The list of hull classifications comprises an alphabetical list of the hull classification symbol

Hull classification symbol

The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...

s used by the United States Navy

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...

 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

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.

The 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 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

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...

.

If a ship's hull classification symbol has "T-" preceding it, that symbolizes that it is a ship 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...

, with a primarily civilian crew.

A

• AALC: Amphibious Assault Landing Craft
• AARCS: Air Raid Report Control Ship
• AASGP: Amphibious Assault Ship, General Purpose
• AB: Crane Ship
• ABU: Boom defense vessel
• 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...
  
  
• ACR: Armored Cruiser (pre-1920)
• ACS: Auxiliary Crane Ship
• ACV: Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier (Escort carrier) (1942)
• 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...
  
  
• ADC: Ammunition Storage Cargo ship
• ADG: Degaussing Ship (ADG = Auxiliary Degaussing General)
• ADS: Air Defense Ship
• 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...
  
  
• AEFS: Fleet replenishment ship
• AEM: Ammunition Ship, Missile
  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...
  
   (retired)
• AF: Refrigerated ship
  Reefer (ship)
  A refrigerator ship is a type of ship typically used to transport perishable commodities which require temperature-controlled transportation, mostly fruits, meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products and other foodstuffs....
  
  
• AFDB: Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
• AFDL: Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
• AFDM: Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
• AFDS: Auxiliary Fighter Directing Ship
• 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...
  
  
• AG: Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG = Auxiliary General)
• AGB: Icebreaker
  Icebreaker
  An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
  
  
• AGCL: Auxiliary General Communication (ship), Light
• AGD: Degaussing
  Degaussing
  Degaussing is the process of decreasing or eliminating an unwanted magnetic field. It is named after Carl Friedrich Gauss, an early researcher in the field of magnetism...
  
   Ship
• AGDE: Testing Ocean Escort
• AGDS: Deep Submergence Support Ship
• AGE: General Purpose Experimental Ship (AGE = Auxiliary General Experimental)
• 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
• AGH: Weather Ship (AGH = Auxiliary General Hydrometeorology)
• AGHS: Hydroplane research ship
• AGI: Intelligence Collecting Ship (AGI = Auxiliary General Intelligence)
• 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...
  
  
• AGMR: Auxiliary Major Communication Relay Ship
• AGOR: Oceanographic Research Ship
• AGOS: Ocean Surveillance Ship
• AGP: Patrol Craft Tender
• AGR: Radar Picket Ship
  Radar picket
  A radar picket is a radar-equipped ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a force to protect it from surprise attack. Often several detached radar units encircle a force to provide increased cover in all directions.-World War II:Radar picket ships...
  
   (retired)
• AGS: Surveying Ship
• AGSL: Auxiliary General Satellilte Launching ship
• AGSS: Auxiliary Submarine
• AGT: Target ship (AGT = Auxiliary General Target)
• 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....
  
  
• AHC: Auxiliary Helicopter Carrier
• AHP: Medical Evacuation Ship
• AIRIS: Aviation store issue ship
  General stores issue ship
  General stores issue ship is a type of ship used by the United States Navy during World War II and for some time afterwards.The task of the general stores issue ship was to sail into non-combat, or rear, areas and disburse general stores, such as canned goods, toilet paper, office supplies, etc.,...
  
  
• 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...
  
  
• AKA: Attack Cargo Ship
• AKB: Cargo Ship, Barge
• AKD: Cargo Ship, Dock (cargo dock ship)
• AKE: Underway Replenishment
  Underway replenishment
  Underway replenishment or replenishment at sea is a method of transferring fuel, munitions, and stores from one ship to another while under way.-History:...
  
   Dry 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...
  
  
• AKF: Float-on/Float-off (flo-flo) Ship
• AKFBM: Fleet ballistic missile trial ship
• AKL: Cargo Ship, Light
• AKN: Cargo Ship, Net
• AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ship (Cargo Ship, Roll-on/Roll-off)
• AKS: Store Issue Ship
  General stores issue ship
  General stores issue ship is a type of ship used by the United States Navy during World War II and for some time afterwards.The task of the general stores issue ship was to sail into non-combat, or rear, areas and disburse general stores, such as canned goods, toilet paper, office supplies, etc.,...
  
  
• AKV: Cargo Ship, Aircraft Transport
• AKX: Container ship
• AL: Auxiliary Lighter
• AM: Minesweeper or MCM tender
• AMb: Harbor Minesweeper
• AMc: Coastal Minesweeper
• AMCU: Underwater Mine Locater
• 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...
  
  
• 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...
  
  
• AOG: Gasoline Tanker
• 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....
  
  
• AOS: Specialized Oiler/Tanker
• AOSS: Submarine Oiler (retired)
• AOT: Transport/Storage Oiler
• AP: Transport
• 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...
  
  
• APB: Self-Propelled Barracks Ship
• APC: Transport, Coastal
• APD: High Speed Transport
• APF: Administrative flagship
• APG: Coastal artillery supply ship
• APH: Ambulance Transport
• APL: Barracks Craft
• APP: Troop Barge
• APR: Cargo ship, rescue / med evac
• APS: Minelaying Submarine (retired)
• APSS: Transport Submarine (retired)
• APT: Troop transport
• APV: Aircraft transport
• APY: Large Y-boat (large Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
  Rigid-hulled inflatable boat
  A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy...
  
  )
• 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...
  
  
• ARB: Repair Ship, Battle damage
• ARC: Cable Repair Ship
• ARD: Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock
• ARDM: Medium Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock
• ARG: Marine engine repair ship
• ARH: Heavy repair ship (ARH = Auxiliary Repair, Heavy)
• ARIS: Space exploration tracking ship
• ARL: Small Repair Ship (ARL = Auxiliary Repair, Light)
• ARM: Heavy machinery repair ship (ARM = Auxiliary Repair, Machinery, heavy)
• ARR: Repair ship, radioactive
• ARS: Rescue/Salvage Ship
• ARDS: Salvage Lifting Ship
• ARST: Auxiliary Rescue Salvage Tender
• ARV: Aircraft repair ship
• ARVA: Aircraft repair ship
• ARVE: Aviation engine repair ship
• ARVH: Helicopter repair 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...
  
  
• ASPB: Assault Support Patrol Boat
• 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....
  
  
• ASSP: Transport Submarine (retired)
• AT: Ocean Going Tug
• ATA: Auxiliary Ocean Tug
• ATC: Armored Troop Carrier
• ATF: Fleet Ocean Tug
• ATR: Rescue tug (ATR = Auxiliary Tug, Rescue)
• ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ship
• 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:...
  
  
• AVB: Aviation Logistics Support Ship
• AVC: Large catapult lighter (for launching seaplanes)
• AVD: 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:...
  
   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...
  
   (retired)
• AVG: Auxiliary Aircraft Ferry (Escort carrier) (1941-2)
• AVM: Missile trial ship
• 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:...
  
  , light
• AVS: Helicopter training ship
• AVT: Auxiliary Aircraft Landing Training Ship
• AW: Distilling Ship
• AWT: Water Tanker
• AX: Training ship
• AXS: Training ship, sail
• AXT: Training ship tender
• AZ: Airship
  Airship
  An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
  
   Tender (retired)

B

• 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...
  
  
• BM: Monitor
  Monitor (warship)
  A monitor was a class of relatively small warship which was neither fast nor strongly armoured but carried disproportionately large guns. They were used by some navies from the 1860s until the end of World War II, and saw their final use by the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.The monitors...
  
   (retired)

C

• 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 and Peace Cruisers)
• CA: (first series) 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...
  
   (retired, composed all surviving pre-1920 Protected and Peace 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: Heavy Cruiser, Guided Missile (retired)
• CB: Large cruiser (retired)
• CBC: Large Command Cruiser (retired, never used operationally)
• 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)
• CC: (second usage) Command Cruiser (retired); cruiser
• 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)
• 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
  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...
  
  
• CVA: Attack Aircraft Carrier (retired)
• 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)
• CVF: Future 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...
  
   (used briefly for Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier)
• CVHA: Assault Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired in favor of various L-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 Aircraft Carrier, Helicopter (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)
• CVN: Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear-Propulsion)
• CVS: Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (retired)
• CVT: Training Aircraft Carrier (changed to AVT (Auxiliary))
• CVU: Utility Aircraft Carrier (retired)

D

• 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...
  
  
• DDE: Escort destroyer
  Escort destroyer
  A Escort Destroyer is a US Navy post World War II classification for destroyers modified for and assigned to a fleet escort role. These destroyers retained their original hull numbers...
  
   (category abolished 1962)
• DDG: Guided missile destroyer
  Guided missile destroyer
  A guided missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations. In the U.S...
  
  
• DDK: Hunter-Killer Destroyer (category merged into DDE, 4 March 1950)
• DDR: Radar Picket Destroyer (retired)
• DE: 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...
  
   (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)
• DM: Destroyer 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:...
  
   (retired)
• 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

F

• 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: Fast Frigate Helo
• FFL: Light frigate
• FFR: Radar Picket Frigate (retired)
• FFT: Frigate (Reserve Training) (retired)
• 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...
  
  

I

• IX: Unclassified Miscellaneous Unit
• IXSS: Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine

L

• LB: Landing Boat
• LBE: Landing Barge, Emergency repair
• LBS: Landing Barge, Support
• LBV: Landing Boat, Vehicle
• LC: Landing Craft
• LCA: Landing Craft, Assault
• LCAC: 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...
  
  , Air Cushioned
• LCB: Landing Craft, Barge
• LCC: Landing Craft, Command
  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...
  
  
• 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: Landign 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, Medium
• 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
  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...
  
  
• 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: Landign Craft, Vehicle
• LCVP: Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel
• LES: Landing boat, support
• LHA: 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...
  
   (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
  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...
  
   (aka Landing Platform, Dock)
• LPH: Landing Platform, Helicopter
  Landing Platform, Helicopter
  LPH is the hull classification used by a number of the world's navies to designate a type of amphibious warfare ship designed primarily to operate as a launch and recovery platform for helicopters and other VTOL aircraft...
  
   (out of commission)
• LPSS: Amphibious Transport Submarine (retired)
• LSA: Landing Ship, Assault
• LSB: Landing Ship, Bombardment
• 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...
  
  
• LSF: Landing Ship, 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
• LSL: Landing Ship, Logistics
• LSM: Landing Ship, Medium
• LSMR: Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket
• LSR: Landing Ship, Rocket
• LSS: Landign Ship, Support
• LSSL: Landing Ship, Support (Large) (formerly LCSL)
• LST: Landing Ship, Tank
  Tank landing ship
  Landing Ship, Tank was the military designation for naval vessels created during World War II to support amphibious operations by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore....
  
  
• LSTH: Landing Ship, Tank, Hospital
• LSU: Landing Ship, Utility
• LSV: Landing Ship Vehicle
• LWT: Amphibious Warping Tug

M

• MCM: Mine Countermeasures Ship
• MCS: Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
• MHC: 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
• MHI: Mine Hunter Inshore
• MLC: Motorized Landing Craft
• MSO: 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:...
  
   - Ocean

P

• 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: Coastal Patrol, originally Sub chaser
• PCE: Patrol Escort
• PCER: Patrol Escort, Rescue
• PCF: Vietnam Swift boat
  Swift Boat
  Swift Boat may refer to:*a Patrol Craft Fast*Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, originally named Swift Boat Veterans For Truth*Swiftboating, political jargon for a particular form of character assassination as a smear tactic...
  
  
• 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
  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....
  
   class.
• PFG: Original designation of USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)
  USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)
  USS Oliver Hazard Perry , lead ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Oliver Hazard Perry, American naval hero, who was victorious at the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie...
  
  
• 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
• PM: Monitor
• PR: Riverine gun ship
• PY: Sea-going gun ship
• 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 (World War II)

S

• 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)
• SP: Shore Patrol
  Shore patrol
  Shore patrol are service members that are provided to aid in security for the U.S. Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, and the British Royal Navy while on shore...
  
  
• 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)
• 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)

T

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

Y

• YA: Ash lighterf
• YAGR: Oceanic radar station
• YAGT: Target barge
• YC: Open Lighter
• YCD: Oil storage barge
• 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...
  
  
• 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
  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)
• YMT: Motor tug
• YN: Net tender
• YND: net tender, district
• 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
• 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, 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

• 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