User:BrightonMcMinn/sandbox

FleetEx 83 was a mission that took place between March 29 and April 17 of 1983 consisted of a three-carrier battle force. The US carriers Enterprise, Midway, and Coral Sea and their respective escort ships participated in the exercise. The mission totaled three carrier battle groups and according to Admiral Robert Long, Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Forces in the Pacific, comprised “the largest fleet exercise conducted by the Pacific Fleet since World War II.” The group consisted of approximately forty ships, 23,000 crewmembers, and 300 aircraft. The exercise lasted approximately two weeks and was conducted in the Northern Pacific, within flight range of the Soviet Union coast. The purpose of the mission was to intentionally provoke the Soviet Union into responding so that the US forces could study their response, tactics, and capabilities as well as demonstrate the effective operations of a three-carrier battle force in joint and combined operations across multiple service branches in both the United States and Canada, in a high-threat environment. The exercises were extremely successful and effective in integrating the combined forces of the United States Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Canadian Naval forces into an effective battle force. Despite poor weather, the fleet excelled throughout the exercise.

FleetEx ’83 had great significance in the development of defense tactics for the United States and Canadian allied forces. Defending and protecting the Norther Pacific from any Soviet Union advances or attacks was vital for both countries defenses. As such, the exercises including overflying Soviet islands and airspaces in order to detect Soviet military responses and develop tactics in dealing with the Soviet responses. Though the Soviet reaction to the exercises was lesss that expected, the exercise was still considered a success. Because of innovative planning and excellent cooperation, the integration of the US and Canadian forces was extremely successful for the exercises that took place during FleetEx ’83.

FlexEx ’83 also consisted of non-battle air forces including the Alaskan Air Command. F-15 s, B-52 s, and RC-135 s participated in air defense exercises. Because of the similarities between the RC-135 and the Boeing 747, some theorize that shooting down of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by the Soviet Air Force was a direct result of FleetEx ’83 and the Soviet’s desire to be more aggressive with any US aircraft invasion of Soviet airspace.