Task Force 20

Task Force 20 (TF-20)
CTF-20 insignia
Active	1946 – 2012
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Task Force
Role	Battle Force
Part of	United States Second Fleet
Garrison/HQ	Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia

Task Force 20 was a task force for the now-deactivated United States Second Fleet, as well as a now-inactive task force for the United States Fleet Forces Command. In its Second Fleet role, TF-20 served as that fleet's Battle Force. In its subsequent role in the Fleet Forces Command, TF-20 served in a training role for U.S. naval units preparing to deploy to the United States Sixth Fleet in the East Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, as well as the United States Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

Task Force 20 was one of the task force designators assigned to the United States Fleet Forces Command in the Atlantic, and was previously one of the task force designators assigned to the United States Second Fleet. According to Norman Polmar, writing in Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, the designator was reserved for the Second Fleet's Battle Force, and the commander of that force was to be Commander, Second Fleet. This was the documented case from 1978–87, and from probably much earlier. The task force was probably intended primarily at that time to undertake attacks on Soviet Navy bases on the Kola Peninsula in the event of a general war.

From 21–27 November 1946, USS Missouri (BB-63) was en route to Davis Strait as part of Task Group 20.2, which also included the cruiser Little Rock and destroyer USS Fechteler. Between 27 November and 4 December, she participated in cold-weather exercises in Davis Strait, between Greenland and East Baffin Island, as part of Task Group 20.2. An incident during that cruise involving the USS Little Rock. She was off the port side firing 5-inch star shells for illumination, to spot icebergs, when there was a misfire. According to standard procedure the gunner began to point the barrel toward the water to wait out a hangfire. However, the round cooked off halfway down. The round hit the Missouri on the signal bridge, killing Coxswain Robert Fountain and starting a fire involving an acetylene tank which was lashed to the railing. One or two officers' cabins were destroyed as well. Missouri did not get back to Norfolk until 13 December 1946. Commander Carrier Group 6 served as CTG 20.2 for a Mediterranean deployment aboard USS America (CV-66) in April 1984.