What happens to fleet numbers after World War II?

After World War II, the fleet numbers underwent significant changes as the United States Navy reorganized and adapted to a peacetime environment. The correct understanding here is that the Navy chose not to reassign the fleet numbers in the immediate aftermath of the war. This decision is rooted in tradition and historical continuity, as the pre-war numbers were originally associated with specific task forces and operational commands. Maintaining the same fleet numbers served to preserve a sense of continuity and historical reference for future naval operations, while the structure and purpose of the fleets themselves might have evolved.

This approach was part of a broader strategy to instill familiarity within the naval command structure and assist with organizational memory as the Navy transitioned from wartime to peacetime operations. The choices that suggested an increase in numbers or reassignment do not align with the Navy's strategy during this period, which emphasized stability and continuity over dramatic reorganization or renumbering.