Military

Cruiser Destroyer Group FIVE

Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE's mission is to plan for and exercise operational and tactical command of air, surface, and submarine forces in a multi-threat environment in pursuit of national objectives. Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE is directly responsible to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet for the administration and readiness of assigned ships within the group administrative organization. When serving as a Carrier Battle Group Commander, the Commander is also responsible to Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet for certain administrative functions concerning the aircraft carrier and carrier air wing. In addition, he serves as a subordinate operational commander to Commander, THIRD Fleet, Commander, FIFTH Fleet, and Commander, SEVENTH Fleet when assigned to the Eastern Pacific, Arabian Gulf, and Western Pacific, respectively.

In 1973, a major reorganization of the Navy's cruiser-destroyer force resulted in Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla NINE's redesignation as Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five.

The primary mission of CRUDESFLOT NINE during the Vietnam era had been to ensure the effective employment of approximately 60 cruisers and destroyers in the United States SEVENTH Fleet. By January 1973, with the end of hostilities in Vietnam, Flotilla NINE had expended nearly 80,000 rounds in Naval gunfire support missions. This offshore firepower, and the equally important role of search and rescue coordination, were vital parts of the extensive Naval presence in the South China Sea.

Today, a modern Cruiser-Destroyer Group is comprised of an aircraft carrier with it's embarked air wing, cruisers, destroyers, frigates and attack submarines, all working in concert with an Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) and it's embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Together, this Naval battle force constitutes the single most powerful mobile force in the world.

CG 53 Mobile Bay was assigned to CRUDESGRU 5 as of July 2000, prior to which it had been assigned to Carrier Group FIVE [as of June 2000].

The USS Chosin (CG 65), apparently replaced the USS Mobile Bay in early 2002, as a subordinate unit of Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE.