Gulf Coast Naval Forces Naming?

[kalos72]

So since my guys are based in Texas and have a relatively large naval surface fleet, what would be a good name for that fleet?

Assuming we wanted to keep US Military style naming convention?

"United States Naval Forces Southern Command: 14th Fleet" maybe?

14th to carry the next "step down" from the original 4th fleet that I think was responsible for that command.


What would have happened to that command anyway?

[Raellus]

I'm curious. Will you give us a breakdown of this fleet?

[stormlion1]

1st Texas Naval Task Force. ;)

[kalos72]

Well, I am reluctant because I havent really worked out the details there yet...

Here are some notes:
The Austin docked at the Corpus Christi Naval Station first and met up with the SS Cape Florida, SS Diamond State, . There they picked up 6 replacement CH-46 Sea Knights for the Austin, a group of medical staff from the Naval Hospital, a rather large group of civilian contractors that were going to deployed overseas as aircraft maintenance and repair support staff and what seemed like every spare part the Army Depot had left not to mention much of its portable manufacturing capabilities and materials stockpiles.

Texas Maritime Academy A&MoG – Sea Aggies

USCGC Dauntless (WMEC 624) 210ft Medium Endurance Cuttter
CGC Harry Claiborne (WLM-561) 175’ Keeper Class Bouy tender
CGC Hatchet (WLIC-75309) 75' WLIC inland construction tenders
CGC Mallet (WLIC-75304) 75' WLIC inland construction tenders
Point Spencer (WPB-82349)
Point Monroe (WPB-82353)
Point Charles (WPB-82361)
Point Baker (WPB-82342)
Point Nowell (WPB-82363)
USS Lexington (CV-16) – Corpus Christi
USS Inchon (LPH-12) – Ingleside?
USS McFaul (DDG-74) -Just completed sent with Austin?
USS Porter (DDG-78) - Just completed sent with Austin?
USS Chief (MCM-14)
USS Pioneer (MCM-9)

Plus after running the Spanish Gateway module several sail powered ships are based in the Gulf as well.

I THINK most of these are reasonable possibilities, with the exception of the Lexington and Inchon, not sure if thats feasible really. Not that ALL this ships are controlled, just that they are options.

[Canadian Army]

Presently the U.S. Fourth Fleet is assigned to Southern Command,which you could use. Also you could also use U.S. Tenth Fleet, U.S. Eighth Fleet or U.S. Twelfth Fleet; all WWII fleets.

Have you incorporated the Beaumont Reserve Fleet, at Beaumont, Texas as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumont_Reserve_Fleet) in your fleet.

[kalos72]

Would the naming be just a numbered fleet or is there some precedent for a "command" office/entry as well?

I would like there to be a 'name' with the fleet as well for the larger overall organization.

This group would be responsible for scouting the coast, establishing outposts and landing recon forces to scout the interior along the Gulf and even up the East Coast as well. Shipbuilding, long range trade routes through the Caribbean and South America maybe even Europe.

As for the Beaumont Reserve fleet, there is some contention about how/if it survives the blasts in Beaumont. There was some talk about the caretakers moving the fleet out into Sabine Lake after Corpus got hit. Maybe even moving it to Pascagoula...

[kalos72]

Could go something simple...

Joint Task Force 21 or something since 2nd Fleet is responsible for the Atlantic in T2k timelines...

JTF 21.1 for a Caribbean contingent...

But where would that task force report to? III Corps which is the overall military command I have in Texas?

[Tegyrius]

There is precedent for a Texan- flagged navy, apparently:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Navy

Ahoy, y'all!

- C.

[kalos72]

Sure, my only fear there is I dont want to disclose my political position until I am forced to. I would prefer it all appear straight miltary-ish with no hint of separation.

[kalos72]

Any of you naval experts care to chime in here? :)

[dragoon500ly]

Atlantic Command is the overall USN component that would cover the Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean. The naval component of Atlantic Command is the Atlantic Fleet which is comprised of Second Fleet and Fourth Fleet.

Fourth Fleet has the NATO Strike Force Mission as well as the convoy support mission. Its Caribbean force is Task Force 134 (NAVFORCAR or Naval Forces Caribbean).

Second Fleet is the "home" or training fleet with operational duties of the ASW mission in the Atlantic as well as missions in the Caribbean/Central America. Its Caribbean Force is Task Force 28 (CARCONFOR or Caribbean Contingency Force).

Primary USN squadrons that 'might' be deployed to the Caribbean are based out of Mayport, Florida (Carrier Group 6 [CV59/CV60]; Cruiser Destroyer Group 12 [4 DDG, 16 FFG, 7 FF, 3 MSO, 1 AD]), Key West Florida (PHM Squadron 2 [6 PHM]) or Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

The closest submarine forces are Submarine Squadron 4, Charleston, South Carolina [9 SSBN, 10 SSN, 1 SS, 1 AS, 2 ASR] and Submarine Squadron 16, King's Bay, Georgia [7 SSBN, 1 AS, 1 ARDM].

USMC support of the area would be the II Marine Amphibious Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and is comprised of the 2nd Marine Division and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic, with two Coast Guard Districts covering the Gulf of Mexico: the 7th CG District based at Miami, Florida and the 8th CG District based at New Orleans, Lousiana.

Hope this helps!

Source is the "Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, 14th Edition.

[kalos72]

Thanks Dragoon.

So given the situation in Texas, would that Joint Task Force 21 make sense then?

Also, how does a naval component tie into a larger command with land forces? Is that the "Joint" part of Joint Task Force 21?

[dragoon500ly]

Thanks Dragoon.

So given the situation in Texas, would that Joint Task Force 21 make sense then?

Also, how does a naval component tie into a larger command with land forces? Is that the "Joint" part of Joint Task Force 21?

Going by how the services were organized, at the time of T2000, I would have to say no. Please remember that the USCG 'chops' to the USN during wartime (so bye-bye to the 7th and 8th CGD).

It is most likely that TF28 would take over the Maritime Defense Zone covering the Gulf of Mexico, so your Texas based units might wind up as Task Group 28.4 (for example), outside of the MDZ, then Fourth Fleet's Task Force 134 would be responsible for the deep-water ships (1-2 FF, 1 FFG, maybe 1 DDG/DD).

Inchon would most likely get tacked to Amphibious Group 2 out of Norfolk, Virginia. The two MCMs would most likely go to Mine Squadron 2 out of Charleston, South Carolina. The 2 DDGs would be the wild cards, I can see them being assigned to TF134, especially if they were newly commissioned and working up.

So basically you would be looking at a TG28.4 consisting of the (former) Coast Guard craft. Just for grins, you might attach some the USNs special warfare craft that would support SEAL training on the Mississippi River and the swamps of Louisiana and Mississippi, like SWCM-1 (prototype Sea Viking-class), 1-2 of the PB MkIII-class (SWCM) and perhaps 1 of the PBR MkII class (the NRF operates some 30 of these Vietnam-era riverine patrol boats).

TF134.4 might consist of a O.H. Perry-class frigate (FFG-16 USS Clifton Sprague was considered to be the Naval Reserve Force ship out of New Orleans), 1 Knox-class frigate (FF-1072 USS Blakely, another NRF ship, and maybe a Bronstein-class frigate (FF-1038 USS McCloy).

[kalos72]

So a Task Group is a separate naval command or does it fall under a larger combined force command?

I am trying, maybe incorrectly, to tie a naval component to the III Corps that is clearing the Gulf Coast of Texas while reclaiming coastal cities up the East Coast.

There will also be separate units that move outside the Gulf Coast at times. Will they need new names as well?

[dragoon500ly]

So a Task Group is a separate naval command or does it fall under a larger combined force command?

I am trying, maybe incorrectly, to tie a naval component to the III Corps that is clearing the Gulf Coast of Texas while reclaiming coastal cities up the East Coast.

There will also be separate units that move outside the Gulf Coast at times. Will they need new names as well?

A Task Group would fall under the overall command of its Task Force Commander.