Designations currently in use or officially in effect are listed here, all others are no longer in use. If you do not find the classification symbol you are looking for here it may be in the US Navy Inactive Classification Symbol file.
The letter "T-" indicates that a goverment owned or bareboat-chartered ship is assigned to Commander, MSC as type commander. "F-" indicates the ship is being constructed for a foreign governmment. The letter "N" when used as the last letter of a ship classification symbol denotes nuclear propulsion. When used as the last letter of a a service craft classification, it indicates a non-delf-propelled version of a similar self-propelled service craft.
1. Warship classification. Any commissioned ship built for or armed for naval combat. a. Aircraft Carrier. All ships designed primarily for the purpose of conducting combat operations by aircraft which engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets. Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) Aircraft Carriers Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier CVN (Nuclear-Powered) b. Surface Combatant. Surface ships which are designed primarily to engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets. Cruisers Guided Missile Cruiser CG Destroyers Guided Missile Destroyer DDG Frigates Guided Missile Frigate FFG Littoral Combat Ship Littoral Combat Ship LCS c. Submarine. All self-propelled submersible types regardless of whether employed as combatant, auxiliary, or research and development vehicles which have at least a residual combat capability. Attack Submarines Submarine SSN (Nuclear-Powered) Ballistic Missile Submarines Ballistic Missile Submarine SSBN (Nuclear-Powered) Guided Missile Submarines Guided Missile Submarine SSGN (Nuclear-Powered) d. Amphibious Warfare. All ships having organic capability for amphibious assault and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. Amphibious Helicopter and Landing Craft Carriers Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) LHA Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose) LHD Amphibious Transport Dock LPD Landing Craft Carriers Dock Landing Ship LSD 2. Other Combatant Classification. Ships which have the capability to provide support to the fleet. a. Mine Warfare Type Ships. All ships whose primary function is mine warfare. Mine Countermeasures Ships Mine Countermeasures Ship MCM b. Combat Logistics. Naval fleet auxilliary ships which have the capability to provide underway replenishment to fleet units. Auxilliary ships that are operated by MSC will have a "T-" designation before the classification (i.e. T-AE). Underway Replenishment Ammunition Ship AE Combat Store Ship AFS Oiler AO Fast Combat Support Ship AOE Dry Cargo and Ammunition Ship AKE c. Fleet Support. A group of ships designed to operate in the open ocean to provide general support to combatant forces. Command Command Ship LCC Material Support Submarine Tender AS Sea Base Connector Joint High Speed Vessel JHSV Surveillance Surveillance AGOS Salvage Ships Salvage Ship ARS Fleet Ocean Tugs Fleet Ocean Tug ATF Seabasing Support* Mobile Launch Platform MLP Dry Cargo/Amunition T-AKE Offshore Petroleum Distribution System T-AG *Note: These ships are normally assigned as part of the Maratime Prepositioning Force, but are available for other fleet support missions.Auxilliary Ship CategoryAuxilliary Classification. Naval Ships designed to provide support to combatant ships and other naval operations. Support Type Ships. A grouping of ships designed to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore based establishments. Those auxilliary ships that provide support to naval operations but are not involved with combatent forces, Navy warfighting or support missions and are not part of the battleforce inventory are listed below. Auxilliary ships that are operated by MSC will have a "T-" designation before the classification (i.e. T-AE). Other Auxiliaries Auxiliary Crane Ship ACS Missile Range Instrumentation Ship AGM Oceanographic Research Ship AGOR Surveying Ship AGS Hospital Ship AH Cargo Ship AK Vehicle Cargo Ship AKR Transport Oiler AOT Cable Repair Ship ARC Aviation Logistics Support Ship AVB Patrol Combatant. Combatants whose mission may extend beyond costal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping to provide a capability for operations on the high seas without support. Patrol Ships Patrol, Coastal PC Constitution. USS Constitution known affectionaly as old ironsides is the oldest commisioned warship afloat in the world. Environmental Research Ship AGER NRFA Ships that are mobilization forces category A assets and are ships that are part of the battleforce. NRFA ships have a reduced skeleton crew of active duty personel assigned to provide training of assigned reservists for limited operations and maintenance.
Support Craft Classification Service Type Craft A grouping of navy-subordinated craft (including non-self-propelled) designed to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore-based establishments. Dry Docks (Non-self-propelled) Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock AFDB Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock AFDL Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock AFDM Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock ARD Medium Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock ARDM Yard Floating Dry Dock YFD Tugs (Self-propelled) Large Harbor Tug YTB Small Harbor Tug YTL Medium Harbor Tug YTM Tankers (Self-propelled) Fuel Oil Barge YO Gasoline Barge YOG Water Barge YW Lighters and Barges Self-propelled Covered Lighter YF Refrigerated Cover Lighter YFR Harbor Utility Craft YFU Garbage Lighter YG Non-self-propelled Open Lighter YC Car Float YCF Aircraft Transportation Lighter YCV Covered Lighter YFN Large Covered Lighter YFNB Lighter (Special purpose) YFNX Refrigerated Covered Lighter YFRN Range Tender YFRT Garbage Lighter YGN Gasoline Barge YOGN Fuel Oil Barge YON Oil Storage Barge YOS Sludge Removal Barge YSR Water Barge YWN Other Craft Self-propelled Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle DSRV Deep Submergence Vehicle DSV Submersible Research Vehicle NR Diving Tender YDT Ferry Boat or Launch YFB Dredge YM Patrol Craft, Training YP Seaplane Wrecking Derrick YSD Torpedo Trials Craft YTT Non-self-propelled Barracks Craft APL Floating Crane YD Dry Dock Companion Craft YFND Floating Power Barge YFP Salvage Lift Craft YLC Dredge YMN Gate Craft YNG Floating Pile Driver YPD Floating Workshop YR Repair and Berthing Barge YRB Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge YRBM Floating Dry Dock Workshop (Hull) YRDH Floating Dry Dock Workshop (Machine) YRDM Radiological Repair Barge YRR Salvage Craft Tender YRST Unclassified Miscellaneous Unclassified Miscellaneous Unit IX Submersible Craft X USS Constitution Note: The USS Constitution formerly IX 21 was reclassified to none, effective September 1, 1975 as per SECNAVNOTE 5030 dated September 2, 1975.
| DOD DISCLAIMER | | SHIPS | SERVICE CRAFT | HOME | |
NAVSHIPSO NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office Norfolk Naval Shipyard Code 284, Bldg 705 Portsmouth, VA 23709-5000 (757) 967-3484 (757) 967-2957 (FAX)
|