Fleet Week

Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, the crews can enter the city and visit its tourist attractions. At certain hours, the public can take a guided tour of the ships. Often, Fleet Week is accompanied by military demonstrations and air shows such as those provided by the Blue Angels.

The guided missile cruiser USS Anzio sails past the Statue of Liberty at the beginning of Fleet Week 2004 in New York City.
Fleet Week celebrations were sometimes also held overseas, as in 1908, when the Great White Fleet visited Auckland, New Zealand.[1]
Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of USS John C. Stennis, San Diego Fleet Week parade.

History

The first Fleet Week was celebrated in San Diego, California, during the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.[2] The years between World War I and World War II saw an increasing military build-up in both Japan and Germany, while the communist Soviet Union (USSR) was given over to the wave of Stalinist nationalism. Most United States citizens experienced little sense of urgency about foreign developments because of isolationism and concerns with the ongoing economic Great Depression. However, then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was intent on expanding the U.S. Navy in response to world political trends. A major aircraft company was moving to Lindbergh Field, (today more commonly known as San Diego International Airport). In this atmosphere, Fleet Week was born.

At 11 a.m. on May 29, 1935, a color guard of the U.S. Marine Corps led a parade across Cabrillo Bridge to Plaza del Pacifico, where the U.S. flag was raised to open the Exposition officially. At 8 p.m., Roosevelt spoke by telephone and designated two selected orphans to press the buttons turning on the lights which bathed the grounds in color. In his remarks, heard over the loudspeaker system, Roosevelt said: "The decision of the people of San Diego thus to dedicate the California Pacific International Exposition is, I believe, worthy of the courage and confidence with which our people now look to the future. No one can deny that we have passed through troubled years. No one can fail to feel the inspiration of your high purpose. I wish you great success."

During Fleet Week in June 1935, 114 warships and 400 military planes arrived under command of U.S. Navy Admiral Joseph M. Reeves, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet. It was described as the mightiest fleet ever assembled under the U.S. flag. It included forty-eight battleships, cruisers and aircraft carriers, with more than 3,000 commissioned officers and 55,000 enlisted men. The U.S. Navy men visited the Exposition and, in turn, thousands of San Diegans and other fairgoers were guests on the various ships.

San Francisco
Blue Angels performing at Fleet Week San Francisco in 2016

For years it was common for several U.S. Navy ships to dock in San Francisco, California for a similar series of events. One or more fleet ships were docked as a "visit ship" for tourists to board, and the local community took in sailors for home visits; drinks were often discounted to uniformed sailors at area bars and restaurants. The highlight of the San Francisco Fleet Week is the Air Show on San Francisco Bay with the Blue Angels as the center of attention.[3] The Air Show also features stunt planes and parachute team and coast guard demonstrations.[4] Another highlight of the Fleet Week SF is a parade of ships under the Golden Gate Bridge.[5]

The revived name of Fleet Week was applied to an expanded and more heavily publicized fleet visit in 1981, in conjunction with Columbus Day Weekend celebrations during the second week of October. Since then, the event has been held each year during the Columbus Day Weekend without a break and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. The event is estimated to attract over one million people who watch the air show along the San Francisco Bay waterfront stretching from the Ferry Building to the Golden Gate Bridge.[6] The event was canceled for 2013, due to federal budgetary issues.,[7] but was revived in 2014, and continues to be an annual event.

San Francisco Fleet Week 2018

Ships included:

San Francisco Fleet Week 2019

Ships included:

Fort Lauderdale

For more than 20 years, Fleet Week Port Everglades has been produced as a signature event for South Florida each spring by Broward Navy Days, a non-profit 501(c)(3). FW PEV provides an annual opportunity for residents to honor and celebrate Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen for their service to their country as well as witness first-hand the latest capabilities of today's modern navy. With the support of sponsors and assistance of hundreds of volunteers representing veterans, civic and service organizations, FW PEV offers opportunities to enjoy shore leave and participate in a wide variety of recreational, vocational and community service activities. Popular events include:

All Hands on Deck Welcoming Party, Damage Control Olympics, Community Relations Projects, Ship Tours, Celebrity Chef Luncheon, Ship Honorary Dinners, Submariners Reception, Take a Hero Fishing Tournament, Golf Tournament, Culinary Competitions, Sailor of the Year Recognition and Dignitary Reception.

The Air & Sea Show was an annual air show in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in which military and civilian performances took place on the four mile stretch of beach from Oakland Park to Las Olas Boulevard. The show existed from 1995 until 2007.

Port Everglades Fleet Week 2018

Visiting ships included:

Port Everglades Fleet Week 2019

Visiting ships included:

Port Everglades Fleet Week 2020

On March 16, 2020, Fleet Week was cancelled due the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York City
Marines demonstrate Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques at Times Square in 2010.

US Naval vessels had visited New York City in a celebratory manner dating back to the aftermath of the Spanish–American War in 1898, when Commodore George Dewey was celebrated as the hero of the battle of Manila Bay. However, the first official Fleet Week began in New York City in 1982. Fleet Week in New York City is generally timed to coincide with the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

During the New York City Fleet Week, ships are docked at New York Passenger Ship Terminal on the Hudson River on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan and also at Stapleton in the borough of Staten Island. In 2012, ships visited Brooklyn for the first time, docking at the Cruise Ship Terminal.

The practice of US Navy ships visiting the city and being open for tours began in 1988. NYC Fleet Week 1988 included the aircraft carrier USS America and battleship USS Iowa. Other vessels included the guided missile cruiser USS Josephus Daniels and the guided missile destroyers USS Kidd and USS Preble [8]

NYC Fleet Week 1989 celebrated the bicentennial of the inauguration of President George Washington. Visiting vessels included the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal and the AEGIS cruiser USS Ticonderoga.[9]

NYC Fleet Week 1990 included the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. Fifteen Navy and Coast Guard ships were part of the celebration which included commemoration of the bicentennial of the US Coast Guard. third annual Fleet Week. Vessels included the Coast Guard training ship Eagle,[10]

NYC Fleet Week 1991 coincided with Operation Welcome Home to commemorate military personnel returning from Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Vessels included the aircraft carrier USS America, battleship USS Wisconsin, and the AEGIS cruiser USS San Jacinto.[11]

NYC Fleet Week 1992 was held from May 20–26. It included 13 US naval ships and 7 vessels from European navies.[12]

NYC Fleet Week 1993 was held from May 27–31, and included ships from several countries including the Russian destroyer Bezuderzhny and oiler Sheksna. The US presence of 12 ships was headlined by the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. Ships at the Manhattan location included USS John F. Kennedy, USS Leyte Gulf. US Navy ships in Staten Island included USS Clifton Sprague and USS Bowen, USS Normandy, USS Wainwright, and USS Donald B. Beary. Ainsworth, rescue ship Ortolan, USS Capodanno The US Coast Guard was represented by vessels Adak, Sorrel, Staten Island, Tampa, and Wire. A Polish submarine also visited.[13][14]

NYC Fleet Week 1998 was May 20-?? and included the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. NYC Fleet Week 1999 included the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp. NYC Fleet Week 2002 began on May 22, and was the first Fleet Week following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center. Thirteen U.S. Navy ships, five U.S. Coast Guard ships, one ship representing the Canadian Navy and one representing the Danish Navy sailed up the Hudson River to piers 86 and 88 near the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and to Staten Island. US ships included USS Sentry.

NYC Fleet Week 2003 included eighteen ships from five nations, including tall sailing ships from Mexico and India. Nine ships of the US Navy were present, including USS Shreveport, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, the dock landing ship USS Portland, three guided missile cruisers including USS Normandy, and three frigates.

NYC Fleet Week 2004 included the AEGIS guided missile cruiser USS Anzio, and guided missile destroyer USS Barry. NYC Fleet Week 2005 included the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy as the flagship of the event, also accompanied by USS Cape St. George (CG-71), USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Porter (DDG-78), USS Carr (FFG-52), PNS Tippu Sultan, PNS Moawin, USCGC Vigorous (WMEC-627), and USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM-552). This marked the first time the Pakistan Navy had participated. NYC Fleet Week 2007 included the cruisers USS Hue City and USS San Jacinto, the destroyers USS Oscar Austin and USS Winston S. Churchill, and the frigate USS Stephen W. Groves.

The 2008 Fleet Week, the 21st annual observance, began May 21 and included Canadian ships in addition to U.S. ships headlined by amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge. Other ships in the lineup included the guided missile cruisers USS Leyte Gulf and USS Monterey, and guided missile destroyers USS Nitze and USS The Sullivans. Two Canadian frigates, HMCS Toronto and HMCS St. Johns, and an oiler, HMCS Preserver, and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Ida Lewis rounded out the lineup.

New York City Fleet Week 2009

New York City Fleet Week 2009 was May 20–26, 2009, with representatives from both the U.S. military and the Royal Canadian Navy. The visiting ships were:

New York City Fleet Week 2010

The 23rd Fleet Week ran May 26–31, 2010. Visiting ships included:

New York City Fleet Week 2011

The 24th New York Fleet Week was in May 2011. Visiting ships were:

New York City Fleet Week 2012

The 25th New York City Fleet Week was in May 2012. It was also OpSail 2012 in commemoration of the War of 1812. Visiting ships were:

New York City Fleet Week 2013

Fleet Week was canceled due to federal budget cuts (sequestration).[15][16][17]

New York City Fleet Week 2014

On April 8, 2014, the Navy announced that visiting ships would be:

New York City Fleet Week 2015

On April 13, 2015, the Navy announced that visiting ships would be:

New York City Fleet Week 2016

On April 4, 2016, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:

New York City Fleet Week 2017

On May 8, 2017, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:

New York City Fleet Week 2018

On April 12, 2018, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:

New York City Fleet Week 2019

On March 27, 2019, the Navy announced visiting ships would be:

New York City Fleet Week 2020

On March 27, 2020, it was announced that Fleet Week had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baltimore

Maryland Fleet Week is an biennial tradition in Baltimore and is managed by Historic Ships in Baltimore.

Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore Fleet Week 2016

Ships included:

Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore Fleet Week 2018

Ships included:

Portland

Portland, Oregon includes fleet week as a part of its annual Portland Rose Festival[18]

Portland Fleet Week 1936

1936 was the first Fleet Week for Portland, although navy ships had visited Portland previously starting in 1892 as part of civic celebrations.[19]

Ships included:

  • USS Houston (CA 30)
  • USS Milwaukee (CL 5)
  • USS Chester (CL 27)
  • USS Chicago (CL 29)
  • USS Aylwyn (DD 355)
  • USS Bainbridge (DD 246)
  • USS Chandler (DD 206)
  • USS Detroit (CL 8)
  • USS Farragut (DD 348)
  • USS Goff (DD 247)
  • USS Hovey (DD 208)
  • USS Hull (DD 350)
  • USS Litchfield (DD 336)
  • USS Long (DD 209)
  • USS Monaghan (DD 354)
  • USS Sturdevant (DD 240)
  • USS Southard (DD 207)
  • USS Worden (DD 352)
  • USS Relief (AH 1)

Portland Fleet Week 1937

Ships included:

  • USS Astoria (CA 34)
  • USS Chicago (CL 29)
  • USS Indianapolis (CA 35)
  • USS Louisville (CA 28)
  • USS Memphis (CL 13)
  • USS Minneapolis (CL 36)
  • USS New Orleans (CL 32)
  • USS Northampton (CL 26)
  • USS Pensacola (CL 24)
  • USS Quincy (CA 39)
  • USS Richmond (CL 9)
  • USS Trenton (CL 11)
  • USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37)
  • USS Salt Lake City (CL 25)
  • USS Pensacola (CL 24)
  • USS Brooks (DD 232)
  • USS Fox DD 234)
  • USS Goff DD 247)
  • USS Marblehead (CL 12)
  • USS Reuben James (DD 245)
  • USS Relief (AH 1)
  • USS Arctic (AF 7)

Portland Fleet Week 1938

Ships included:

  • USS Chester (CL 27)
  • USS Chicago (CL 29)
  • USS Indianapolis (CA 35)
  • USS Northampton (CL 26)
  • USS Pensacola (CL 24)
  • USS Salt Lake City (CL 25)
  • USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37)
  • USS Vincennes (CA 44)
  • USS Alywin (DD 355)
  • USS Dale (DD 353)
  • USS Dewey (DD 349)
  • USS Farragut (DD 348)
  • USS Hull (DD 350)
  • USS Phelps (DD 360)
  • USS MacDonough (DD 331)
  • USS Monaghan (DD 354)
  • USS Worden (DD 352)
  • USS Relief (AH 1)
  • USS Arctic (AF 7)
  • USS Medusa (AR 1)

Portland Fleet Week 2011

Ships included:

  • USS Lake Champlain (CG 57)
  • USS Igraham (FFG 61)
  • USS McClusky (FFG 41)
  • USCGC Active (WMEC 618)
  • USCGC Fir (WLB 213)
  • USCGC Bluebell (WLI 313)
  • USCGC Henry Blake (WLM 563)
  • ACOE Redlinger
  • ACOE Essaysons
  • HMCS Saskatoon (MM 709)
  • HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705)

Portland Fleet Week 2012

Ships included:

  • USS Dewey (DDG 105)
  • USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110)
  • USS Ingraham (FFG 61)

Portland Fleet Week 2013

For 2013 all Fleet Weeks were canceled due to budget issues

Portland Fleet Week 2014

Ships included:

  • USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)
  • USS Spruance (DDG-111)
  • USCGC Alert (WMEC 630)
  • USCGC CuttyHunk (WPB 1322)
  • HMCS Oriole (KC 480)

Portland Fleet Week 2015

Ships included:

  • USS Chosin (CG 65)
  • USS Cape St. George (CG 71)
  • USS Champion (MCM 4)
  • USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751)
  • USCGC Wahoo (87345)
  • USCGC Bluebell (WLI 313)
  • USCGC Henry Blake (WLM 563)
  • HMCS Calgary (FFH 335)
  • HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705)
  • HMCS Saskatoon (MM 709)
  • HMCS Oriole (KC 480)

Portland Fleet Week 2016

Ships included:

  • USS Russell (DDG 59)
  • USS Howard (DDG 83)
  • USS Champion (MCM 4)
  • USCGC Steadfast (WMEC 623)
  • USCGC Swordfish (WPB 87358)
  • USCGC Fir (WLB 213)
  • USCGC Bluebell (WLI 313)
  • HMCS Brandon (MM 710)
  • HMCS Edmonton (mm 703)

Portland Fleet Week 2017

Ships included:

  • USS Bunker Hill (CG 52)
  • USS Jackson (LCS 6)
  • USCGC Alert (WMEC-630)
  • USCGC Orcas (WPB 1327)
  • USCGC Bluebell (WLI-313)
  • USCGC T/V Ironwood (WLB 297)
  • HMCS Brandon (MM 710)
  • HMCS Edmonton (MM 703)

Portland Fleet Week 2018

Ships included:

Portland Fleet Week 2019

Ships included:

Seattle

Seattle, Washington includes fleet week during the annual Seafair. Seattle's Fleet Week was an outgrowth of its "Golden Potlatch" event that started in 1911. The Golden Potlatch was suspended in 1914, but was revived in 1934 as the "Seattle Potlatch of Progress and Fleet Week". This Fleet Week included a number of U.S. Navy ships.

Seattle Fleet Week 2018

Ships included:

Seattle Fleet Week 2019

Ships included:

Los Angeles

The USS Iowa (BB-61) museum hosts Fleet Week at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro

Los Angeles Fleet Week 2018

Ships included:

Los Angeles Fleet Week 2019

Ships included:

New London

New London, Connecticut sometimes includes Fleet Week as a part of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival.

New London Fleet Week 2017

Visiting ships included:

New London Fleet Week 2018

Visiting ships included:

New London Fleet Week 2019

Visiting ships included:

Norfolk

Naval Station Norfolk opens to the public and conducts ship tours during its Norfolk Fleet Fest.[20]

Norfolk Fleet Fest 2018

Participating ships included:

Norfolk Fleet Fest 2019

Participating ships included:

San Diego

San Diego annually hosts Fleet Week.

San Diego Fleet Week 2018

Boston

Boston occasionally hosts Fleet Week as a part of larger events and sometimes as a part of their annual Marine Week.

Boston Fleet Week 2012

Ships included:

Boston Fleet Week 2017

Ships included:

Other cities

Fleet Week and similar traditions in other cities include:

  • OpSail events are sometimes accompanied by warships and opened to the public in various Fleet Week style events, or sometimes combined.
  • Pearl Harbor, Hawaii often hosts ship tours prior to major naval exercises such as RIMPAC
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See also

References
  1. "Today in History 9 August 1908: The US 'Great White Fleet' arrives in Auckland". New Zealand History. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2011-10-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Fleet Week San Francisco". For City Secrets.
  4. "Fleet Week". rove.me.
  5. "Fleet Week". Fisherman's Wharf.
  6. Carolyn Tyler (September 15, 2009). "SF's Fleet Week impacted by economic woes". KGO-TV News. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  7. Chris Roberts (April 9, 2013). "SF's Fleet Week air show canceled with Blue Angels grounded". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. Ginzburg, Ralph. "The Pilots at Sandy Hook: 294 Years of Taking the Helm".
  9. Yarrow, Andrew L. "Washington's Inaugural, Afloat, Aloft and on Foot".
  10. Shepard, Richard F. "WEEKENDER GUIDE".
  11. Stanley, Alessandra. "New York Prepares Embrace for Troops".
  12. "ATTRACTIONS".
  13. Dillon, Sam. "Dockside Commerce and Industry; In Fleet Week, Russians Raise Cash; Americans Talk Love".
  14. "ATTRACTIONS".
  15. "New York City Fleet Week officially canceled". WABC TV. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  16. "Budget cuts end Fleet Week in NYC". WTVR TV. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  17. "With Federal Budget Cuts, Something Will Be Missing From Fleet Week: The Sailors". NY Times. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  18. "Rose Festival :: Events :: Fleet". Portland Rose Festival Foundation. 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  19. Hamell, Rick. "Ships of Fleet Week". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. https://www.navymwrmidlant.com/fleetfest
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