The Fast Carrier Task Force was the main striking force of the United States Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II. As a general rule it was made up of four separate task groups, each of which comprised three to four carriers and their supporting vessels. The carriers were supported by destroyers, cruisers, and the newly built and faster battleships. Each task group's ships sailed in a circle formation, with the carriers at the center. The supporting ships added their anti-aircraft fire to that of the carriers to help ward off attacking aircraft. Each task group could operate independently or combine with the others as needs dictated. When the force was part of Admiral Raymond Spruance's Fifth Fleet it bore the designation Task Force 58. When led by Admiral William Halsey as part of the Third Fleet its designation was Task Force 38. Planning for upcoming operations were completed when each admiral and his staff rotated out of active command. This allowed the Navy to perform at a higher operational tempo, while giving the Japanese the general impression of naval assets greater than what were actually available.
The fleet designation also changed with each command change, with Third Fleet being the designation used for the fleet when under the command of Halsey, and the Fifth Fleet being used when Spruance held command. The fleet itself was made up of the Fast Carrier Task Force and the much larger Amphibious Force. When under the umbrella of Fifth Fleet the invasion force was called the Fifth Amphibious Force. When Hasley had command of the fleet Third Amphibious Force was the designation. By the time of the Battle of Iwo Jima in early 1945, the FCTF included eighteen aircraft carriers, eight battleships and two battlecruisers, along with numerous cruisers and destroyers. Task Force 58 alone commanded more firepower than any navy in history.
TF 38 came into existence in August 1943, built around USS Saratoga, and under the command of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman. TF 58 was created on 6 January 1944 with Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher commanding, serving under the fleet command of Admiral Spruance in the Fifth Fleet. TF 38 continued to exist, but as a command structure only.
On 26 August 1944, Fifth Fleet changed designation to the Third Fleet, and TF 58 likewise became TF 38. Mitscher, who was an aviator from early training and had a masterful command of the airgroups, had argued that he should retain command of the Task Force until his replacement, Admiral John McCain, could have proper time to become more familiar with the handling of a carrier task force. King and Nimitz concurred. The fleet came under the command of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Jr, who like Spruance before him, chose to sail with the Fast Carrier Task Force. The force grew to nine CVs and eight CVLs in preparation for the landings on Leyte. Task Force 38 was composed of four task groups: Task Group 38.1 was commanded by Admiral McCain, with its previous commander, Admiral Joseph "Jocko" Clark, remaining on as advisor. Task Group 38.2 was under the command of Admiral Gerald Bogan, Task Group 38.3 was led by Admiral Frederick Sherman, and Task Group 38.4 was under the command of Admiral Ralph Davison.
Following the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Mitscher went on shore leave and planning duty, and Vice Admiral McCain took over as commanding officer of TF 38, which continued under Halsey and the Third Fleet.
On 26 January 1945, Halsey and McCain went on shore leave and planning duty, and Spruance and Mitscher returned to their previous commands. Third Fleet became Fifth Fleet, and TF 38 became TF 58.
At the end of April Admiral Nimitz came out to review the situation. After two months operating off the coast of Okinawa in support of Army forces engaged in battle on the island the command staff was exhausted from the continuous pressure of fending off kamikaze attacks. On his return to Pearl Harbor he notified Halsey that he would have to take over command from Spruance in thirty days, whether or not the mission was completed. On 28 May 1945, Halsey arrived aboard Missouri, his new flagship, whereupon he relieved Spruance, while McCain relieved Mitscher. Spruance and Mitscher returned to Pearl. Fifth Fleet once again became Third Fleet, and Task Force 58 became Task Force 38. Halsey remained in command until the Japanese surrender ended the war on 2 September 1945.
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