Navy announces FOC for U.S. 2nd Fleet

By Mallory Shelbourne / December 31, 2019 at 3:00 PM

The Navy today announced that its recently re-activated U.S. 2nd Fleet has reached full operational capability.

"Within an increasingly complex global security environment, our allies and competitors alike are well aware that many of the world's most active shipping lanes lie within the North Atlantic," Vice Adm. Andrew "Woody" Lewis, who commands the fleet, said in a press release.

"Combined with the opening of waterways in the Arctic, this competitive space will only grow, and 2nd Fleet's devotion to the development and employment of capable forces will ensure that our nation is both present and ready to fight in the region if and when called upon," he continued.

The Navy in May announced that 2nd Fleet, which controls the North Atlantic and East Coast, had reached initial operational capability.

The service cited a shift to the new National Defense Strategy focused on great power competition when announcing in May 2018 that it would re-activate 2nd Fleet.

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