Established during World War II in 1944, the Fifth Fleet conducted extensive operations that led to the defeat of Japanese forces in the Central Pacific, including battles for the Mariana Islands campaign, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

It contributed significant forces in the Global War on Terrorism and continues to project US naval power in the Middle East.

The Fifth Fleet was initially established during World War II on 26 April 1944 from the Central Pacific Force under the command of Admiral Raymond Spruance.

The Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made this any further operations unnecessary, and the Fifth Fleet did not return to combat again during the war.

[6] Carrier Strike Group Three formed the core of the naval power during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.

Task Force 50 comprised over 59 ships from six nations including six aircraft carriers, stretching over 800 nautical miles.

[7] Naval operations in the Middle East were the subject of DOD Exercise Millennium Challenge 2002, during which unanticipated maneuvers by opposing forces director Lieutenant General Paul Van Riper USMC (retd.)

[8] Fifth Fleet forces peaked in early 2003, when five USN aircraft carriers (CV and CVNs), six USN amphibious assault ships (LHAs and LHDs) and their embarked USMC air ground combat elements, their escorting and supply vessels, and over 30 Royal Navy vessels were under its command.

In mid-April, the Constellation Battle Group left the NAG and the Destroyer Squadron 50 staff commanded TF-55 for the remainder of OIF major combat operations.

On 3 January 2012, following the end of the ten-day Velayat 90 naval maneuvers by the Iranian Navy in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Army chief of staff, General Ataollah Salehi, was quoted by the state news agency IRNA as warning the United States to not deploy John C. Stennis back to the Persian Gulf.

"[12] Also, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi reiterated that "transnational forces" have no place in the Persian Gulf region.

[12] On 6 January 2012, armed Iranian speedboats reportedly harassed two U.S. naval vessels, the amphibious transport dock New Orleans and the Coast Guard cutter Adak, as they transited the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf.

[18] In September 2016, Commander Amphibious Task Group, Commodore Andrew Burns, set off from the UK with Ocean, along with helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron, No.

27 Squadron RAF, Bulwark, and element of 3 Commando Brigade HQ Royal Marines, RFA Mounts Bay and MV Eddystone Point under his flag.

[19][20] On 1 December 2018, Commander, Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral Scott A. Stearney was found dead in his residence in Bahrain.