We all know that the USS Springfield CLG-7 was the last of the Sixth Fleet Flagships for which Villefranche served as the home port. But do you know the difference between a Flagship and a "normal" U.S. Navy ship?

The Vice-Admiral aboard the Springfield commanded the Sixth Fleet, not the Springfield, which was under the direct responsibility of the captain to the rank of Captain of the Ship. The Sixth Fleet at the time consisted of about thirty vessels, most of them divided into two fleets of ships that came to the Mediterranean from the ports of the East Coast of the United States for rotation periods of about six months. From 1956, only the flag-bearer of the Sixth Fleet was to be based in Villefranche in near-permanence.

The Admiral did not live alone on board. He had a staff of about 100 officers, mostly senior officers, and men whose direct responsibilities had nothing to do with the Springfield. So they worked and lived separate from the Ship's company - those assigned to the Springfield own.

The Admiral had its own bridge, the "flag bridge", below the main bridge of the Springfield from where, with his officers, he could watch the operational exercises when the Flagship was sailing in a flotilla or simply enjoy being at sea.

The staff officers had their own square where they dined and rested, completely separate from the Springfield officers. What were they doing? Apart from those who were preparing the Fleet's operational plans, there was the Chief Superintendent of the Fleet, the Chief Counsel, the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Dentist, the Aviation Officer, submariners, public relations and so on.

One of the Admiral's important roles was diplomatic: to "show the flag" in the major ports of the Mediterranean basin.

The famous Sixth Fleet Band of about 25 men, was embarked not only for the pleasure of sailors and VIP guests but also to give concerts in public.

There was also a larger-than-normal Marine detachment on board to provide a guard of honor when the Admiral received military and civilian figures at all the ports visited.

Period	Name
14 September 1959 - July 1961	VADM George W. Anderson, Jr.
13 July 1961 - March 1963	VADM David L. McDonald
18 March 1963 - June 1964	VADM William E. Gentner, Jr
2 June 1964 - May 1966	VADM William E. Ellis
9 May 1966 - April 1967	VADM Frederick L. Ashworth
April 1967 - August 1968	VADM William I. Martin
August 1968 - August 1970	VADM David C. Richardson
August 1970 - October 1971	VADM Issac C. Kidd, Jr.
October 1971 - June 1973	VADM Gerald E. Miller
June 1973 - September 1974	VADM Daniel J. Murphy
September 1974 - August 1976	VADM C. Frederick C. Turner