Hull classification symbol - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

, United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...

use hull classification symbols (sometimes called hull codes or hull numbers) to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type. The system is somewhat analogous to a system of pennant number

Pennant number

In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...

s the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

and some Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an and Commonwealth

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

navies (19 in total) use.

History

The U.S. Navy began to assign unique Naval Registry Identification Number

Naval Registry Identification Number

A Naval Registry Identification Number is a unique identifier that the U.S. Navy used for privately owned and naval vessels in the first half of the 20th century....

s to its ships in the 1890s. The system was a simple one in which each ship received a number which was appended to its ship type, fully spelled out, and added parenthetically after the ship's name when deemed necessary to avoid confusion between ships. Under this system, for example, the battleship

Battleship

A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...

Indiana

USS Indiana (BB-1)

USS Indiana was the lead ship of her class and the first battleship in the United States Navy comparable to foreign battleships of the time. Authorized in 1890 and commissioned five years later, she was a small battleship, though with heavy armor and ordnance. The ship also pioneered the use of an...

was USS Indiana (Battleship No. 1), the cruiser

Cruiser

A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...

Olympia

USS Olympia (C-6)

USS Olympia is a protected cruiser which saw service in the United States Navy from her commissioning in 1895 until 1922. This vessel became famous as the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The ship was decommissioned after...

was USS Olympia (Cruiser No. 6), and so on. Beginning in 1907, some ships also were referred to alternatively by single-letter or three-letter codes—for example, USS Indiana (Battleship No. 1) could be referred to as USS Indiana (B-1) and USS Olympia (Cruiser No 6) could also be referred to as USS Olympia (C-6), while USS Pennsylvania (Armored Cruiser No. 4) could be referred to as USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4). However, rather than replacing it, these codes coexisted and were used interchangeably with the older system until the modern system was instituted on 17 July 1920.

The United States Revenue Cutter Service

United States Revenue Cutter Service

The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. Throughout its entire existence the Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury...

, which merged with the United States Lifesaving Service in January 1915 to form the modern Coast Guard, began following the Navy's lead in the 1890s, with its cutters

United States Coast Guard Cutter

Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...

having parenthetical numbers called Naval Registry Identification Number

Naval Registry Identification Number

A Naval Registry Identification Number is a unique identifier that the U.S. Navy used for privately owned and naval vessels in the first half of the 20th century....

s following their names, such as (Cutter No. 1), etc. This persisted until the Navy's modern hull classification system's introduction in 1920, which included Coast Guard ships and craft.

During World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, the United States Navy acquired large numbers of privately owned and commercial ships and craft for use as patrol vessels, mine warfare vessels, and various types of naval auxiliary ship

Auxiliary ship

An auxiliary ship is a naval ship which is designed to operate in any number of roles supporting combatant ships and other naval operations. Auxiliaries are not primary combatants, although they may have some limited combat capacity, usually of a self defensive nature.Auxiliaries are extremely...

s, some of them with identical names. To keep track of them all, the Navy assigned unique identifying numbers to them. Those deemed appropriate for patrol work received section patrol

Section patrol

A Section Patrol craft was a civilian vessel registered by the United States Navy for potential service during and shortly after World War I....

numbers (SP), while those intended for other purposes received "identification numbers", generally abbreviated "Id. No." or "ID;" some ships and craft changed from an SP to an ID number or vice-versa during their careers, without their unique numbers themselves changing, and some ships and craft assigned numbers in anticipation of naval service never were acquired by the Navy. The SP/ID numbering sequence was unified and continuous, with no SP number repeated in the ID series or vice versa so that there could not be, for example, both an "SP-435" and an "Id. No 435". The SP and ID numbers were used parenthetically after each boat's or ship's name to identify it; although this system pre-dated the modern hull classification system and its numbers were not referred to at the time as "hull codes" or "hull numbers," it was used in a similar to today's system and can be considered its precursor.

United States Navy

The U.S. Navy instituted its modern hull classification system on 17 July 1920, doing away with section patrol numbers, "identification numbers", and the other numbering systems described above. In the new system, all hull classification symbols are at least two letters; for basic types the symbol is the first letter of the type name, doubled, except for aircraft carriers.

The combination of symbol and hull number identify a modern Navy ship uniquely. A heavily modified or re-purposed ship may receive a new symbol, and either retain the hull number or receive a new one. Also, the system of symbols has changed a number of times both since it was introduced in 1907 and since the modern system was instituted in 1920, so ships' symbols sometimes change without anything being done to the physical ship.

Hull numbers are assigned by classification. Duplication between, but not within, classifications is permitted. Hence, CV-1 was the aircraft carrier

Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

USS Langley

USS Langley (CV-1)

USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter , and also the U.S. Navy's first electrically propelled ship...

and BB-1 was the battleship USS Indiana

USS Indiana (BB-1)

.

Ship types and classifications have come and gone over the years, and many of the symbols listed below are not presently in use. The Naval Vessel Register

Naval Vessel Register

The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...

maintains an online database of U.S. Navy ships showing which symbols are presently in use.

After World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

and until 1975, the U.S. Navy defined a "frigate

Frigate

A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

" as a type of surface warship larger than a destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

and smaller than a cruiser; in other navies, such a ship generally was referred to a destroyer leader—hence the U.S. Navy's use of "DL" for "frigate" prior to 1975—while "frigates" in other navies were smaller than destroyers and more like what the U.S. Navy termed a "destroyer escort

Destroyer escort

A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...

", "ocean escort

Ocean escort

Ocean Escort was a type of United States Navy warship.Ocean Escorts were an evolution of the World War II destroyer escort types. They were intended as convoy escorts and were designed for mobilization production in wartime or low-cost mass production in peacetime.Their hull classification symbol...

", or "DE". The United States Navy 1975 ship reclassification

United States Navy 1975 ship reclassification

The United States Navy reclassified many of its surface vessels in 1975, changing terminology and hull classification symbols for cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts.- Classification prior to 1975 :...

of cruiser

Cruiser

A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...

s, frigates, and ocean escorts brought U.S. Navy classifications into line with other nations' classifications, and at least cosmetically. i.e., in terms of terminology, eliminated the perceived "cruiser gap" with the Soviet Navy

Soviet Navy

The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...

by redesignating the former "frigates" as "cruisers".

United States Coast Guard

If a ship's hull classification symbol begins with "W", it is a ship of the United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

. Until 1965, the Coast Guard used U.S. Navy hull classification codes, prepending a "W" to their beginning. In 1965, it retired some of the less mission-appropriate Navy-based classifications and developed new ones of its own, most notably WHEC for "high endurance cutter

High endurance cutter

The designation of High endurance cutter was created in 1965 when the United States Coast Guard adopted its own designation system. High endurance cutters encompassed its largest cutters previously designated by the United States Navy as Coast Guard gunboats , Coast Guard destroyer escorts , and...

" and WMEC for "medium endurance cutter".

Military Sealift Command

If a ship's hull classification symbol begins with "T-", it is part of the Military Sealift Command

Military Sealift Command

The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...

, has a primarily civilian crew, and is a United States Naval Ship

United States Naval Ship

United States Naval Ship or USNS is the prefix designation given to non-commissioned ships that are property of the United States Navy.-Overview:...

(USNS) in non-commissioned service—as opposed to a commissioned

Ship commissioning

Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...

United States Ship

United States Ship is a ship prefix used to identify a commissioned ship of the United States Navy and only applies to a ship while she is in commission. Before commissioning, she is referred to as "Pre Commissioning Unit" .After decommissioning, she is referred to by name, with no prefix.From the...

(USS).

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA), a component of the United States Department of Commerce

United States Department of Commerce

The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...

, also uses a hull classification symbol system, which it also calls "hull numbers," for its fleet. In its system, the NOAA fleet is divided into two broad categories, research ships and survey ships. The research ships, which include oceanographic

Oceanography

Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...

and fisheries

Fishery

Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...

research vessels, are given hull numbers beginning with "R", while the survey ships, generally hydrographic

Hydrography

Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...

survey vessels, receive hull numbers beginning with "S". The letter is followed by a three-digit number; the first digit indicates the NOAA "class" (i.e., size) of the vessel, which NOAA assigns based on the ship's gross tonnage and horsepower

Horsepower

Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...

, while the next two digits combine with the first digit to create a unique three-digit identifying number for the ship. Generally, each NOAA hull number is written with a space between the letter and the three-digit number, as in, for example, NOAAS Nancy Foster (R 352) or NOAAS Thomas Jefferson (S 222). Once an older ship leaves service, a newer one can be given the same hull number; for example, "S 222" was assigned to NOAAS Mount Mitchell (S 222), then assigned to NOAAS Thomas Jefferson (S 222), which entered NOAA service after Mount Mitchell was stricken.

United States Navy hull classification codes

The U.S. Navy's system of alpha-numeric ship designators, and its associated hull numbers, have been for several decades a unique method of categorizing ships of all types: combatants, auxiliaries and district craft. Though considerably changed in detail and expanded over the years, this system remains essentially the same as when formally implemented in 1920. It is a very useful tool for organizing and keeping track of naval vessels, and also provides the basis for the identification numbers painted on the bows (and frequently the sterns) of most U.S. Navy ships.

The ship designator and hull number system's roots extend back to the late 1880s, when ship type serial numbers were assigned to most of the new-construction warships of the emerging "Steel Navy". During the course of the next thirty years, these same numbers were combined with filing codes used by the Navy's clerks to create an informal version of the system that was put in place in 1920. Limited usage of ship numbers goes back even earlier, most notably to the "Jeffersonian Gunboats" of the early 1800s and the "Tinclad" river gunboats of the Civil War Mississippi Squadron.

It is important to understand that hull number letter prefixes are not acronyms, and should not be carelessly treated as abbreviations of ship type classifications. Thus, "DD" does not stand for anything more than "Destroyer". "SS" simply means "Submarine". And "FF", the post-1975 type code for "Frigate."

The hull classification codes for ships in active duty in the United States Navy are governed under Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5030.8A (SECNAVINST 5030.8A).

Warships

Warships are designed to participate in combat operations.

The origin of the 2 letter code derives from the need to distinguish various cruiser subtypes.

Cruiser	Armored	CA
	large	CB
	battle	CC
	Light	CL
	aViation or Voler	CV
Destroyer	ship	DD
Destroyer	Escort	DE

Aircraft carrier type

Aircraft carriers are ships designed primarily for the purpose of conducting combat operations by aircraft

Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...

which engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets. Contrary to popular belief, the "CV" hull classification symbol does not stand for "Carrier Vessel". The "CV" designation was originally derived from cruisers, since aircraft carriers were seen as an extension of the sea control and denial mission of cruisers. The "V" designation for heavier-than-air craft comes from the French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

verb voler (to fly). Since 1935, "CV" has been a two-letter, unitary hull classification symbol meaning "aircraft carrier". Aircraft carriers are designated in two sequences: the first sequence runs from CV-1 USS Langley to the very latest ships, and the second sequence, "CVE" for escort carriers, ran from CVE-1 Long Island to CVE-128 Okinawa before being discontinued.

AV: Seaplane Tender
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...

(retired)
AVG: Auxiliary Aircraft Ferry (Escort carrier) (1941–2)
AVD: Seaplane Tender Destroyer (retired)
AVP: Seaplane Tender, Small (retired)
AVT (i) Auxiliary Aircraft Transport (retired)
AVT (ii) Auxiliary Training Carrier (retired)
ACV: Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier (Escort carrier) (1942)
CV(V): Fleet Aircraft Carrier (1921–1975), Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

(1975–present)
CVA: Attack Aircraft Carrier (category merged into CV, 30 June 1975)
CVAN: Attack Aircraft Carrier, nuclear (category merged into CVN, 30 June 1975)
CVB: Large Aircraft Carrier (category merged into CVA, 1952)
CVE: Escort aircraft carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...

(retired) (1943–retirement of type)
CVHA: Assault Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired in favor of several LH-series amphibious assault ship
Amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...

hull codes)
CVHE: Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired)
CVL: Light aircraft carrier
Light aircraft carrier
A light aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only ½ to ⅔ the size of a full-sized or "fleet" carrier.-History:In World War II, the...

(retired)
CV(N): Night-Operating Fleet Aircraft Carrier (Used only by the former USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
USS Enterprise , colloquially referred to as the "Big E," was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Launched in 1936, she was a ship of the Yorktown class, and one of only three American carriers commissioned prior to World War II to...

)
CVN: Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear-Propulsion)
CVS: Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (retired)
CVT: Training Aircraft Carrier (changed to AVT (Auxiliary))
CVU: Utility Aircraft Carrier (retired)
CVG: Battle Carrier
CVSG: Battle Group Carrier

Surface combatant type

Surface combatants are ships which are designed primarily to engage enemy forces on the high seas. The primary surface combatants are battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Battleships are very heavily armed and armored; cruisers moderately so; destroyers and smaller warships, less so. Before 1920, ships were called " no. X", with the type fully pronounced. The types were commonly abbreviated in ship lists to "B-X", "C-X", "D-X" et cetera—for example, before 1920, would have been called "USS Minnesota, Battleship number 22" verbally and "USS Minnesota, B-22" in writing. After 1920, the ship's name would have been both written and pronounced "USS Minnesota (BB-22)". In generally decreasing size, the types are:

B: Battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...

(pre-1920)
BB: Battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
BBG: Guided Missile Battleship or Arsenal Ship
Arsenal ship
An arsenal ship is a concept for a floating missile platform intended to have as many as five hundred vertical launch bays for mid-sized missiles, most likely cruise missiles...

(theoretical only, never assigned)See .
BM: Monitor (1920–retirement)

ACR: Armored Cruiser (pre-1920)
C: Cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...

(pre-1920 Protected Cruisers
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...

and Peace Cruisers)
CA: (first series) Cruiser, Armored (retired, comprised all surviving pre-1920 Armored and Protected Cruisers)
CA: (second series) Heavy Cruiser
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...

, category later renamed Gun Cruiser (retired)
CAG: Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser (retired)
CB: Large cruiser
Alaska class cruiser
The Alaska-class cruisers were a class of six very large cruisers ordered prior to World War II for the United States Navy. Although often called battlecruisers, officially the Navy classed them as Large Cruisers . Their intermediate status is reflected in their names relative to typical U.S....

(retired)
CBC: Large Command Cruiser (retired, never used operationally)See .
CC: Battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...

(retired, never used operationally)See .
CC: (second usage) Command Cruiser (retired)
CG: Guided Missile Cruiser
CGN: Guided Missile Cruiser (Nuclear-Propulsion)
CL: Light Cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...

(retired)
CLC: Command Cruiser
CLAA: Antiaircraft Cruiser (retired)
CLG: Guided Missile Light Cruiser (retired)
CLGN: Guided Missile Light Cruiser (Nuclear-Propulsion) (retired)
CLK: Hunter-Killer Cruiser (abolished 1951)
CM: Cruiser-minelayer (retired)
CS: Scout Cruiser (retired)
CSGN: Strike Cruiser
Strike cruiser
A strike cruiser was a proposal from DARPA on the next generation of cruisers in the late 1970s. It was to be a guided missile attack cruiser with a displacement of around , armed and equipped with SM-2, Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, an 8-inch gun, and the Aegis phased array radar system.A...

(Nuclear-Propulsion)

D: Destroyer (pre-1920)
DD: Destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
DDC: Corvette (briefly proposed in the mid 1950s)
DDE: Escort Destroyer (not to be confused with Destroyer Escort, DE: an Escort Destroyer; DDE, was a Destroyer, DD, converted for antisubmarine warfare) (category abolished 1962)
DDG: Guided Missile Destroyer
DDK: Hunter-Killer Destroyer (category merged into DDE, 4 March 1950)

DDR: Radar Picket Destroyer (retired)

DE: Destroyer Escort

Destroyer escort

(World War II, later became Ocean escort

Ocean escort

)

DE: Ocean escort

Ocean escort

(abolished 30 June 1975)

DEG: Guided Missile Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)

DER: Radar Picket Destroyer Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)

There were two distinct breeds of DE, the World War II Destroyer Escorts (some of which were converted to DERs) and the postwar DE/DEG classes, which were known as Ocean Escorts despite carrying the same type symbol as the World War II Destroyer Escorts. All DEs, DEGs, and DERs were reclassified as FFs, FFGs, or FFRs, 30 June 1975.

DL: Destroyer Leader (later Frigate) (retired)

DLG: Guided Missile Frigate (abolished 30 June 1975)

DLGN: Guided Missile Frigate (Nuclear-Propulsion) (abolished 30 June 1975)

The DL category was established in 1951 with the abolition of the CLK category. CLK 1 became DL 1 and DD 927–930 became DL 2–5. By the mid-1950s the term Destroyer Leader had been dropped in favor of Frigate. Most DLGs and DLGNs were reclassified as CGs and CGNs, 30 June 1975. However, DLG 6–15 became DDG 37–46. The old DLs were already gone by that time.

DM: Destroyer Minelayer (retired)
DMS: Destroyer Minesweeper (retired)

FF: Frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

(retired)
FFG: Guided Missile Frigate
FFH: Frigate with assigned Helicopter
FFL: Light Frigate
FFR: Radar Picket Frigate (retired)
FFT: Frigate (Reserve Training) (retired)

The FF, FFG, and FFR designations were established 30 June 1975 as new type symbols for ex-DEs, DEGs, and DERs. The first new-built ships to carry the FF/FFG designation were the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class frigates

Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate

The Oliver Hazard Perry class is a class of frigates named after the American Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie...

. A new series of frigate-size warships for shallow-water combat at expense of battlegroup performance is under production:

K: Corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...

(retired)

LCS: Littoral Combat Ship
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...

M: Monitor (1880s–1920)

Submarine type

Submarines are all self-propelled submersible types (usually started with SS) regardless of whether employed as combatant, auxiliary, or research and development vehicles which have at least a residual combat capability. While some classes, including all diesel-electric submarines, are retired from USN service, non-U.S. navies continue to employ SS, SSA, SSAN, SSB, SSC, SSG, SSM, and SST types. With the advent of new Air Independent Propulsion/Power (AIP) systems, both SSI and SSP are used to distinguish the types within the USN, but SSP has been declared the preferred term. SSK, retired by the USN, continues to be used colloquially and interchangeably with SS for diesel-electric attack/patrol submarines within the USN, and more formally by the Royal Navy and British firms such as Jane's Information Group

Jane's Information Group

Jane's Information Group is a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.-History:It was founded by Fred T...

SC: Cruiser Submarine (retired)
SF: Fleet Submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

(retired)
SM: Submarine Minelayer (retired)
SS: Attack Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
SSA: Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
SSAN: Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine (Nuclear Power)
SSB: Ballistic Missile Submarine
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...

(Diesel Electric Power)
SSBN: Ballistic Missile Submarine
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...

(Nuclear-Powered)
SSC: Coastal Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power), over 150 tons
SSG: Guided Missile Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
SSGN: Guided Missile Submarine (Nuclear-Powered)
SSI: Attack Submarine (Diesel Air-Independent Propulsion)
SSK: Hunter-Killer/ASW Submarine (retired)
SSM: Midget Submarine, under 150 tons
SSN: Attack Submarine (Nuclear-Powered)
SSNR: Special Attack Submarine (Nuclear-Powered)?
SSO: Submarine Oiler (retired)
SSP: Attack Submarine (Diesel Air-Independent Power) (alternate use), formerly Submarine Transport
SSQ: Auxiliary Submarine, Communications (retired)
SSQN: Auxiliary Submarine, Communications (Nuclear-Powered)(retired)
SSR: Radar Picket Submarine (retired)
SSRN: Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) (retired)

SST: Training Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)

AGSS: Auxiliary Submarine

AOSS: Submarine Oiler (retired)

ASSP: Transport Submarine (retired)

APSS: Transport Submarine (retired)

LPSS: Amphibious Transport Submarine (retired)

SSLP: Transport Submarine (retired)

SSP, ASSP, APSS, and LPSS were all the same type, redesignated over the years.

IXSS: Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine
MTS: Moored Training Ship (Navy Nuclear Prototype School Training Platform; Reconditioned SSBN's)

Patrol combatant type

Patrol combatants are ships whose mission may extend beyond coastal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping, providing a capability for operations exceeding 48 hours on the high seas without support. This notably included Brown Water Navy/Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War. Few of these ships are in service today.

PBR: Patrol Boat, River, Brown Water Navy (Pibber or PBR-Vietnam)
PC: Coastal Patrol, originally Sub Chaser
Submarine chaser
A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...
PCF: Patrol Craft, Fast
Fast Patrol Craft
Patrol Craft Fast , also known as Swift Boats, were all-aluminum, long, shallow-draft vessels operated by the U.S. Navy, initially to patrol the coastal areas and later for work in the interior waterways as part of the Brown Water Navy to interdict Vietcong movement of arms and munitions,...

; Swift Boat, Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)
PE: Eagle Boat
Eagle class patrol craft
The Eagle class patrol craft were a set of steel ships smaller than destroyers but having a greater operational radius than the wooden-hulled, submarine chasers developed in 1917...

of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
PF: World War II Frigate, based on British River class
River class frigate
The River class frigate was a class of 151 frigates launched between 1941 and 1944 for use as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the North Atlantic....

.
- PFG: Original designation of
PG: Gunboat, later Patrol combatant
PGH: Patrol Combatant, Hydrofoil
PHM: Patrol, Hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...

Missile
PR: Patrol, River, such as the USS Panay (PR-5)
USS Panay (PR-5)
|-External links:* * *...
PT
PT boat
PT Boats were a variety of motor torpedo boat , a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet". The Japanese called them "Devil Boats".The original pre–World War I torpedo boats were...

: Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...

(World War II)
PTG: Patrol Torpedo Gunboat
Monitor: Heavily gunned riverine boat, Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)
ASPB: Assault Support Patrol Boat, "Alpha Boat", Brown Water Navy; also used as riverine minesweeper (Vietnam)
PACV: Patrol, Air Cushion Craft, Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)
SP: Section Patrol
Section patrol
A Section Patrol craft was a civilian vessel registered by the United States Navy for potential service during and shortly after World War I....

, used indiscriminately for patrol vessels, mine warfare vessels, and some other types (World War I; retired 1920)

Amphibious warfare type

Amphibious warfare vessels include all ships having organic capability for amphibious warfare and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. There are two classifications of craft: amphibious warfare ships which are built to cross oceans, and landing craft

Landing craft

Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...

, which are designed to take troops from ship to shore in an invasion.

Ships

AKA: Attack Cargo Ship (To LKA, 1969)
APA: Attack Transport
Attack transport
Attack Transport is a United States Navy ship classification.-History:In the early 1940s, as the United States Navy expanded in response to the threat of involvement in World War II, a number of civilian passenger ships and some freighters were acquired, converted to transports and given hull...

(To LPA, 1969)
APD: High Speed Transport
High speed transport
High Speed Transports were converted destroyers and destroyer escorts used to support amphibious operations in World War II and afterward. They received the US Hull classification symbol APD; "AP" for transport and "D" for destroyer....

(Converted Destroyer or Destroyer Escort) (To LPR, 1969)
AGC: Amphibious Force Flagship
Amphibious Command Ship
Amphibious Command Ships in the United States Navy are large, special purpose ships, originally designed to command large amphibious invasions, however, as amphibious invasions have become unlikely, they are now used as general command ships, and serve as floating headquarters for the various...

(To LCC, 1969)
LCC: Amphibious Command Ship
Amphibious Command Ship
Amphibious Command Ships in the United States Navy are large, special purpose ships, originally designed to command large amphibious invasions, however, as amphibious invasions have become unlikely, they are now used as general command ships, and serve as floating headquarters for the various...
LHA: General-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship also known as Landing Helicopter Assault
LHD: Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship also known as Landing Helicopter Dock
LKA: Attack Cargo Ship (out of commission)
LPA: Attack Transport
LPD: Amphibious transport dock
Amphibious transport dock
An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform/dock , is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently operate this kind of ship...
LPH: Landing Platform Helicopter
LPR: High Speed Transport
High speed transport
High Speed Transports were converted destroyers and destroyer escorts used to support amphibious operations in World War II and afterward. They received the US Hull classification symbol APD; "AP" for transport and "D" for destroyer....
LSD: Landing Ship, Dock
Dock landing ship
A Dock landing ship or Landing ship is a form of amphibious warship designed to support amphibious operations. These amphibious assault ships transport and launch amphibious craft and vehicles with their crews and embarked personnel...
LSH: Landing Ship, Heavy
LSIL: Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry
Landing Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War...

(Large) (formerly LCIL)
LSL: Landing Ship, Logistics
Landing Ship Logistics
The Landing Ship Logistic is a term used by the United Kingdom armed forces to describe the Round Table class landing ship used for support of amphibious warfare missions. These ships are operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary...
LSM: Landing Ship, Medium
LSM(R): Landing Ship, Medium (Rocket)
LSSL: Landing Ship, Support (Large) (formerly LCSL)
LST: Landing Ship, Tank
LSV: Landing Ship, Vehicle

Landing Craft

LCA: Landing Craft, Assault
Landing Craft Assault
The Landing Craft Assault was a British landing craft used extensively in World War II. Its primary purpose was to ferry troops from transport ships to attack enemy-held shores. The craft derived from a prototype designed by John I. Thornycroft Ltd. During the war it was manufactured throughout...
LCAC: Landing Craft Air Cushion
LCAC
The Landing Craft Air Cushion is a class of air-cushion vehicle used as landing craft by the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force...
LCFF: (Flotilla Flagship)
LCH: Landing Craft, Heavy
LCI: Landing Craft, Infantry
Landing Craft Infantry
The Landing craft, Infantry or LCI were several classes of sea-going amphibious assault ships of the Second World War utilized to land large numbers of infantry directly onto beaches. They were developed in response to a British request for a vessel capable of carrying and landing substantially...

, World War II era classification further modified by
- (G) - Gunboat
- (L)- Large
- (M)- Mortar
- (R) - Rocket
LCL: Landing Craft, Logistics
Landing Ship Logistics
The Landing Ship Logistic is a term used by the United Kingdom armed forces to describe the Round Table class landing ship used for support of amphibious warfare missions. These ships are operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary...

(UK)
LCM: Landing Craft, Mechanized
Landing Craft Mechanized
The Landing Craft Mechanized or Landing Craft Mechanical was a landing craft designed for carrying vehicles. They came to prominence during the Second World War when they were used to land troops or tanks during Allied amphibious assaults....
LCP: Landing Craft, Personnel
LCPA: Landing Craft, Personnel, Air-Cushioned
LCS(L): Landing Craft, Support (Large) changed to LSSL in 1949
LCT: Landing Craft, Tank
Landing craft tank
The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...

(World War II era)
LCU: Landing Craft, Utility
Landing Craft Utility
The Landing Craft Utility is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers....
LCVP: Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel
LCVP
The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, United States, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes...
LSH: Landing Ship Heavy (Royal Australian Navy)

Combat Logistics Type

Ships which have the capability to provide underway replenishment to fleet units.

AC: Collier
Collier (ship type)
Collier is a historical term used to describe a bulk cargo ship designed to carry coal, especially for naval use by coal-fired warships. In the late 18th century a number of wooden-hulled sailing colliers gained fame after being adapted for use in voyages of exploration in the South Pacific, for...

(retired)
AE: Ammunition Ship
Ammunition ship
An ammunition ship is a warship specially configured to carry ammunition, usually for Navy ships and aircraft. Their cargo handling systems, designed with extreme safety in mind, include ammunition hoists with airlocks between decks, and mechanisms for flooding entire compartments with sea water in...
AF: Stores Ship (retired)
AFS: Combat Stores Ship
Combat stores ship
Combat stores ships, or Storeships were originally a designation given to captured ships in the Age of Sail and immediately afterward, used to stow supplies and other goods for naval purposes. Modern combat store ships are operated by the United States Navy...
AKE: Advanced Dry Cargo Ship
AKS: General Stores Ship
AO: Fleet Oiler
AOE: Fast Combat Support Ship
Fast combat support ship
The fast combat support ship is the United States Navy's largest combat logistics ship, designed as an oiler, ammunition and supply ship. All fast combat support ships currently in service are operated by Military Sealift Command . The AOE has the speed and armament to keep up with carrier battle...
AOR: Replenishment Oiler
Replenishment Oiler
A replenishment oiler or fleet tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds, which can replenish other ships while underway in the high seas. Such ships are used by several countries around the world....
AW: Distilling Ship (retired)

Mine warfare type

Mine warfare ships are those ships whose primary function is mine warfare

Mine warfare

Mine warfare refers to the use of different types of explosive devices:*Land mine, a weight-triggered explosive device intended to maim or kill people or to destroy vehicles...

on the high seas.

AM: Minesweeper
AMb: Harbor Minesweeper
AMc: Coastal Minesweeper
AMCU: Underwater Mine Locater
MSO: Minesweeper, Ocean
MSC: Minesweeper, Coastal
MCM: Mine Countermeasures Ship
MCS: Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
MH(C)(I)(O)(S): Minehunter
Minehunter
Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...

, (Coastal) (Inshore) (Ocean) (Hunter and Sweeper, General)
CM: Cruiser (i.e., Large) Minelayer
CMc: Coastal Minelayer
MLC: Coastal Minelayer
DM: High Speed Minelayer (Converted Destroyer)
DMS: High Speed Minesweeper (Converted Destroyer)

Coastal defense type

Coastal defense ships are those whose primary function is coastal patrol and interdiction.

FS: Corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
PB: Patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
PBR: Patrol Boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...

, River
PC: Patrol, Coastal
PCE: Patrol Craft, Escort
PCF: Patrol Craft, Fast, (Swift Boat)
PF: Frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...

, in a role similar to World War II Commonwealth corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
PG: Patrol Gunboat
PGM: Motor Gunboat (To PG, 1967)
PR: Patrol, River
River gunboat
A river gunboat is a type of gunboat adapted for river operations. River gunboats required shallow draft for river navigation. They would be armed with relatively small caliber cannons, or a mix of cannons and machine guns. If they carried more than one cannon, one might be a howitzer, for shore...
SP: Section Patrol
Section patrol
A Section Patrol craft was a civilian vessel registered by the United States Navy for potential service during and shortly after World War I....

Mobile logistics type

Mobile logistics ships have the capability to provide direct material support to other deployed units operating far from home ports.

AD: Destroyer Tender
Destroyer tender
A destroyer tender is a ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of the 20th century as the roles of small combatants have evolved .Due to the increased size and automation of...
AGP: Patrol Craft Tender
AR: repair ship
Auxiliary ship
An auxiliary ship is a naval ship which is designed to operate in any number of roles supporting combatant ships and other naval operations. Auxiliaries are not primary combatants, although they may have some limited combat capacity, usually of a self defensive nature.Auxiliaries are extremely...
AS: Submarine tender
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
AVP: Seaplane Tender
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...

Auxiliary type

An auxiliary ship is designed to operate in any number of roles supporting combatant ships and other naval operations.

AN: Net Laying Ship
Net laying ship
A net laying ship, also known as a net layer, net tender or boom defence vessel was a type of small auxiliary ship.A net layer's primary function was to lay and maintain steel anti-torpedo or anti-submarine nets. Nets could be laid around an individual ship at anchor, or around harbors or other...
ARL: Auxiliary Repair Light
Achelous class repair ship
The Achelous class repair ship was a class of ship built by the US Navy during World War II.As the US gained experience in amphibious operations, it was realized that some sort of mobile repair facility would be useful for repairing the damage that frequently occurred to smaller vessels such as...

—light craft or landing craft repair ship (World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

-era, out of commission)
ATF: Fleet Ocean Tug
AGHS: Patrol Combatant Support Ship—Ocean or Inshore

Airships

ZMC: Airship Metal Clad
ZMC-2
The ZMC-2 was the only successfully-operated metal-skinned airship ever built. Constructed at Naval Air Station Grosse Ile by The Aircraft Development Corporation of Detroit, the ZMC-2 was operated by the U.S. Navy at Lakehurst, New Jersey from 1929 until its scrapping in 1941...
ZNN-G: G-Class Blimp
G-Class Blimp
-See also:...
ZNN-J: J-Class Blimp
J-Class Blimp
-See also:...
ZNN-L: L-Class Blimp
ZNP-K: K-Class Blimp
K-Class Blimp
The K-class non-rigid airship was a class of blimps built by the Goodyear Aircraft Company of Akron, Ohio for the United States Navy. These blimps were powered by two radial air-cooled engines mounted on outriggers on the side of the control car that hung under the envelope...
ZNP-M: M-Class Blimp
M-Class Blimp
-See also:...
ZNP-N: N-Class Blimp
N-Class Blimp
|-References:*Wings Over Boston, Celebrating 75 Years of Naval Aviation, 1986, not copyrighted, Publisher Captain R.A.Perrault, Editor JO2 H.C.Kenyon, page 26-See also:...
ZPG-3W: surveillance patrol blimp
ZR: Rigid Airship
ZRS: Rigid Airship Scout

Support ships

Support ships are not designed to participate in combat, and are generally not armed.

Support type

Support ships are designed to operate in the open ocean in a variety of sea states to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore based establishments. They include smaller auxiliaries which, by the nature of their duties, leave inshore waters.

ACS: Auxiliary Crane Ship
AG: Miscellaneous Auxiliary
AGDE: Testing Ocean Escort
AGDS: Deep Submergence Support Ship
AGER: Environmental Research Ship
AGF: Miscellaneous Command Ship
Command ship
Command ships serve as the flagships of the Commander of a fleet. They provide communications, office space, and accommodations for a fleet commander and his staff, and serve to coordinate fleet activities....
AGFF: Testing Frigate
AGM: Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
Missile Range Instrumentation Ships, Range Ships, or Tracking Ships, are ships equipped with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets...
AGOR: Oceanographic Research Ship
AGOS: Ocean Surveillance Ship
AGS: Surveying Ship
AGSS: Auxiliary Research Submarine
AGTR: Technical research ship
Technical research ship
Technical research ships were used by the United States Navy during the 1960s to gather intelligence by monitoring the electronic communications of nations in various parts of the world. At the time these ships were active, the mission of the ships was covert and discussion of the true mission was...
AH: Hospital ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
AK: Cargo Ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ship
AKS: Store Issue Ship
AOG: Gasoline Tanker
AOT: Transport Oiler
AP: Transport
ARC: Cable Repair Ship
APL: Barracks Craft
ARL: Small Repair Ship
ARS: Salvage Ship
AS: Submarine tender
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
ASR: Submarine Rescue Ship
Submarine rescue ship
A Submarine rescue ship serves as a surface support ship for submarine rescue and deep-sea salvage operations. Methods employed are the McCann Rescue Chamber, Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles and deep sea diving operations....
AT: Ocean-Going Tug
ATA: Auxiliary Ocean Tug
ATF: Fleet Ocean Tug
ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ship
AVB: Aviation Logistics Support Ship
AVT: Auxiliary Aircraft Landing Training Ship
ID or Id. No.: Civilian ship taken into service for auxiliary duties, used indiscriminately for large ocean-going ships of all kinds and coastal and yard craft (World War I; retired 1920)

Service type craft

Service craft are navy-subordinated craft (including non-self-propelled) designed to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore-based establishments. The suffix "N" refers to non-self-propelled variants.

AB: Crane Ship
AFDB: Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
AFDL: Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
AFDM: Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
APB: Self-Propelled Barracks Ship
APL: Barracks Craft
ARD: Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock
ARDM: Medium Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock USS Oak Ridge (ARDM-1)
USS Oak Ridge (ARDM-1)
USS Oak Ridge , was an suitable for docking destroyers, submarines and landing craft. Self-propelled but unable to cross the ocean under her own power, she was towed, in stages across the Pacific...
ATA: Auxiliary Ocean Tug
DSRV: Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle
A Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle is a type of Deep Submergence Vehicle used for rescue of downed submarines and clandestine missions. While DSRV is the term most often used by the United States Navy other nations have different designations for their vehicles.- Chinese models :The People's...
DSV: Deep Submergence Vehicle
NR: Submersible Research Vehicle
YC: Open Lighter
YCF: Car Float
Car float
A railroad car float or rail barge is an unpowered barge with rail tracks mounted on its deck. It is used to move railroad cars across water obstacles, or to locations they could not otherwise go, and is pushed by a towboat or towed by a tugboat...
YCV: Aircraft Transportation Lighter
YD: Floating Crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
YDT: Diving Tender
YF: Covered Lighter
YFB: Ferry Boat or Launch
YFD: Yard Floating Dry Dock
YFN: Covered Lighter (non-self propelled)
YFNB: Large Covered Lighter (non-self propelled)
YFND: Dry Dock Companion Craft (non-self propelled)
YFNX: Lighter (Special purpose) (non-self propelled)
YFP: Floating Power Barge
YFR: Refrigerated Cover Lighter
YFRN: Refrigerated Covered Lighter (non-self propelled)
YFRT: Range Tender
YFU: Harbor Utility Craft
YG: Garbage Lighter
YGN: Garbage Lighter (non-self propelled)
YH: Ambulance boat/small medical support vessel
YLC: Salvage Lift Craft
YM: Dredge
Dredge
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...
YMN: Dredge
Dredge
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...

(non-self propelled)
YNG: Gate Craft
YNT: Net Tender
YO: Fuel Oil Barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
YOG: Gasoline Barge
YOGN: Gasoline Barge (non-self propelled)
YON: Fuel Oil Barge (non-self propelled)
YOS: Oil Storage Barge
YP: Patrol Craft, Training
Yard patrol boat
Yard Patrol craft are used by the United States Navy for training and for research purposes. They are designated as YP in the Hull classification symbol system. The YPs are used to teach familiarization with water craft, Basic Damage Control and underway instruction of Basic to Advanced Seamanship...
YPD: Floating Pile Driver
YR: Floating Workshop
YRB: Repair and Berthing Barge
YRBM: Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge
YRDH: Floating Dry Dock Workshop (Hull)
YRDM: Floating Dry Dock Workshop (Machine)
YRR: Radiological Repair Barge
YRST: Salvage Craft Tender
YSD: Seaplane Wrecking Derrick
Derrick
A derrick is a lifting device composed of one tower, or guyed mast such as a pole which is hinged freely at the bottom. It is controlled by lines powered by some means such as man-hauling or motors, so that the pole can move in all four directions. A line runs up it and over its top with a hook on...
YSR: Sludge Removal Barge
YT: Harbor Tug (craft later assigned YTB, YTL, or YTM classifications)
YTB: Large Harbor Tug
YTL: Small Harbor Tug
YTM: Medium Harbor Tug
YTT: Torpedo Trials Craft
YW: Water Barge
YWN: Water Barge (non-self propelled)
ID or Id. No.: Civilian ship taken into service for auxiliary duties, used indiscriminately for large ocean-going ships of all kinds and coastal and yard craft (World War I; retired 1920)
IX: Unclassified Miscellaneous Unit
X: Submersible Craft
"none": To honor her unique historical status, USS Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...

, formerly IX 21, was reclassified to "none", effective 1 September 1975.

United States Coast Guard craft

Prior to 1965, U.S. Coast Guard ships used the same designation as naval ships, but preceded by a "W" to indicate Coast Guard subordination.

CG: all Coast Guard Ships in the 1920s (retired)
WAGB: Coast Guard Polar class ice breaker
WAVP: sea going Coast Guard seaplane tenders (retired 1960s)
WDE: sea going Coast Guard destroyer escorts (retired 1960s)
WHEC: Coast Guard High Endurance Cutters
WIX: Coast Guard Barque Eagle
WLB: Coast Guard buoy tender
Buoy tender
A buoy tender is a type of vessel used to maintain and replace navigational buoys. The name is also used for someone who works on such a vessel and maintains buoys....

s
WLBB: Coast Guard sea-going buoy tenders/ice breaker
WLM: Coast Guard coastal buoy tenders
WLI: Coast Guard inland buoy tenders
WLIC: Coast Guard inland construction tenders
WLR: Coast Guard river buoy tenders
WMEC: Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutters
WMSL: Coast Guard Maritime Security Cutter, Large (referred to as National Security Cutters)
WPC: Coast Guard patrol craft—later reclassed under WHEC
WPB: Coast Guard Patrol Boats
WPG: seagoing Coast Guard gunboats (retired 1960s)
WTGB: Coast Guard Tug Boat (140' icebreakers)

Temporary designations

United States Navy Designations (Temporary) are a form of U.S. Navy ship designation, intended for temporary identification use. Such designations usually occur during periods of sudden mobilization, such as that which occurred prior to, and during, World War II

World War II

or the Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

, when it was determined that a sudden temporary need arose for a ship for which there was no official Navy designation.

During World War II

World War II

, for example, a number of commercial vessels were requisitioned, or acquired, by the U.S. Navy to meet the sudden requirements of war. A yacht

Yacht

A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...

acquired by the U.S. Navy during the start of World War II might seem desirable to the Navy whose use for the vessel might not be fully developed or explored at the time of acquisition.

On the other hand, a U.S. Navy vessel, such as the yacht in the example above, already in commission or service, might be desired, or found useful, for another need or purpose for which there is no official designation.

IX: Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary Ship, for example yacht Chanco acquired by the U.S. Navy on 1 October 1940. It was classified as a minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...

, but instead, mainly used as a patrol craft along the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...

coast. When another assignment came, and it could not be determined how to classify the vessel, it was redesignated IX-175 on 10 July 1944.
IXSS: Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarines, such as the USS Cod (IXSS-224), the USS Angler (IXSS-240)
USS Angler (SS-240)
, a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the anglerfish.Her keel was laid down on 9 November 1942 by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 4 July 1943 , a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy...

and the USS Croaker (IXSS-246)
USS Croaker (SS-246)
USS Croaker , a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the croaker, any of various fishes which make throbbing or drumming noises....

.
YAG: Miscellaneous Auxiliary Service Craft, such as the , and which, curiously, was earlier known as .

Numerous other U.S. Navy vessels were launched with a temporary, or nominal, designation, such as YMS or PC, since it could not be determined, at time of construction, what they should be used for. Many of these were vessels in the 150 to 200 feet length class with powerful engines, whose function could be that of a minesweeper

Minesweeper (ship)

A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...

, patrol craft, submarine chaser

Submarine chaser

A submarine chaser is a small and fast naval vessel specially intended for anti-submarine warfare. Although similar vessels were designed and used by many nations, this designation was most famously used by ships built by the United States of America...

, seaplane tender

Seaplane tender

A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...

, tugboat

Tugboat

A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...

, or other. Once their destiny, or capability, was found or determined, such vessels were reclassified with their actual designation.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hull codes

R: Research ships, including oceanographic and fisheries research ships
S: Survey ships, including hydrographic survey ships

External links

Naval Vessels Registry (Service Craft)—U.S. Navy
Naval Vessels Registry (Ships)—U.S. Navy
US Navy inactive classification symbols

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History

United States Navy

United States Coast Guard

Military Sealift Command

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

United States Navy hull classification codes

Warships

Aircraft carrier type

Surface combatant type

Submarine type

Patrol combatant type

Amphibious warfare type

Combat Logistics Type

Mine warfare type

Coastal defense type

Mobile logistics type

Auxiliary type

Airships

Support ships

Support type

Service type craft

United States Coast Guard craft

Temporary designations

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hull codes

See also

Further reading

External links