* A* 'Auxiliary', sub-type designation follows I-P * AB (USN) - Crane ship (only one?) N * AB (USCG) - "Anchorage and Boarding" - small cutters M * ABSD Advanced Base Sectional Dock (huge AFD) N-P * AC Collier K-M * ACM (USN) Auxiliary Minelayer N * ACR Auxiliary Cruiser L-M * ACS Crane ship J-P * ACM Captive Minelayer (ex US Army "Mine Planters" M-N * ACV "Aux CV" an early CVE (AVG then ACV then CVE) N * AD Destroyer tender, tends light surface ships K-P * ADG (USN, from YDG in 1947) Degaussing Tender (Large) N-O * AE Munition cargo hauler ("Explosives") L-P * AF "Frozen" - a freighter with refrigerated storerooms L-P * AFD Floating Drydock K-P * AFDB Large AFD ("Big") K-P * AFDL Small AFD ("Little") K-P * AFDM Medium AFD K-P * AFS Armed AOE ("Fast Combat Support") O-P * AFSB Afloat Forward Staging Base - SpecOps mobile base, to ESB O-P * AG General use, usually research or development J-P * AGB Icebreaker K-P * AGC (USN) Command ship, to LCC N-P * AGC (USCG) what? ??? * AGDE Experimental DE O * AGDS DSRV support O-P * AGEH Experimental Hydrofoil O-P * AGF Flagship O-P * AGFF Experimental FF O-P * AGH (USCG) ex-USN PGH O * AGI Intelligence gathering (spy) O-P * AGL (US Coast Guard WAGL) Lighthouse or Bouy Tender N-O * AGM Missile control/research O-P * AGMR Communications Relay Ship O * AGO (USCG) ex-WMEC, what? O * AGOR Oceanographic Research J-P * AGOS Ocean Surveillance O-P * AGP Small Boat Repair, or PT boat Tender N * AGR Electronics/Radar monitoring/picket ship O-P * AGS Surveying & Oceanography J-P AGSc (USN Cold War) Surveying & Oceanography - coastal? O AGSS Non-Combatant Submarine, usually reserve/training M-P * AGTR "Technical Research", or AGI O * AH Hospital Ship J-P * AK General cargo hauler; a military freighter B-P * AKA Armed "Attack" AK; all USN AKAs to LKAs 1/1/69 N AKB ? AKc ? * AKD Dock cargo ship N-O * AKE (USN) Dry stores & ammunition storeship P * AKL Light (small) cargo ship N * AKN AK for nets, fitted for laying N * AKR AK fitted for Ro-Ro cargo O-P * AKS Stores Issue; stores ready for use, vice packaged N-O * AKV (USN) Aircraft Transport (to AVT 1959) N * AM Minesweeper (US #1-420 to MSF, US #421-522 to MSO 1955) M-N * AMc (USN-WW2) Minesweeper, Coastal N * AMC (non-US) Armed Merchant Cruiser L-N * AMcU (USN Cold War) from LSILs in 1952 O * AMS Motor Minesweeper ? * AN Net Tender M-O * AO Fleet Oiler, moving gas station M-P * AOE Combination AO and AE O-P AOF (non-US) "Fleet AO" N * AOG Gasoline Tanker N-P * AOR "Replenishment" AO, carries fuel plus dry stores O-P AOSS (US Cold War ) a Submarine designed to act as an AO N-O * AOT Transport AO, usually does not have RAS capability. M-P * AP Troop transport, usually unarmed M-P * APA Armed AP ("Attack"), all USN APAs to LPAs 1/1/69 N-P * APB Barracks ship J-P * APC US Army personnel transport N * APD DD converted to fast APA N-O * APH (USN WW2) Casualty Evacuation Transport (AP + AH) N * APL small AP, usually used as a barracks ship N * APM AP-Mechanised, for vehicles, all to LSD 7/1/1942 N * APR Rescue Transport N-P * APS (US WW2) Submarine used for personnel transport. N * APSS (US Cold War) Submarine used for personnel transport. O * APV Aircraft Transport (WW2) N * AR Repair ship M-P * ARB Battle Damage AR N * ARC Underwater Cable Repair ship K-P * ARD AFD w/repair facilities ("Repair Dock") N-P * ARDC ARD, made of concrete N-P * ARDM (US WW2, to AFDLs) * ARG Engine repair AR N * ARH Hull AR N * ARL Landing Craft Repair N-P * ARS Repair/Salvage ship (or Rescue & Salvage) K-P * ARSD ARS converted from LSM N * ARST ARS converted from LST N * ARV Aircraft Repair Ship N-P * ARVA Aircraft Repair, specializing in airframes N * ARVE Aircraft Repair, specializing in engines N * AS Submarine tender K-P * ASR Submarine Rescue ship N-P * ASSA Cargo Submarine M-P * ASSP (US Cold War) Submarine used for personnel transport. O-P * AT (USN WW2) Oceangoing tug, now ATF M-O * AT (US Army) Actually "USAT" US Army Transport, any army ship L-N AT (Non-US) Training ship O-P * ATA Auxiliary tug N-P * ATF Large tug ("Fleet") -can keep up with fleet N-P * ATO Large tug ("Ocean-going") -too slow for fleet ops N * ATR (WW2) USN "Rescue" tug N * ATS Salvage tug, with emergency repair capability M-P * AV Aircraft Tender, usually for seaplanes M-O * AVB "Aviation Support," has a USMC AIMD loaded aboard. O-P * AVC (US) a barge with an experimental catapult used this O * AVD DD converted to fast AVP N * AVG Early designation for CVE (AVG then ACV then CVE) N * AVM Missile system test ship O-P * AVP Seaplane Tender M-N * AVS (US WW2) ? N * AVT (USN) Aircraft Transport (1959 through 1960's) N-O * AVT (USN) Training CV (1968+) O * AVZ Airship or Balloon Tender M-N * AW Water transport or distilling ship N-P * AWT Water Tanker, no integral production O * AZ Airship or Balloon Tender N * BACV (USN WW2) UK lend-lease AVG (all from BAVG, to BCVE) N * BAK (USN WW2) UK lend-lease AK N * BAM (USN WW2) UK lend-lease AM (minesweeper) N * BAPM (USN WW2) UK lend-lease APM (LST) N * Barge Very wide boat or ship, for capacity or stability J-P * Bark Mizzen mast F&A rig, all others (2+) square rig J * Barkt Barkentine, foremast Square rigged, all (2+) others F&A J * BARS (USN WW2) UK lend-lease ARS N * BAT (USN WW2) UK lend-lease AT N * BAVG(USN WW2) UK lend-lease AVG (all to BACV, then BCVE) N * BB Battleship L-O * BCVE (USN WW2) UK lend-lease CVE N * BDE (USN WW2) UK lend-lease DE N Birem Galley with 2 rows of oars C-E * Block Ship or Sloop- a floating battery with heavy guns. J * BM Monitor, a few turrets with the largest guns available K-M * Boat any vessel small enough to normally be carried on a ship A-P * Bomb or "Bomb Ketch", a vessel with mortars for bombardment J * Brig 2 masts, approximately the same size, both square-rigged J * Brigt Brigantine, as Brig with aft mast F&A rigged J * BST (USN) 210' Arleigh Burke Simulator at Great Lakes P * BYT (USN WW2) UK lend-lease YT N * C Cruiser, before division into CA/CL/CM/CH/CV, etc. L * CA (USN) Armored Cruiser (equivalent to non-US "CH") L-O * CAG (USN) CA w/Guided Missiles O Carac ? (type of sailing ship) H-I * CB (USN WW2) Large (Battle-) Cruiser M-N * CBC (USN Cold War) Large Command Cruiser O * CC (USN WW2) Command Cruiser, Fleet flagship O-P * CC (USN WW1) Battlecruiser O-P * CG Guided Missile Cruiser O-P * CG (USCG) temporary use hull number M-N * CGC (USCG) temporary use hull number N * CGH (CG+CVH) O-P * CGN (USN Cold War) Cruiser, Guided Missile, Nuclear Powered O-P CH (Non-US) Heavy/large cruiser (equivalent to US "CA") L-O * CL Light/small cruiser M-O * CLAA Antiaircraft screening CL N * CLC (USN) Tactical Command ship, to CC in 1961 N-O * CLG CL with Guided Missiles O * CLK Submarine Hunter-Killer (ASW) Cruiser O * CM Cruiser-Minelayer M-N * CMc (USN WW2) ? (coastal minesweeper/layer?), now MSI M-N Cog Early cargo ship, 1 or 2 square-rigged masts unable to tack C-G * Corv Corvette, another term (starting ~1800?) for Ship-Sloop. J * CTB (USN WW1) "Coastal Torpedo Boat", an old Destroyer M * Cutte Cutter, the largest boat carried aboard a ship J-P * CV Aircraft Carrier M-P * CVA Attack CV, back when USN also had CVEs N-O * CVB Armored, or Battle, CV, back when USN also had CVEs & CVAs N-O * CVE Escort CV, small (fighter/patrol planes), from AVG & ACV N-O * CVH Helicopter Carrier O-P * CVHA Assault CV (CVE converted to landing ship) (now LPH) O * CVHE Small/Escort Helicopter Carrier O-P * CVL (WW2) Small Attack Carrier N * CVN Aircraft Carrier, nuclear powered O-P * CVS (WW2 USN) Seaplane Carrier, (Cold war) Support CV N * CVT Training CV O-P * CVU (USN Cold War) Utility CV, used as Aircraft Ferry (now AVT) O * CVZ Balloon-carrier, a mobile balloon base K-L * DCH (WW2 USN) "Damage Control Hulk" - training aid N * DD Destroyer (originally "Torpedo Boat Destroyer") L-P * DD Escort Destroyer, for unassisted escort duties O * DDG Destroyer, with missiles O-P * DDK Hunter-Killer DD, specialized for Anti-Submarine Warfare O * DDR WW2 DD converted to Radar Picket ship N-O * DE Destroyer Escort, or small DD; now called a Frigate N-O * DEC ? * DEG DE with Guided Missiles, all to FFG in 1975 O * DER WW2 DE converted to Radar Picket ship N-O * DL Destroyer Leader, oversize DD (often sqd flagship) M-N * DLG DL with Guided Missiles O * DLGN DLG with Nuclear powerplant O * DM Former DD conv. to fast ML N * DMS Former DD conv. to fast MSO N * DN early term for airship ("Dirigible, Navy"?) M * DSRV "Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel" -small SS O-P * DSV "Deep Submergence Vessel", for research -a small SS O-P * Eagle US/WW1 - The "Eagle Boats" were mass-produced PC/SC's M * EPF Expeditionary Fast Transport (was JHSV) P * ESB Expeditionary Sea Base, SpecOps mothership (was AFSB) P * ESD Expeditionary Transfer Dock, landing craft mothership P FACG Fast Attack Craft-Gun O-P FACM Fast Attack Craft-Missile O-P FACT Fast Attack Craft-Torpedo O * Feluc Felucca (?) (type of sailing ship) J * Ferry Medium-sized cargo vessel for short trips J-P * FF Frigate, or small DD O-P * FFG Frigate with missiles O-P * FFT Training FF O-P * Frig Frigate, a cruiser. Basically a smaller, faster SOL. J * FS (US Army) "Freight & Supply" small cargo ship N FSF "Fast Sea Frame" SWATH ferry acquired for testing P Galln Galleon, an early sailing warship with raised "castles" H Galls Galleass, a large galley with permanent masts, cannon. H * Gallt Galliot (?) H-J * Gally Galley, any oar-powered ship with cannon after ~1200 AD H-J * GB Gunboat, a small patrol ship L-M * Gunbt Gunboat, a large boat, usually carrying one gun J-K * HEC (US Coast Guard) "High Endurance Cutter" O-P HST "High Speed Transport" Catamaran ferry - large P HSV "High Speed Vessel" Catamaran ferry P * IC "Ironclad", an early armored warship K * ICRam An Ironclad with strengthened bow K * IFS "Inshore Fire Support" (all to LFR 1/1/69) N-O * IX Miscellaneous Unclassified M-P * IXI Oil Storage Tanker/AO * IXSS Miscellaneous use Submarine O * JHSV Joint High Speed Vessel, all to EFD P Junk a large boat, design particular to western Pacific H-P * Ketch 2 masts, both Fore & Aft, foremast much larger J * L** Amphibious ("Landing") Ship, sub-type follows N-P LASH Lighter Aboard SHip, barge-carrier P-O * LB (US Coast Guard WLB) Bouy tender, same hull as WMEC O-P * LC* Landing Craft (small craft, various types) N-P * LCC Amphibious Command & Control Ship O-P * LCIL (USN) Landing Craft Infantry, Large - Seagoing, 200 troops O-P LCL (UK) Small LSL N-P LCU (US) Landing Craft, Utility N-P LCU (UK) Medium-sized landing ship N-P * LFR Close fire support (from IFR 1/1/69) N-O * LFS Amphibious Fire Support M-O * LHA General Purpose Landing ship O-P * LHD What's the difference between LHA,LHD,LPH,LPD? O-P * LHT Lighthouse Tender, takes care of navigation aids L-P * LI (US Coast Guard WLI) Large bouy tender O-P Libur Liburnian, a small Pentaconter. B-E * Liner Passenger Liner, a large vessel carrying people vice cargo K-P * LKA Landing Ship, Cargo (USN LKAs from AKAs 1/1/69) O-P * LM (US Coast Guard WLM) Coastal bouy tender O-P LORO Vehicle Transport: "Lift On, Roll Off" O-P * LPA Landing Ship, Personnel (USN LPAs from APAs 1/1/69) O-P * LPD LPA with small-boat well deck N-P * LPH (USN 1955+) Landing Platform, Helicopter, (AP+CVH) O-P * LPR (US 1960's) redesignation of APD's before decomm. O * LPSS (US Cold War) Submarine used for personnel transport. O * LS Lightship - Lighthouse Service until 1939, then USCG J-P * LS* Landing Ship (various types) N-P * LSD Landing Ship, Dock- has well deck for LCx N-P * LSIL (UK WW2) as US APA N * LSIL (USN) Landing Ship Infantry, Large - Seagoing, 200 troops O-P * LSL (UK WW2) "Logistic", an LST N-P * LSM Medium LST N-P * LSMR LSM w/rocket batteries N-O * LSSL close fire support, large N-O * LST Landing Ship, Tank- has bow doors/ramp N-P * LSTH Modified LST for heavy vehicles/main battle tanks N-O * LSTH Modified LST for casualty evacuation ("Hospital") N-O * LSV (USN WW2) Landing Ship, Vehicle N * LSV (USN today) Large Scale Vehicle (1/4 scale training model) P * LT (US Army WW2) Large Tug N * LV (US Coast Guard WLV) ? * MCM Mine Countermeasure Ship O-P * MCS (US) Mine Countermeasures Support? (MS mothership) P * MEC (US Coast Guard WMEC) "Medium Endurance Cutter" O-P * MHC (US) Mine Hunter P * ML Minelayer L-P * MLC Coastal Minelayer N-P * MMA Auxiliary Minelayer N-P * MMC Coastal Minelayer, USN, after 1958 O-P * MMD Fast Minelayer, USN, from DM, after 1968 O * MP (US Army WW2) "Mine Planter" N * MS Minesweeper K-P * MSB Minesweeping boat? N-O * MSC Coastal Minesweeper N-P * MSCO (USN Cold War) Coastal Minesweeper (Old) O * MSF ? ("Minesweeper, Fleet"?) N-P * MSH Mine Hunter O-P * MSI Minesweeper, Inshore N-P * MSL (USCG) Maritime Security Cutter, Large P * MSO Minesweeper, Ocean- large O-P * MSS Minesweeper Support Ship, various types N-P MSSB ? * NR (USN) "Nuclear Research" small SSN w/no armament O-P * OCV (USN 1920's) Reserve/2nd-class CV M * OSV (US EPA) Ocean Survey Vessel N-P * OV (US NASA) Orbital Vehicle, the Space Shuttle P * PB (US Coast Guard WPB) "Patrol Boat" - a PT or equivalent N-P * PC Coastal Patrol ship or corvette M-P * PCC "Control" Submarine Chaser, or squadron flagship N-O * PCE PC + Escort duties M-P * PCEC "Control" PCE, or squadron flag N-O * PCER PCE + Rescue duties N-P * PCH PC, Hydrofoil? O * PCM PC with A/S Missiles O-P * PCS "Patrol" Submarine Chaser, larger than normal N-O * PE (USN WW1) "Eagle" class PG ("Patrol/Escort"?) M-N Pent Pentaconter, Galley with 1 set of oars. B-E * PF Large PG ("Patrol Frigate"?) N-O * PG Patrol Gunboat L-P PGG ? * PGH PG with hydrofoils O-P * PGM ? (PG with mines? or missiles?) PGR PG used as Radar picket O-P PH PC with hydrofoils O-P * PHM PH with A/S Missiles O-P PHT PH with Torpedos O-P Pinn Pinnace, a large boat used as scout or tender for ships. H-J * PR "River" Patrol Gunboat, a PG with low draft L-P PT PC with Torpedos M-P * PY Patrol craft, converted Yacht N * PYc Small PY, "Coastal" N Quad Quadrireme, 4 rows of oars C-D * Ram Specially-strengthened bow as primary weapon K * Razee An SOL cut down to frigate size. J * RC (US Revenue Service Cutter) K-M RCL (UK) for Medium landing ship with a ramp O-P * RCS ? RORO Vehicle Transport: "Roll On, Roll Off" O-P RP ? * SC Sub Chaser, a large PT or small DE M-N * SC (USN) Coastal Submarine M * Sc* Transitional Era ship with sails and auxiliary propeller K * ScBrg Screw Brig, a Brig with an auxiliary engine K * ScFr Screw Frigate, a Frigate with an auxiliary engine K * Schoo Schooner, 2 masts, Fore-and-Aft rig, aft mast much larger J * ScShp Screw Ship, a Ship with an auxiliary engine K * ScSlp Screw Sloop, a Sloop with an auxiliary engine K * SDTS ? * SES "Surface Effect Ship" O-P * SF "Fleet" Submarine (vice coastal), used by USN in 1920's. M-N * SFrig Steam Frigate K * SherH Sheer Hulk, an early floating crane I-K * Ship Sailing ship w/3+ masts, all with square sails H-J * ShSl Ship-Sloop, a small square-rigged 3-masted ship. J * Sloop One mast, almost always fore-and-aft or lateen rig J Snow ? (type of sailing ship) J * SOL "Ship of the Line," a battleship J * SP (USN) "Section Patrol" coastal patrol, usually an ex-yacht M * SS Submarine, gasoline/diesel on surface, battery submerged K-P * SSA Cargo Submarine M-O SSB Submarine, with ballistic missiles O-P * SSBN Submarine, nuclear with ballistic missiles O-P * SSG Submarine, with antiship guided missiles O-P * SSGN Submarine, nuclear powered with ASM O-P * SShip Steam Ship, (only used if nothing else is known) K * SSK Hunter-Killer SS (hunts other Submarines) O-P * SSM Submarine mine layer M-O * SSN Submarine, nuclear power plant O-P * SSO Submarine Oiler O * SSP (US Cold War) Submarine used for personnel transport. O * SSP (US) test platform for catamaran-type hulls O-P * SSR Radar Picket SS O * SST Commando Transport SS, also Training SS/Target SS O-P * ST (WW2 US Army) Small Tug N StWSS Stern-Wheel Steam Ship, one large wheel in back, low draft K SWFr Side-Wheel Frigate, a Frigate with an auxiliary engine K SWGb Side-Wheel Gunboat, a Gunboat with paddles vice propeller K SWSl Side-Wheel Sloop, a Sloop with an auxiliary engine K SWSS Side-Wheel Steamship K * TB "Torpedo Boat" (early PTs and Destroyers) L * TGB (US Coast Guard WTGB) Tug/Icebreaker N-P Trir Trireme, a galley with 3 rows of oars C-D TS Training Ship, usually attached to a maritime academy M-P TSV "Theater Support Vessel" US Army catamaran ferry P * Unkn. (Unknown) - catchall for unknown hull type A-P * USAT "US Army Transport", a US Army AK or AP N * Whalr Whalers, large factory ships to process whales L-P Y* Small service craft for Shipyard or Base ("Yard") M-P * Yacht Designed for pleasure/personal use J-P * YAG "Miscellaneous Auxiliary", could have any function N-P * YAGR Small "Yard" AGR, mostly used for research O * Yawl A small sloop, often used as a large ship's boat J-K * YBD "Bow Drydock" - for sonar dome repairs O-P * YC Simple cargo barge/lighter N-P * YD Floating crane or "Derrick" (replaced "Sheer Hulks") N-P * YDG (USN, to ADG in 1947) Degaussing Tender N * YDT (USN) Diving Tender, usually small boat/barge N-O * YE Small/harbor freighter/lighter for ammunition M * YF Small/harbor freighter or self-propelled barge/lighter M-P * YFB Harbor ferry M-P * YFD Floating dock M-P * YFP Floating electric power plant, usually converted M-P * YG Barge or lighter for trash ("Garbage") N-P YGN Garbage lighter, non-self-propelled N-P * YHLC ? * YMP Harbor ML N-P * YMS Harbor Minesweeper N-P * YN Net Tender M-P * YNG Gate Tender N * YO Harbor tanker- fuel oil M-P * YOG YO for gasoline M-P * YON Harbor tanker- fuel oil, non-self-propelled (fuel barge) M-P * YP Harbor Patrol craft, also meant a small "AP" N-P * YR Small AR M-P * YRST ? * YSD Floating crane or "Derrick" for seaplanes N-O YSR "Sewage Removal" or "Sludge Removal", same meaning N-P * YT Harbor tug K-P * YTB Harbor tug, big N-P * YTL Harbor tug, little N-P * YTM Harbor tug, medium N-P * YTT Torpedo development/testing vessel (often small boat) M-P * YV Drone Catapult development/testing/control vessel O * YW Harbor tanker for water N-P * ZR Airship ("Zeppelin, Rigid") M * ZRS Scouting Airship ("Zeppelin, Rigid, Scouting") M