Ship prefix
A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship.
Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "SS" for steamship, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. Sometimes a slash is used to separate the letters, as in "M/S".
Naval prefixes came into use as abbreviations for longer titles, such as "His/Her Majesty's Ship" in the Royal Navy, abbreviated "H.M.S." and then "HMS". Earlier uses often included the type of vessel, as for instance "U.S.F." ("United States Frigate") for frigates of the United States Navy. Today the common practice is to use a single prefix for all warships of a nation's navy, and other prefixes for auxiliaries and ships of allied services, such as coast guards.
The use of ship prefixes is not universal; in particular neither the Third Reich's Kriegsmarine nor the Imperial Japanese Navy used ship prefixes. Some English-language writers use prefixes like "DKM" (for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine") and "HIJMS" (for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship") or "IJN" (for "Imperial Japanese Navy", a translation of 大日本帝国海軍 dai-nippon teikoku kaigun) for consistency with "HMS" and "USS". Other writers follow the practice of the navy and omit any prefix.
From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by hull numbers — identification codes typically painted on the side of the ship. Each navy has its own system: the United States Navy uses hull classification symbols, and the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.
These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.
Contents |
| Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AHT | Anchor Handling Tug |
| AHTS | Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel |
| CRV | Coastal Research Vessel |
| DB | Derrick Barge |
| DLB | Derrick Lay Barge |
| DCV | Deepwater Construction Vessel |
| DSV | Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle |
| FPSO | Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel |
| FPV | Free Piston Vessel |
| FV | Fishing Vessel |
| GTS | Gas Turbine Ship |
| HLV | Heavy lift vessel |
| HSC | High Speed Craft |
| HTV | Heavy Transport Vessel |
| LB | Liftboat |
| LNG | Liquefied natural gas carrier |
| MF | Motor Ferry |
| MS (M/S) | Motor Ship (interchangeable with MV) |
| MSY | Motor Sailing Yacht |
| MT | Motor Tanker |
| MV (M/V) | Motor Vessel (interchangeable with MS) |
| MY | Motor Yacht |
| nb | Narrowboat |
| NRV | NATO Research Vessel |
| NS | Nuclear Ship |
| OSV | Offshore Support Vessel |
| PS | Paddle Steamer |
| PSV | Platform Supply Vessel |
| RV | Research Vessel |
| RMS | Royal Mail Ship |
| SB | Sailing Barge |
| SS (S/S) | Steamship |
| SSCV | Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel |
| SSV | Sailing School Vessel |
| ST | Steam Tug |
| STV | Sailing Training Vessel |
| SV | Sailing Vessel |
| SY | Sailing Yacht or Steam Yacht |
| TS | Turbine Steamer |
| TSS | Turbine Steam Ship |
| TV | Training vessel |
National or military prefixes
| Country | Service | Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Argentine Navy | ARA | Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Armada de la Republica Argentina) |
 Australia |
Royal Australian Navy | HMAS | His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship |
| Australia (Victoria) |
Royal Navy | HMVS | His/Her Majesty's Victorian Ship (obsolete) |
 Bahamas |
Bahamian Defence Force | HMBS | His/Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship |
 Bangladesh |
Bangladesh Navy | BNS | Bangladesh Naval Ship |
 Barbados |
Barbadan Defence Force | HMBS | His/Her Majesty's Barbadian Ship |
 Belgium |
Belgian Navy | BNS | Belgium Naval Ship (NATO prefix) |
 Brunei |
Royal Brunei Navy | KDB | Kapal Di-Raja Brunei — Royal Brunei Ship |
 Burma |
Burmese Navy | UBS | Bamar Sit Yay Yin — Union of Burma Ship |
 Canada |
Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM) |
HMCS/NCSM | His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship/Navire Canadien de Sa Majesté |
| CFAV | Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel[1] (operated by Defence R&D Canada) | ||
| Canadian Coast Guard | CCGS | Canadian Coast Guard Ship | |
| Canadian Coast Guard | CCGC | Canadian Coast Guard Cutter | |
 Colombia |
Armada Nacional | ARC | Armada de la Republica de Colombia |
 Confederate States of America |
Confederate States Navy | CSS | Confederate States Ship (obsolete) |
 Cook Islands |
Cook Islands Police | CIPPB | Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat |
 Denmark |
Royal Danish Navy | HDMS (Danish: KDM) | His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship (Danish: Kongelige Danske Marine) |
 Ecuador |
Armada Ecuatoriana | BAE | Buque de la Armada de Ecuador |
 Estonia |
Estonian Navy | ENS (Estonian: EML) | Estonian Naval Ship (NATO designation) |
| Estonian Coast Guard | ECGS | Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation) | |
 Fiji |
Republic of Fiji Navy | RFNS | Republic of Fiji Naval Ship |
 Finland |
Finnish Navy | FNS | Finnish Navy Ship. Prefixes are not used in Finnish-language communications. |
 France |
French Navy | FS | French Ship (NATO designation); France does not use prefixes internally |
 German Empire |
Kaiserliche Marine | SM U## | Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (English: His Majesty's Submarine) |
| Kaiserliche Marine | SMS | Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship) | |
 Nazi Germany |
Kriegsmarine | — | (no prefix; some authors use "DKM" for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine" and "KMS" for "Kriegsmarine Schiffe") |
 West Germany |
Bundesmarine | FGS | Federal German Ship (NATO designation); West Germany did not use prefixes internally |
| Germany (reunited) |
Deutsche Marine | FGS | Federal German Ship (NATO designation); Germany does not use prefixes internally |
 Kingdom of Greece |
Royal Hellenic Navy | ΒΠ (VP) | Βασιλικόν Πλοίον (Vassilikón Ploíon), "Royal Ship"; RHS (Royal Hellenic Ship) or HHMS (His Hellenic Majesty's Ship) in use by English-language authors and contemporary foreign navies. |
 Greece |
Hellenic Navy | HS | Hellenic Ship :NATO designation, used in international communications; internally the Hellenic Navy uses prefixes indicating ship type. |
 Guyana |
?? | GDFS | Guyanan Defence Forces Ship |
 Iceland |
Icelandic Coast Guard | ICGV (Icelandic: VS) | Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:Varðskip) |
 India |
Indian Navy (pre-Republic) | HMIS | His/Her Majesty's Indian Ship |
 India |
Indian Coast Guard | CGS | Coast Guard Ship |
| Indian Navy | INS | Indian Naval Ship | |
 Indonesia |
Indonesian Navy | KRI | Kapal Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia Ship) |
 Ireland |
Irish Naval Service | LÉ | Long Éireannach — Irish ship |
 Israel |
Israeli Sea Corps | INS | Israeli Naval Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam - Sea Corps Ship) |
 Italy, Kingdom of(until 1946) |
Regia Marina | RN | Regia Nave -- Royal Ship, sometimes unofficially "RM", standing for "Regia Marina" |
| Regia Marina | R.Smg. | Regio Sommergibile -- Royal Submarine | |
 Italy |
Marina Militare | ITS | Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes |
 Empire of Japan |
Imperial Japanese Navy | — | (no prefix; some authors use "HIJMS" for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship" and "IJN" for "Imperial Japanese Navy") |
 Japan |
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | JDS or JS | Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship |
 Kenya |
Kenyan Navy | KNS | Kenyan Naval Ship |
 Kiribati |
Kiribati Police Force | RKS | Republic of Kiribati Ship |
 South Korea |
Republic of Korea Navy | ROKS | Republic of Korea Ship |
 Latvia |
Latvian Navy | LVS | Latvian Ship (NATO designation) |
 Lithuania |
Lithuanian Navy | LNS | Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation) |
 Malaysia |
Royal Malaysian Navy | KD | Kapal Di-Raja — His Majesty's Ship, literal: Royal Ship |
 Marshall Islands |
Marshall Islands Police | RMIS | Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship |
 Federated States of Micronesia |
FSM National Police | FSS | Federated States Ship |
 Mexico |
Armada de México | ARM | Armada de la República Mexicana |
| Myanmar |
Tatmadaw Yay | UMS | Myanma Sit Yay Yin — Union of Myanmar Ship |
 Netherlands |
Royal Netherlands Navy | HNLMS (Dutch: Hr.Ms. or Zr.Ms.) | His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship (Dutch: Harer Majesteits or Zijner Majesteits) |
 New Zealand |
Royal New Zealand Navy | HMNZS | His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship |
 Nigeria |
? | NNS | Nigerian Naval Ship |
 Norway |
Royal Norwegian Navy | HNoMS (Norwegian: KNM) | His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (Norwegian: Kongelige Norske Marine) |
| Norwegian Coast Guard | NoCGV (Norwegian: KV) | Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel (Norwegian: Kystvakten) | |
 Oman |
? | SNV | Sultanate Naval Vessel |
 Pakistan |
Pakistani Navy | PNS | Pakistani Naval Ship |
 Palau |
Palau Police | PSS | Palau State Ship |
 Papua New Guinea |
Papua New Guinea Defence Force | HMPNGS | His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship |
 Peru |
Peruvian Navy | BAP | Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana) |
| Peruvian Navy | BIC | Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: Buque de Investigación Científica) | |
 Philippines |
Philippine Navy | BRP | Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (Ship of the Republic of the Philippines) |
| Philippine Navy | RPS | Republic of the Philippines Ship (Obsolete) | |
 Poland |
Polish Navy | ORP | Ship of the Republic of Poland (Polish: Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) |
 Portugal |
Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa | NRP | Portuguese Republic Ship (Navio da República Portuguesa) |
 Romania |
Romanian Navy | NMS | Nava Majestatii Sale (His/Her majesty's Ship) - used before 1945 by the Royal Romanian Navy |
 Russia |
Russian Navy | RFS | Russian Federation Ship; Russia does not use prefixes internally |
 Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Navy | HMS | His Majesty's Ship — the same as the Royal Navy |
 Singapore |
Republic of Singapore Navy | RSS | Republic of Singapore Ship |
 Solomon Islands |
Royal Solomon Islands Police | RSIPV | Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel |
 South Africa |
South African Navy | SAS | South African Ship (previously HMSAS - His/Her Majesty's South African Ship) |
| South African Navy | SATS | South African Training Ship | |
 Spain |
Armada Española | SPS | Spanish Naval Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally) |
 Sri Lanka |
Sri Lankan Navy | SLNS | Sri Lanka Naval Ship |
 Sweden |
Royal Swedish Navy | HMS | Hans/Hennes majestäts skepp — the same as the Royal Navy but in Swedish |
 Republic of China |
Republic of China Navy | ROCS (older usage: CNS) | Republic of China Ship (older usage: Chinese Navy Ship) |
 Thailand |
Royal Thai Navy | HTMS | His Thai Majesty's Ship |
 Tonga |
Tonga Defence Services | VOEA | Vaka O Ene Afio (His Majesty’s Vessel) |
 Turkey |
Turkish Navy | TCG | Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi) |
 Tuvalu |
Tuvalu Police Force | HMTSS | His/Her Majesty's Tuvaluan State Ship |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force | TTS | Trinidad and Tobago Ship |
 United Kingdom |
Ships carrying mail | RMS | Royal Mail Steamer/Ship |
| Fishery protection vessels | FPV | Fisheries Protection Vessel | |
| Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships | RFA | Royal Fleet Auxiliary | |
| Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service ships |
RMAS | Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service | |
| Royal Navy | HM Sloop | His/Her Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete) | |
| Hospital ships | HMHS | His/Her Majesty's Hospital Ship | |
| Royal Navy | HMS | His/Her Majesty's Ship/Submarine | |
| Royal Navy | HMSm | His/Her Majesty's Submarine | |
| Royal Navy | HMT | His/Her Majesty's Tug (or Transport - not currently in use) | |
| British Army | HMAV | His/Her Majesty's Army Vessel (not currently in use) | |
| Royal Air Force | HMAFV | His/Her Majesty's Air Force Vessel (not currently in use) | |
| Royal Navy | HMY | His/Her Majesty's Yacht (not currently in use) | |
| Royal Navy | HMMGB | His/Her Majesty's Motor Gun Boat (not currently in use) | |
| Royal Navy | HMM | His/Her Majesty's Monitor (not currently in use) | |
| Royal Navy | HMSML | His/Her Majesty's Small Motor Launch | |
| Joint Services | HMSTC | His/Her Majesty's Sail Training Craft | |
| Trinity House | THV | Trinity House Vessel (Lighthouse and Buoy Tender) | |
| Northern Lighthouse Board | NLV | Northern Lighthouse Vessel (Lighthouse tender) | |
| British Army | RCLV | Royal Corps of Logistics Vessel (not currently in use) | |
| Royal Navy | HBMS | His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship (archaic) | |
| Royal Navy | HM | His/Her Majesty's, then used with the type of ship in military use (e.g. "HM Trawler" or "HM Troopship") | |
| Government research ships | RRS | Royal Research Ship | |
 United States |
U.S. Air Force | USAF, USAFS | United States Air Force ship (not currently in use) |
| U.S. Army | USAS | United States Army Ship | |
| U.S. Army | USAV | United States Army Vessel | |
| U.S. Army | USAT | United States Army Transport (not currently in use) | |
| U.S. Army | USAHS | United States Army Hospital Ship (not currently in use) | |
| U.S. Navy | USF | United States Frigate (obsolete) | |
| U.S. Navy | USFS | United States Flagship (obsolete) | |
| U.S. Navy | USS | United States Ship | |
| U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command | USNS | United States Naval Ship (USN owned, civilian crews) | |
| U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command | USNV | United States Naval Vessel (foreign-built, USN-leased, USN crews)[2] | |
| United States Coast Guard | USCGC | United States Coast Guard Cutter | |
| United States Coast Guard | USCGD | United States Coast Guard Destroyer (not currently in use) | |
| United States Lighthouse Service | USLHT | United States Lighthouse Tender (obsolete) | |
| United States Revenue Cutter Service | USRC | United States Revenue Cutter (obsolete) | |
| National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration | NOAAS | NOAA Research Vessel | |
 Uruguay |
Uruguayan Navy | ROU | Republica Oriental del Uruguay |
 Vanuatu |
Vanuatu Police Force | RVS | Republic of Vanuatu Ship |
 Venezuela |
Venezuelan Navy | FNV | Fuerzas Navales de Venezuela Not in use since 1949 |
| Venezuelan Navy | ARV | Armada Republica de Venezuela Not in use 1999 | |
| Venezuelan Navy | ARBV | Armada Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela |
Notes and references
The designations for United Kingdom ships applied at the time of the British Empire, before the establishment of separate navies for the Dominions.
In the Royal Netherlands Navy, "HNLMS" is the prefix in English, a translation of the Dutch original "Hr.Ms." or "Zr.Ms.". "Hr.Ms." should preferably not be used English-language documents; nevertheless it is often seen on the World Wide Web. Until the moment a Dutch naval ship officially enters active service in the fleet, the ship's name is used without the prefix.
In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.
In the United States Navy, all prefixes other than "USS," "USNS", "USNV", and "USRC" were obsoleted in 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law a bill fixing American naval nomenclature. USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service became the United States Coast Guard in 1915.
A United States ship that has not yet been commissioned in the Navy does not hold the title of USS, it holds the title of PCU (Pre-commissioned unit). For example, say a shipyard is building a new aircraft carrier, the Flattop. From the date the keel is laid to the date it is commissioned, it is called the PCU Flattop. Only after it enters active service in the fleet and is commissioned will it be referred to as USS Flattop.
By law, the U.S. Navy may not purchase foreign-built ships, but it may lease them as United State Naval Vessels.[2]
When it is stricken from the fleet list, a ship typically has the prefix "ex-" added to its name, to distinguish it from any active ships bearing the same name. For example, after USS Constellation (CV-64) was retired in 2003, she became referred to as ex-Constellation.
Note that while calling a US ship "the USS Flattop" may make grammatical sense, the preliminary article "the" is deprecated by nearly all style guides, and the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy uses ship names without article, except for USS The Sullivans, named for the five Sullivan brothers, all lost at sea during World War II. Its British equivalent ("the HMS Flattop") is also deprecated, since "the Her Majesty's Ship" would be grammatically incorrect.
Civilian ships naming
In 1939, the British Ministry of Shipping adopted a standard naming system whereby all merchant ships ordered to be built in Britain to Government account, except very small ship types, would be given the prefix 'Empire' to their name. This applied to ships acquired through purchase, requisition, or taken in prize, with some exceptions. It also applied to older ships acquired from the USA, modern ships acquired on Lease/Lend arrangements, salved and refitted ships, and captured enemy ships.
Notes
- ↑ "Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel Quest". Defence R&D Canada — Atlantic (2006-10-17). Retrieved on 2008-09-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lt. Cdr. Phillip Pournelle, USN (2005-09-09). "And now another report from Lt. Cdr. Phillip Pournelle:". Jerrypournelle.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-27.
External links
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