<P> The Third Fleet is one of the numbered fleets in the United States Navy . Third Fleet's area of responsibility includes approximately fifty million square miles of the eastern and northern Pacific ocean areas including the Bering Sea, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and a sector of the Arctic . Major oil and trade sea lines of communication within this area are critically important to the economic health of the United States and friendly nations throughout the Pacific Rim region . </P> <P> First established in 1943, the Third Fleet conducted extensive operations against Japanese forces in the Central Pacific during World War II . Deactivated in 1945, the fleet remained inactive until 1973, when it was reactivated and assumed its current responsibilities . </P> <P> The Third Fleet plans and executes naval operations in the Pacific Ocean . The fleet provides maritime homeland defense, regional security, and humanitarian operations support through integrated naval and coastguard forces acting as a single Sea Service . It strengthens relations between the U.S. and its allies and partners through joint, inter-agency and multinational exercises and operations like Rim of the Pacific, Pacific Partnership, and Fleet Weeks . The Third Fleet ensures realistic, relevant training to our people so they have the necessary skills to promote peace and prevail in conflict . </P> <P> The Third Fleet is a combat - ready power in control of ships, submarines, and aircraft stationed in California, Washington, and Hawaii . The Third Fleet's sea - going force includes five aircraft carrier strike groups, each consisting of a combination of cruisers, destroyers, and frigates . They also have more than 30 submarines and a dozen supply ships to support the strike groups . Third Fleet's air forces comprises more than 400 Navy aircraft, including F / A-18 Super Hornets, E-2C Hawkeyes, AV - 8B Harriers, AH - 1Z SuperCobras, and SH - 60 Seahawks . </P>

How many ships are in the third fleet