Combat Logistics Force

Combat Logistics Force
Unit name	Combat Logistics Force
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Logistics
Role	Replenishment at sea, underway replenishment
Size	Variable
Garrison	Norfolk, Virginia; San Diego, California

Combat Logistics Force The Combat Logistics Force provides underway replenishment and maritime logistics to sustain carrier strike groups, surface action groups, and expeditionary forces during deployments, linking United States Navy carrier operations with Military Sealift Command logistics while interoperating with United States Marine Corps expeditionary units and allied navies such as the Royal Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Navy. The force executes fuel, ammunition, provisions, and spare parts transfers using replenishment oilers, fast combat support ships, and dry cargo/ammunition ships developed through programs involving Naval Sea Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, and industrial partners like General Dynamics and NASSCO. It supports maritime campaigns directed by combatant commanders in theaters including the United States Indo-Pacific Command, United States European Command, and United States Central Command.

Overview and Mission

The Combat Logistics Force's primary mission is to conduct underway replenishment, sustainment, and logistics surface distribution to enable persistent combat operations for carrier strike groups, amphibious ready groups, and independent surface combatants, integrating with organizations such as United States Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Carrier Strike Group 1, and Expeditionary Strike Group. It performs vertical replenishment with helicopters from units like Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 and coordinate with airlift assets from Air Mobility Command and logistics planners from Navy Expeditionary Logistics elements. The force's activities are governed by doctrine from Chief of Naval Operations, guidance from Secretary of the Navy, and alliance frameworks like NATO interoperability standards used by Allied Maritime Command.

Organization and Units

Combat Logistics Force assets are organized into squadrons and individual ships including fleet replenishment oilers, fast combat support ships, and dry cargo/ammunition ships assigned to Military Sealift Command or commissioned with the United States Navy; notable unit types include the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship associated with Naval Sea Systems Command programs and the Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler. Units coordinate with carrier strike group staffs such as Carrier Strike Group 11 and Carrier Strike Group 8, and with logistics commands like Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk and Navy Supply Systems Command. Personnel and civil service mariners from United States Merchant Marine and reservists from United States Navy Reserve often augment CLF operations, while doctrine links to Naval Supply Corps School training and certification by Navy Warfare Development Command.

Operations and Capabilities

The Combat Logistics Force conducts underway replenishment (CONREP), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), and connected replenishment to transfer fuel, ordnance, food, and spare parts; these operations employ techniques codified by Underway Replenishment Training Center doctrine and executed alongside platforms like Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. CLF capabilities include sea-basing support for Marine Expeditionary Unit operations, first-responder humanitarian assistance in concert with United States Transportation Command assets, and sustainment for long-range strike operations coordinated with United States Strategic Command. Technical capabilities are enhanced through logistics information systems integrated with Global Combat Support System-Navy, supply chain protocols developed with Defense Logistics Agency, and maintenance partnerships with Naval Shipyards.

Training and Logistics Support

Training for CLF crews and associated personnel is provided by institutions such as Surface Warfare Officers School Command, Naval Aviation Schools Command, and the Naval Supply Systems Command, with practical exercises conducted aboard ships and at facilities like Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Base San Diego. Logistics support processes follow procedures from Defense Logistics Agency inventory management, spare parts provisioning aligned with Navy Working Capital Fund practices, and certification programs influenced by American Bureau of Shipping standards for merchant mariners. Interoperability training with allies occurs during multinational exercises involving Royal Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Canadian Navy, and NATO partners to validate cross-deck replenishment and combined logistics planning.

History and Development

The Combat Logistics Force evolved from earlier concepts of underway replenishment developed during the World War II Pacific campaign and formalized through postwar logistics experiments influenced by events such as the Korean War and Vietnam War. Cold War-era innovations in fast combat support and integrated supply concepts were driven by requirements from U.S. Pacific Fleet and tactical lessons from incidents like the Iranian Hostage Crisis and operations in the Gulf War (1990–1991), leading to ship classes and programs overseen by Naval Sea Systems Command and acquisitions coordinated with Military Sealift Command. Continued modernization has incorporated lessons from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, procurement initiatives from Congress of the United States, and shipbuilding contracts with firms including General Dynamics NASSCO and Northrop Grumman.

Notable Deployments and Exercises

CLF elements have participated in major deployments and exercises such as RIMPAC, Malabar, BALTOPS, Northern Edge, and carrier strike group deployments to Carrier Strike Group 5 area of responsibility, enabling long-duration operations during crises including Operation Desert Storm and maritime security missions in the Strait of Hormuz. They have supported humanitarian missions following disasters coordinated with United States Agency for International Development and multinational responses partnered with Japan Self-Defense Forces and Australian Defence Force. Exercises like Composite Unit Training Exercise and Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore events test CLF replenishment and sea-basing capabilities alongside units from United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Category:United States Navy logistics