List of hull classifications

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The list of hull classifications comprises an alphabetical list of the hull classification symbols used by the United States Navy to identify the type of a ship.

The combination of symbol and hull number identify a modern Navy ship uniquely. A heavily modified or repurposed 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 since it was introduced in 1907, so ships' symbols sometimes change without anything being done to the physical ship.

Many of the symbols listed here are not presently in use. The Naval Vessel Register maintains an online database of U.S. Navy ships.

The 1975 ship reclassification of cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts brought U.S. Navy classifications into line with other nations' classifications, and eliminated the perceived "cruiser gap" with the Soviet Navy.

If a ship's hull classification symbol has "T-" preceding it, that symbolizes that it is a ship of the Military Sealift Command, with a primarily civilian crew.

A[edit]

B[edit]

C[edit]

  • C: Cruiser (pre-1920 Protected Cruisers and Peace Cruisers)
  • CA: (first series) Cruiser (retired, composed all surviving pre-1920 Protected and Peace Cruisers)
  • CA: (second series) Heavy Cruiser, category later renamed Gun Cruiser (retired)
  • CAG: Heavy Cruiser, Guided Missile (retired)
  • CB: Large cruiser (retired)
  • CBC: Large Command Cruiser (retired, never used operationally)
  • CC: Battlecruiser (retired, never used operationally)
  • CC: (second usage) Command Cruiser (retired); cruiser
  • CG: Guided Missile Cruiser
  • CGN: Guided Missile Cruiser (Nuclear-Propulsion)
  • CL: Light Cruiser (retired)
  • CLAA: Antiaircraft Cruiser (retired)
  • CLG: Light Cruiser, Guided Missile (retired)
  • CLGN: Light Cruiser, Guided Missile (Nuclear propulsion) (retired)
  • CLK: Hunter-Killer Cruiser (abolished 1951)
  • CM: Minelayer
  • CMc: Coastal Minelayer
  • CS: Scout Cruiser (retired)
  • CSGN: Strike Cruiser (Proposed, never used operationally)
  • CV: Aircraft carrier
  • CVA: Attack Aircraft Carrier (retired)
  • CVB: Large Aircraft Carrier (category merged into CVA, 1952)
  • CVE: Escort aircraft carrier (retired) (1943-retirement of type)
  • CVHA: Assault Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired in favor of various L-series amphibious assault ship hull codes)
  • CVHE: Escort Aircraft Carrier, Helicopter (retired)
  • CVL: Light aircraft carrier (retired)
  • CVN: Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear-Propulsion)
  • CVS: Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (retired)
  • CVT: Training Aircraft Carrier (changed to AVT (Auxiliary))
  • CVU: Utility Aircraft Carrier (retired)

D[edit]

  • D: Destroyer (pre-1920)
  • DD: Destroyer
  • DDE: Escort destroyer (category abolished 1962)
  • DDG: Guided missile destroyer
  • DDH: Helicopter carrier (used by Japan)
  • DDK: Hunter-Killer Destroyer (category merged into DDE, 4 March 1950)
  • DDR: Radar Picket Destroyer (retired)
  • DE: Destroyer Escort (World War II, later became Ocean Escort)
  • DE: Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)
  • DEG: Guided Missile Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)
  • DER: Radar Picket Destroyer Escort (abolished 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)
  • DM: Destroyer Minelayer (retired)
  • DMS: Destroyer Minesweeper (retired)
  • DSRV: Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle
  • DSV: Deep Submergence Vehicle

E[edit]

F[edit]

  • FF: Frigate (retired)
  • FFG: Guided Missile Frigate
  • FFH: Fast Frigate Helo
  • FFL: Light frigate
  • FFR: Radar Picket Frigate (retired)
  • FFT: Frigate (Reserve Training) (retired)
  • FS: Corvette

I[edit]

J[edit]

  • JHSV: Joint High Speed Vessel (changed to EPF)

L[edit]

  • LB: Landing Boat
  • LBE: Landing Barge, Emergency repair
  • LBP: Landing Boat, Personnel
  • LBS: Landing Barge, Support
  • LBV: Landing Boat, Vehicle
  • LC: Landing Craft
  • LCA: Landing Craft Assault
  • LCA(HR) Landing Craft Assault (Hedgerow)
  • LCAC: Landing Craft Air Cushioned
  • LCB: Landing Craft, Barge
  • LCC: Landing Craft, Command (WW2)
  • LCC: Landing Ship, Command (duplicate use)
  • LCE: Landing Craft, Emergency repair
  • LCEOP: Landing Craft, Engine Overhaul Party
  • LCF: Landing Craft, Flak
  • LCFF: Landing Craft, Flotilla Flagship
  • LCG: Landing Craft, Gun
  • LCGL: Landing Craft, Gun, Large
  • LCGM: Landing Craft, Gun, Medium
  • LCH: Landing Craft, Heavy
  • LCI: Landing Craft, Infantry
  • LCIFF: Landing Craft, Infantry, Flotilla Flagship
  • LCIFL: Landing Craft, Infantry, Flotilla Leader
  • LCIG: Landing Craft, Infantry, Gun
  • LCIL: Landing Craft, Infantry, Large
  • LCIM: Landing Craft, Infantry, Mortar
  • LCIR: Landing Craft, Infantry, Rocket
  • LCL: Landing Craft, Logistic
  • LCM: Landing Craft Mechanized
  • LCN: Landing Craft, Navigation
  • LCOCU: Landing Craft, Obstacle Clearing Unit
  • LCP: Landing Craft, Personnel
  • LCPA: Landing Craft, Personnel, Air-Cushioned
  • LCPL: Landing Craft, Personnel, Large
  • LCPM: Landing Craft, Personnel, Medium
  • LCPN: Landing Craft, Personnel, Nested
  • LCPP: Landing Craft, Personnel, Plastic
  • LCPR: Landing Craft, Personnel, Ramped
  • LCPS: Landing Craft, Personnel, Survey
  • LCRL: Landing Craft, Rubber, Large
  • LCPR: Landing Craft, Rubber, Rocket
  • LCRS: Landing Craft, Rubber, Small
  • LCRU: Landing Craft, Recovery Unit
  • LCS: Littoral Combat Ship
  • LCSL: Landing Craft, Support (Large) (World War II era)
  • LCSM: Landing Craft, Support, Medium
  • LCSR: Landing Craft, Support, Rocket
  • LCSS: Landing Craft, Support, Small
  • LCT: Landing Craft, Tank (World War II era)
  • LCTA: Landing Craft, Tank, Armored
  • LCU: Landing Craft, Utility
  • LCV: Landing Craft, Vehicle
  • LCVP: Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel
  • LES: Landing boat, support
  • LFS: Amphibious fire support ship
  • LHA: Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose)
  • LHD: Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose, i.e. added Landing Craft ability versus LHA)
  • LKA: Amphibious Cargo Ship (out of commission)
  • LPA: Landing Platform, Amphibious
  • LPD: Amphibious Transport, Dock (aka Landing Platform, Dock)
  • LPH: Landing Platform, Helicopter (out of commission)
  • LPR: Amphibious transport, small
  • LPSS: Amphibious Transport Submarine (retired)
  • LSA: Landing Ship, Assault
  • LSB: Landing Ship, Bombardment
  • LSD: Landing Ship, Dock
  • LSF: Landing Ship, Flagship
  • LSFF: Landing Ship, Flotilla Flagship
  • LSH: Landing Ship, Heavy or Helicopter
  • LSHL: Landing Ship, Headquarter, Large
  • LSI: Landing Ship, Infantry
  • LSIG: Landing Ship, Infantry, Gun
  • LSIL: Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) (formerly LCIL)
  • LSIM: Landing Ship, Infantry, Medium
  • LSIR: Landing Ship, Infantry, Rocket
  • LSL: Landing Ship, Logistics
  • LSM: Landing Ship, Medium
  • LSMR: Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket
  • LSR: Landing Ship, Rocket
  • LSS: Landing Ship, Support
  • LSSL: Landing Ship, Support (Large) (formerly LCSL)
  • LST: Landing Ship, Tank
  • LSTH: Landing Ship, Tank, Hospital
  • LSU: Landing Ship, Utility
  • LSV: Landing Ship Vehicle
  • LWT: Amphibious Warping Tug

M[edit]

  • MB: Motor Boat
  • MCM: Mine Countermeasures Ship
  • MCS: Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
  • MHA: Minehunter, Auxiliary
  • MHC: Minehunter, Coastal
  • MHI: Mine Hunter Inshore
  • MLC: Motorized Landing Craft
  • MLP: Mobile Landing Platform (changed to ESD)
  • MM: Minelayer
  • MMA: Minelayer, Auxiliary
  • MMC: Minelayer, Coastal
  • MMD: Minelayer, fast (formerly DM)
  • MMF: Minelayer, Fleet
  • MON: Monitor
  • MS: Minesweeper or Motor ship
  • MSA: Minesweeper, Auxiliary
  • MSB: Minesweeping Boat
  • MSC: Minesweeper, Coastal
  • MSD: Minesweeping drone
  • MSF: Minesweeper, Fleet
  • MSI: Minesweeper, Inshore
  • MSL: Minesweeper, Launch
  • MSM: Minesweeper, Medium
  • MSO: Minesweeper - Ocean
  • MSR: Minesweeper, Riverine
  • MSS: Minesweeper, Special
  • MV: Merchant Vessel

N[edit]

  • NR: Submersible Research Vehicle

P[edit]

  • PACV: Patrol craft, air cushioned vehicle
  • PB: Patrol boat
  • PBR: Patrol boat, River
  • PC: Patrol craft, originally Sub chaser
  • PCC: Patrol craft, coastal
  • PCC: Submarine Chaser, Control
  • PCE: Patrol Escort
  • PCEC: Patrol Escort, Coastal
  • PCER: Patrol Escort, Rescue
  • PCF: Vietnam Patrol Craft Fast
  • PCH: Patrol craft, hydrofoil
  • PCS: Patrol Craft, Sweeper
  • PCSC: Patrol Craft, Submarine Chaser
  • PCV: Primary Control Vessel
  • PE: Eagle boat of World War I
  • PF: World War II frigate, based on British River class.
  • PFG: Original designation of USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)
  • PG: Gunboat, later Patrol combatant
  • PGH: Patrol Combatant, Hydrofoil
  • PHM: Patrol, Hydrofoil Missile
  • PM: River Monitor
  • PR: Riverine gun ship
  • PT: Patrol torpedo boat
  • PTC: Patrol torpedo boat subchaser
  • PTF: Patrol torpedo boat, fast
  • PY: Seagoing gun ship
  • PT: Motor Torpedo Boat (World War II)

S[edit]

  • SC: Cruiser Submarine (retired)
  • SF: Fleet Submarine (retired)
  • SM: Submarine Minelayer (retired)
  • SP: Section Patrol
  • SS: Attack Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)[5]
  • SSA: Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
  • SSAN: Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine (Nuclear Power)
  • SSB: Ballistic Missile Submarine (Diesel Electric Power)
  • SSBN: Ballistic Missile Submarine (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)[6]
  • SSK: Hunter-Killer/ASW Submarine (retired)[7]
  • SSKN: Hunter-Killer/ASW Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) (retired)
  • SSM: Midget Submarine, under 150 tons
  • SSN: 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)[8]
  • SSR: Radar Picket Submarine (retired)
  • SSRN: Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) (retired)
  • SST: Training Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)

T[edit]

  • TCD: Small LSD
  • TGB: Icebreaking Tug
  • TR: Torpedo Retriever
  • TWR: Torpedo Weapon Retriever

W[edit]

X[edit]

  • X: Submersible Craft, also used to denote experimental craft.

Y[edit]

YO 260 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Jan 2008
  • YA: Ash lighter
  • YAGR: Oceanic radar station
  • YAGT: Target barge
  • YC: Open Lighter
  • YCD: Oil storage barge
  • YCF: Car Float
  • YCV: Aircraft Transportation Lighter
  • YD: Floating Crane
  • YDG: Degaussing tender
  • YDT: Diving Tender
  • YE: Ammunition storage barge
  • 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 craft
  • YHB: House boat
  • YHLC: Heavy (salvage) lifting craft
  • YHT: Heading scow
  • YLA: Open lighter, landing
  • YLLC: Salvage Lift Craft
  • YM: Dredge
  • YMN: Dredge (non-self propelled)
  • YMS: Motor Minesweeper, Auxiliary
  • YMT: Motor tug
  • YN: Net tender
  • YND: Net tender, district
  • YNG: Gate Craft
  • YNT: Net Tender
  • YO: Fuel Oil Barge
  • YOG: Gasoline Barge
  • YOGN: Gasoline Barge (non-self propelled)
  • YON: Fuel Oil Barge (non-self propelled)
  • YOS: Oil Storage Barge
  • YP: Patrol Craft, Training
  • 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
  • YSR: Sludge Removal Barge
  • YT: Harbor Tug (craft later assigned YTB, YTM, or YTM classifications)
  • YTB: Large Harbor Tug
  • YTL: Small Harbor Tug
  • YTM: Medium Harbor Tug
  • YTR: Rescue tug
  • YTT: Torpedo Trials Craft
  • YV: UAV recovery craft
  • YW: Water Barge
  • YWD: Distilling craft
  • YWN: Water Barge (non-self propelled)

Z[edit]

  • ZR: Rigid Airship
  • ZRCV: Rigid Airship Aircraft Carrier
  • ZRS: Rigid Airship Scout

All other airships were aircraft, not commissioned ships.

Main articles: List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) § Pre-1954 airship systems, and List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) § Other airships

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ In 2020 the US Navy began to develop this new type of ship, construction of the first is planned for 2026

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Report to Congress on Navy Light Replenishment Oiler". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. April 2023.
  2. ^ "Auxiliary classes". Global Security. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "USS Rigel". Navsource. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  4. ^ Mongilio, Heather (May 2023). "SECNAV Del Toro Names New Class of Medical Ships After Bethesda Medical Center". USNI News. United States Naval Institute.
  5. ^ Us Navy Ship And Service Craft Classifications Archived 2004-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Buff, Joe (June 2007). "Subs in the Littoral: Diesels Just Blowing Smoke?". Proceedings of the Naval Institute. 133 (6): 40–43. ISSN 0041-798X. Retrieved 2007-06-13. Diesel AIP boats are known as SSIs, differentiating them from purely diesel-electric-powered hunter-killer subs, or SSKs.
  7. ^ "Inactive Classification Symbols". Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2015-04-21. SSK is officially retired, but it is still used colloquially by the USN and more formally by the Royal Navy in place of the official USN designator for diesel-electric attack submarines, SS.
  8. ^ 28034_cov.fh Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
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