thousands of civilians.
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Anti-Piracy and Security: In recent decades, the Sixth Fleet has been active in anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa and maritime security missions throughout the Mediterranean and African coasts.
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Commander’s Role (COMSIXTHFLT): The Commander of the Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT) also serves as Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, highlighting the Fleet’s key role in allied naval operations.
