Korean War United States Seventh Fleet

seventh fleet units participated in major operations of korean , vietnamese wars. first navy jet aircraft used in combat launched task force 77 (tf 77) aircraft carrier on 3 july 1950. landings @ inchon, korea conducted seventh fleet amphibious ships. battleships iowa, new jersey, missouri , wisconsin served flagships commander, u.s. seventh fleet during korean war. during korean war, seventh fleet consisted of task force 70, maritime patrol force provided fleet air wing 1 , fleet air wing six, task force 72, formosa patrol, task force 77, , task force 79, service support squadron.

over next decade seventh fleet responded numerous crisis situations including contingency operations conducted in laos in 1959 , thailand in 1962. during september 1959, in autumn of 1960, , again in january 1961, seventh fleet deployed multiship carrier task forces south china sea. although pathet lao , north vietnamese supporting forces withdrew in each crisis, in spring of 1961 offensive appeared on verge of overwhelming pro-american royal laotian army.

once again fleet moved southeast asian waters. end of april 1961, of seventh fleet deployed off indochinese peninsula preparing initiate operations laos. force consisted of coral sea , midway carrier battle groups, antisubmarine support carrier kearsarge, 1 helicopter carrier, 3 groups of amphibious ships, 2 submarines, , 3 marine battalion landing teams. @ same time, shorebased air patrol squadrons , 3 marine battalion landing teams stood ready in okinawa , philippines support afloat force. although administration of president john f. kennedy had decided against american intervention rescue laotian government, communist forces halted advance , agreed negotiations. contending laotian factions concluded cease-fire on 8 may 1961, lasted year.

in june 1963 seventh fleet held flagpole 63, joint naval exercise republic of korea.