Military

SUBMARINE GROUP SEVEN (COMSUBGRU 7)
SUBMARINE TASK FORCE FIVE FOUR (CTF 54)
SUBMARINE TASK FORCE SEVENTY FOUR (CTF 74)

Submarine Group SEVEN supports operations in the Western Pacific from its headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan.Commander, Submarine Group SEVEN exercises administrative control over deployed submarines and tenders, and reports to Commander, Submarine Force Pacific. Submarine Group SEVEN is comprised of the command staff element, deployed submarines, and a permanently forward deployed submarine tender. The staff is headquartered in Yokosuka, Japan, with a representative in Guam responsible for coordinating tender issues and repair assistance. COMSUBGRU Seven staff serves as a broker for tender work for forward deployed submarines. COMLOGWESTPAC serves as a broker for tender work for surface ships, and interfaces directly with the COMSUBGRU Seven Representative on the tender. The forward deployed submarine tender homeported in Guam regularly deploys to Sasebo and Yokosuka to provide fleet repair services. Mail work is accepted and encouraged from all vessels regardless of tender location to assist in level loading the IMA.

Submarine Group SEVEN was established during the Korean Crisis in the 1950's as Submarine Group Western Pacific, serving as squadron commander and administrative coordinator for submarines in the Western Pacific. In August 1961, the command was renamed Submarine Flotilla SEVEN. In June 1973, when the command was elevated to Task Force level subordinate to Commander SEVENTH Fleet, its present status as Commander Submarine Force SEVENTH Fleet/Commander Task Force SEVEN FOUR reporting to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet was established.

Submarine Group SEVEN is comprised of submarines deployed to the Western Pacific and a permanently forward deployed submarine tender. The submarines are rotated for their homeports in San Diego, California and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for approximately six months. The tender is home ported out of Guam.

Additionally, Submarine Group SEVEN has a representative in Guam who liaisons for supply, logistics and repair support for all submarines assigned to Commander Task Force SEVEN FOUR.

Commander Submarine Force SEVENTH Fleet coordinates and controls submarine activities over a vast expanse covering nearly forty-eight percent of the earth's ocean surface, ranging from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean. Commander Task Force SEVEN FOUR as SEVENTH Fleet's submarine movement advisory authority directs all submarine operations and mission tasking requirements in the SEVENTH Fleet area of responsibilty. As the SEVENTH Fleet submarine movement advisory authority, Commander Task Force SEVEN FOUR deconflicts submarine movements of allied and friendly submarines in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Commander Task Force SEVEN FOUR is also responsible for staff briefings, reprovisioning and repairs for those submarines operating in SEVENTH Fleet.

Submarine Group SEVEN was activated as Commander Task Force ONE FIVE SEVEN on 15 October 1992 to direct all submarine operations and mission tasking requirements in the Central Command area of responsibility, including the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. On 1 July 1995, upon establishment of U.S. FIFTH Fleet in that same area of responsibility, Commander Task Force ONE FIVE SEVEN was redesignated as Commander Task Force FIVE FOUR.

The Secretary of the Navy presented the Navy Unit Commendation to Commander Submarine Flotilla SEVEN (Staff) for exceptional meritorious service for the period 1 October 1969 to 1 December 1970. The Secretary of the Navy also presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation to Commander Submarine Group SEVEN (Staff) for meritorious service while conducting operations as the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean submarine operating authority from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1980. A second Meritorious Unit Commendation was presented to Commander Submarine Group SEVEN (Staff) by the Secretary of the Navy for meritorious service from 1 May 1990 to 1 June 1991, and a third was presented for meritorious service from 1 October 1993 to 31 May 1995.

Department Structure:

• The 00 Staff Department provides direct support to the Commander, Submarine Group Seven.
• N1 - Personnel Readiness: Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel Readiness: Responsible for the management of all manpower resources (military and civilian) ensuring the highest state of personnel readiness to carry out all assigned missions under peacetime, limited war or general war conditions
• N2 - Intelligence / N3 - Operations: Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence / Operations: Responsible for the preparation of security programs and intelligence information to carry out all assigned missions in peacetime, limited war or general war conditions. Responsible for the preparation and development of operational orders, managing operations, and carrying out all assigned missions under peacetime, limited war or general war conditions
• N4 - Maintenance: Deputy Chief of Staff for Material: Responsible for the planning and direction of the overall logistic support of ships and activities in the Western Pacific in material matters.
• N4S - Logistics: Supply Officer: To establish and maintain the highest possible state of logistic readiness of the units deployed to the Western Pacific allowing them to carry out all assigned missions under peacetime, limited war or general war conditions.
• N5 - Plans: Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans: Responsible for the preparation of plans and development of operation plans and carrying out all assigned missions under peacetime, limited war or general war conditions
• N6 - Communications: Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications: Responsible for rapid and reliable communications within the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean and in support of the Staff and the Fleet.
• N7 - Readiness and Training: Deputy Chief of Staff for Readiness and Training: Responsible for ensuring Submarine Force readiness to employ tactical combat systems, including acoustic sensors, non-acoustic sensors, fire control systems, cruise missiles, torpedoes, mines, other conventional weapons, for ensuring navigational readiness of all deployed assets other than SSBNs, for coordinating initiatives to improve combat and mission effectiveness of Force submarines, and for support of tactical development and evaluation.

COMSUBGRU Seven staff serves as a broker for tender work for forward deployed submarines. COMLOGWESTPAC serves as a broker for tender work for surface ships, and interfaces directly with the COMSUBGRU Seven Representative on the tender. The forward deployed submarine tender homeported in Guam regularly deploys to Sasebo and Yokosuka to provide fleet repair services.