First Fleet Headquarters

The First Fleet Headquarters is the brains of First Fleet’s operations. It is a large organization – 350 officers and NCOs - divided into functional departments to include the command group, plans, operations, liaison, supply, and others. The fleet headquarters’ home is Naval Station Saint Catherine, but a small HQ detachment is always ready to forward deploy when needed. The HQ detachment contains enough staff and equipment to conduct operations and limited planning, but it is still small enough to deploy in a single C-17 and to set up shop on an aircraft carrier, battleship, or in several GP Medium tents.

CVBG-5 is built around the JFK class aircraft carrier Vengeance, the oldest and most distinguished aircraft carrier in ROD service. In addition to the Vengeance, the battle group also includes the cruiser Retriever, the fast support ship Lynx, and Carrier Air Wing 1. When deployed, additional escorting ships, aircraft, and submarines may be attached from First Fleet.

Carrier Air Wing 1 provides the offensive firepower for CVBG-5. Embarked aboard the Vengeance, CAW-1 contains 4 fighter and attack squadrons, an anti-submarine squadron, a helicopter squadron, an airborne early warning detachment, and an electronic warfare detachment. At full strength the air wing contains 72 fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

CVBG-13 is built around the JFK class aircraft carrier Myrmidon. In addition to the aircraft carrier itself, the battle group also includes the cruiser Doberman, the fast support ship Impala, and Carrier Air Wing 7. When deployed, additional escorting ships, aircraft, and submarines may be attached from First Fleet.

Carrier Air Wing 7 provides the real hitting power for CVBG-13. Embarked aboard the Myrmidon, CAW-7 contains 4 fighter and attack squadrons, an anti-submarine squadron, a helicopter squadron, an airborne early warning detachment, and an electronic warfare detachment. At full strength the air wing contains 72 fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

CVBG-14 is centered on the Nimitz class aircraft carrier Fury. In addition to the nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the battle group includes the cruiser Akida, the fast support ship Cheetah, and Carrier Air Wing 8. When deployed, additional escorting ships, aircraft, and submarines may be attached from First Fleet.

Carrier Air Wing 8 is equipped with the most advanced combat aircraft in the Navy inventory, CAW-8 contains 4 fighter and attack squadrons, an anti-submarine squadron, a helicopter squadron, an airborne early warning detachment, and an electronic warfare detachment. At full strength the air wing contains 72 fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

1st SHAM is a military unit whose purpose is to not fight. SHAM stands for Security and Humanitarian Assistance Mission, and this is the reason for its existence. 1st SHAM deploys in 2 vessels, and it can land a battalion sized assistance unit with landing craft or helicopters. The ships are manned by Navy personnel, but the landing parties are made up of personnel from the Army, Navy, and Marines.

The ships of 1st SHAM are the modified Whidbey Island class hospital ship RODS Odysseus (LSD/H-22) and the Wasp class landing helicopter dock RODS Ares (LHD-26). The modified Whidbey Island class hospital ship retains its well deck and landing pad, but much of its internal space has been reconfigured to accommodate medical facilities like surgical suites, patient wards, laboratories, etc.

1st SHAM also contains three company sized units: a security company of military police trained soldiers, a construction engineering company, and a field medical company.

2 helicopter squadrons are carried on the Ares.

DESRON 1 is a multi-purpose unit consisting of Arleigh Burke and Spruance class destroyers. Their primary mission is to provide escort ships to carrier battle groups, but due to the flexibility of the destroyers, these ships may also be tasked to perform a multitude of special missions.

DESRON 4 is another multi-purpose unit, but in reality it does not contain any destroyers! All of the Navy's frigates are grouped into this squadron, whose main purpose is patrol around the ROD home island. The frigates can, however, be deployed to augment the anti-submarine or air defense capabilities of other battle groups.

SUBRON 11 is First Fleet's attack submarine force. Typically, these attack boats will be attached to surface ship formations, but they can also deploy individually or in groups. Submarine deployments are a closely guarded secret, though you can count on a submarine being attached to most naval formations.

SUBRON 15 is First Fleet's guided missile submarine force. Unlike their attack boat brethren, the boats of SUBRON 15 operate independently, providing the ROD with lethal options to crises across the globe. All of the ROD's SSGNs are Ohio class guided missile submarines, each carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

First Fleet, in addition to squadrons of ships and carrier battle groups, has a number of ships and aircraft that are essentially independent resources. The fleet commander may deploy those resources as he sees fit, either reinforcing other formations, or deploying them by themselves.