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 US Navy ships.

The 1975 ship reclassification of cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts brought US 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.

Contents

[edit] A

[edit] B

[edit] C

  • 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)

[edit] D

[edit] F

  • FF: Frigate (retired)
  • FFG: Guided Missile Frigate
  • FFR: Radar Picket Frigate (retired)
  • FFT: Frigate (Reserve Training) (retired)
  • FS: Corvette

[edit] I

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

[edit] L

[edit] M

  • MCM: Mine Countermeasures Ship
  • MCS: Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
  • MHC: Minehunter, Coastal
  • MHI: Mine Hunter Inshore
  • MSO: Minesweeper - Ocean

[edit] N

  • NR: Submersible Research Vehicle

[edit] P

[edit] S

  • SC: Cruiser Submarine (retired)
  • SF: Fleet Submarine (retired)
  • SM: Submarine Minelayer (retired)
  • SP: Shore Patrol
  • SS: Attack Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)[1]
  • 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)[2]
  • SSK: Hunter-Killer/ASW Submarine (retired)[3]
  • 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)[4]
  • SSR: Radar Picket Submarine (retired)
  • SSRN: Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) (retired)
  • SST: Training Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)

[edit] W

[edit] X

  • X: Submersible Craft

[edit] Y

YO 260 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Jan 2008
YO 260 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Jan 2008
  • YC: Open Lighter
  • YCF: Car Float
  • YCV: Aircraft Transportation Lighter
  • YD: Floating Crane
  • 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)
  • YLC: Salvage Lift Craft
  • YM: Dredge
  • YMN: Dredge (non-self propelled)
  • 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
  • YTT: Torpedo Trials Craft
  • YW: Water Barge
  • YWN: Water Barge (non-self propelled)

[edit] Z

[edit] References

  1. ^ Us Navy Ship And Service Craft Classifications
  2. ^ Buff, Joe (June 2007). "Subs in the Littoral: Diesels Just Blowing Smoke?". Proceedings of the Naval Institute 133 (6): 40–43. ISSN 0041-798X. “Diesel AIP boats are known as SSIs, differentiating them from purely diesel-electric-powered hunter-killer subs, or SSKs.” 
  3. ^ http://www.nvr.navy.mil/oldclass.htm 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.
  4. ^ 28034_cov.fh

[edit] See also