Hull Designations in Alphabetical Order
This index lists U.S. Navy hull designations in alphabetical order.
There is one page for each designation and each page will list all the vessels with that designation in order of their hull number.
Note that many vessels were reclassified with different designations and hull numbers and some have been reclassified several times. Such vessels are listed under each of their known designations and hull numbers but all such entries will point to the same page belonging to that vessel.
For convenience, there is also a list of designations grouped by category.
| Designation | Description |
| (None) | Vessels with no designation |
| AB | Crane Ship (converted BB) |
| ABSD | Advance Base Sectional Dock |
| AC | Collier |
| ACM | Auxiliary Mine Layer |
| ACR | Armored Cruiser (pre 1920) |
| ACV | Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier |
| AD | Destroyer Tender |
| ADG | Degaussing Ship |
| AE | Ammunition Ship |
| AF | Store Ship (Refrigerated) |
| AFDB | Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock, Large |
| AFDL | Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock |
| AFDM | Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock |
| AFS | Combat Store Ship |
| AG | Miscellaneous Auxiliary |
| AGB | Icebreaker |
| AGC | Amphibious Force Flagship |
| AGDE | Escort Research Ship |
| AGDS | Deep Submergence Support Ship |
| AGER | Environmental Research Ship |
| AGF | Miscellaneous Command Ship |
| AGFF | Frigate Research Ship |
| AGM | Missile Range Instrumentation Ship |
| AGMR | Major Communication Relay Ship |
| AGOR | Oceanographic Research Ship |
| AGP | Motor Torpedo Boat Tender |
| AGR | Radar Picket Ship |
| AGS | Survey Ship |
| AGSc | Coastal Survey Ship |
| AGSS | Auxiliary Submarine |
| AGTR | Technical Research Ship |
| AH | Hospital Ship |
| AK | Cargo Ship |
| AKA | Attack Cargo Ship |
| AKD | Cargo Ship Dock |
| AKN | Net Cargo Ship |
| AKS | General Stores Issue Ship |
| AKV | Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry |
| AM | Minesweeper |
| AMc | Coastal Minesweeper |
| AMCU | Coastal Minesweeper Underwater Locator |
| AMS | Motor Minesweepers Ship |
| AN | Net Laying Ship (to 1968) |
| ANL | Net Laying Ship (from 1968) |
| AO | Oiler (fuel oil) |
| AOE | Fast Combat Support Ship |
| AOG | Gasoline Tanker |
| AOR | Replenishment Oiler |
| AOSS | Submarine Oiler |
| AP | Transport (troops) |
| APA | Attack Transport |
| APB | Self-propelled Barracks Ship |
| APc | Small Coastal Transport Ship |
| APD | High Speed Transport |
| APH | Transport (Wounded) |
| APL | Barracks Ship |
| APM | Mechanized Artillery Transport |
| APR | Rescue Transport |
| APS | Transport Submarine (WW II) |
| APSS | Transport Submarine |
| APV | Transport and Aircraft Ferry |
| AR | Repair Ship |
| ARB | Battle Damage Repair Ship |
| ARC | Cable Repairing or Laying Ship |
| ARD | Auxiliary Repair Drydock |
| ARDC | Repair Drydock, Concrete |
| ARDM | Medium Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock |
| ARG | Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship |
| ARH | Heavy Hull Repair Ship |
| ARL | Landing Craft Repair Ship |
| ARS | Salvage Ship |
| ARS(T) | Salvage Craft Tender |
| ARV | Aircraft Repair Ship |
| ARV(A) | Aircraft Repair Ship (airframe) |
| ARV(E) | Aircraft Repair Ship (engine) |
| AS | Submarine Tender |
| ASR | Submarine Rescue Ship |
| ASSA | Cargo Submarine |
| ASSP | Transport Submarine |
| AT | Tug (ocean going) |
| ATA | Auxiliary Ocean Tug |
| ATF | Fleet Ocean Tug |
| ATO | Ocean Tug, Old |
| ATR | Rescue Ocean Tug |
| ATS | Salvage and Rescue Ship |
| Austrian Battleship | Austrian Battleship |
| Auxiliary Cruiser | Auxiliary Cruiser |
| AV | Seaplane Tender |
| AVB | Advance Aviation Base Ship |
| AVD | Seaplane Tender (destroyer) |
| AVG | Aircraft Escort Vessel |
| AVM | Guided Missile Ship |
| AVP | Small Seaplane Tender |
| AVS | Aviation Supply Ship |
| AVT | Auxiliary Aircraft Transport / Training Carrier (1978) |
| AW | Distilling Ship |
| AZ | Airship Tender |
| Bark | Bark |
| BB | Battleship |
| BM | Monitor |
| Brigantine | Brigantine |
| C | Protected Cruiser (pre 1920) |
| CA | Heavy Cruiser |
| CAG | Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser |
| CB | Large Cruiser |
| CC | Command Ship |
| CG | Guided Missile Cruiser (from 1975) |
| CGC | Coast Guard Cutter (pre 1942) |
| CGN | Guided Missile Cruiser (nuc.) |
| CL | Light Cruiser |
| CLAA | Antiaircraft Light Cruiser |
| CLC | Tactical Command Ship |
| CLG | Guided Missile Light Cruiser |
| CLK | Hunter-Killer Cruiser |
| CM | Mine Layer |
| CMc | Coastal Mine Layer |
| Collier | Collier |
| CS | Scout Cruiser (pre 1920) |
| CV | Aircraft Carrier |
| CVA | Attack Aircraft Carrier |
| CVAN | Attack Aircraft Carrier (nuc.) |
| CVB | Large Aircraft Carrier |
| CVE | Escort Aircraft Carrier |
| CVHA | Assault Helicopter Carrier |
| CVHE | Escort Helicopter Carrier |
| CVL | Small Aircraft Carrier |
| CVN | Aircraft Carrier (nuc.) |
| CVS | Anti-submarine Aircraft Carrier |
| CVT | Training Aircraft Carrier |
| CVU | Utility Aircraft Carrier |
| DD | Destroyer |
| DDE | Escort Destroyer |
| DDG | Guided Missile Destroyer |
| DDK | Hunter-Killer Destroyer |
| DDR | Radar Picket Destroyer |
| DE | Destroyer Escort (from 1968, Ocean Escort) |
| DEC | Control Escort Vessel |
| DEG | Guided Missile Escort |
| DER | Radar Picket Escort |
| DL | Frigate ("Destroyer Leader") |
| DLG | Guided Missile Frigate |
| DLGN | Guided Missile Frigate (Nuc.) |
| DM | Destroyer Minelayer |
| DMS | Destroyer Minesweeper |
| DSV | Deep Submergence Vehicle |
| EAG | Miscellaneous Auxiliary (Experimental) |
| EDD | Destroyer (Experimental) |
| EDDE | Escort Destroyer (Experimental) |
| EDE | Destroyer Escort (Experimental) |
| EMSF | Fleet Minesweeper (steel hull) (Experimental) |
| EPCER | Patrol Rescue Escort (Experimental) |
| ESS | Submarine (Experimental) |
| FF | Frigate (from 1975) |
| FFG | Guided Missile Frigate (from 1975) |
| FFR | Radar Picket Frigate (from 1975) |
| FFT | Training Frigate (from 1990) |
| FSF | Fast Sea Frame |
| German Battleship | German Battleship |
| Gunboat | Gunboat |
| Hospital Ship | Hospital Ship |
| ID | Identification Number (WW I) |
| IX | Unclassified Miscellaneous Vessel |
| IXSS | Miscellaneous Submarine |
| LCC | Amphibious Command Ship |
| LCI(L) | Landing Craft Infantry, Large |
| LCS | Littoral Combat Ship |
| LCS(L)(3) | Landing Craft, Support (Large) |
| LCT | Landing Craft Tank |
| LFR | Inshore Fire Support Ship |
| LHA | Amphibious Assault Ship |
| LHD | Amphibious Assault Ship |
| LKA | Amphibious Cargo Ship |
| LPA | Amphibious Transport Ship |
| LPD | Amphibious Transport Dock |
| LPH | Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter) |
| LPR | Amphibious Transport (Small) |
| LPSS | Amphibious Transport Submarine |
| LSD | Dock Landing Ship |
| LSI(L) | Landing Ship Infantry (Large) |
| LSM | Medium Landing Ship |
| LSM(R) | Medium Landing Ship, Rocket |
| LST | Tank Landing Ship |
| LST(H) | Tank Landing Ship and Casualty Evacuation |
| LSV | Vehicle Landing Ship |
| MCM | Mine Countermeasures Ship |
| MCS | Mine Countermeasures Support Ship |
| MHC | Coastal Minehunter |
| MM | Fleet Minelayer |
| MMC | Coastal Minelayer |
| MMD | Fast Minelayer (from 1968) |
| MMF | Fleet Minelayer |
| MSC(O) | Coastal Minesweeper (Old) |
| MSF | Fleet Minesweeper (steel hull) |
| MSO | Ocean Minesweeper (non-magnetic) |
| NOTS | Naval Overseas Transport Service Ship (WW I) |
| NR | Submersible Research Vessel (nuc.) |
| Old Frigate | Old Frigate |
| Patrol Yacht | Patrol Yacht |
| PC | Submarine Chaser |
| PCC | Control Submarine Chaser |
| PCE | Patrol Escort (steel hulled) |
| PCEC | Control Patrol Escort |
| PCE(R) | Patrol Rescue Escort |
| PCS | Submarine Chaser |
| PCSC | Control Submarine Chaser |
| PE | Eagle (Patrol) Boat |
| PF | Patrol Escort or Frigate |
| PG | Gunboat Corvette (1942-43) |
| PGM | Motor Gunboat |
| PR | River Gunboat (Yangtze River Patrol) |
| PTB | Personnel Transfer Boat |
| PY | Patrol Vessel, Converted Yacht |
| PYc | Patrol Vessel, Converted Yacht Coastal |
| Revenue Cutter | Coast Guard Revenue Cutter |
| Sail Frigate | Sail Frigate |
| SC | Cruiser Submarine |
| Screw Sloop | Screw Sloop |
| Screw Steamer | Screw Steamer |
| Second Class Battleship | Second Class Battleship |
| SF | Fleet Submarine |
| Ship of the Line | Ship of the Line |
| Sloop of War | Sloop of War |
| SM | Mine Laying Submarine |
| SP | Scout (Section) Patrol Craft (WW I) |
| SS | Submarine |
| SSA | Cargo Submarine |
| SSBN | Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine (nuc.) |
| SSG | Guided Missile Submarine |
| SSGN | Guided Missile Submarine (nuc.) |
| SSK | Antisubmarine Submarine |
| SSN | Attack Submarine (nuc.) |
| SSO | Oiler Submarine |
| SSP | Transport Submarine |
| SSR | Radar Picket Submarine |
| SSRN | Radar Picket Submarine (nuc.) |
| SST | Training Submarine |
| Steam Sloop | Steam Sloop |
| Steamer | Steamer |
| Steel Bark | Steel Bark |
| Survey Ship | Survey Ship |
| T-AGM | Military Sealift Command Missile Range Instrumentation Ship |
| T-AGS | Military Sealift Command Survey Ship |
| T-AH | Military Sealift Command Hospital Ship |
| T-AKE | Military Sealift Command Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship |
| T-AKR | Military Sealift Command Vehicle Cargo Ship |
| T-AKV | Military Sealift Command Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry |
| T-CVU | Military Sealift Command Utility Aircraft Carrier |
| TB | Torpedo Boat |
| Troop Transport | Troop Transport |
| TT | Troop Transport (WW I) |
| WAG | Coast Guard Miscellaneous Auxiliary |
| WAGB | Coast Guard Icebreaker |
| WAGC | Coast Guard Amphibious Force Flagship |
| WAGE | Coast Guard Examination Vessel (?) |
| WAGL | Coast Guard Lighthouse Tender |
| WAGO | Coast Guard Oceanographic Cutter |
| WAGR | Coast Guard Radar Picket Ship |
| WAK | Coast Guard Cargo Ship |
| WAO | Coast Guard Oiler (fuel oil) |
| WARC | Coast Guard Cable Repairing or Laying Ship |
| WAT | Coast Guard Tug (ocean going) |
| WATF | Coast Guard Fleet Ocean Tug |
| WATO | Coast Guard Ocean Tug, Old |
| WAVP | Coast Guard Small Seaplane Tender |
| WDE | Coast Guard Destroyer Escort |
| WHEC | Coast Guard High Endurance Cutter |
| WIX | Coast Guard Unclassified Miscellaneous Vessel |
| WLB | Coast Guard Seagoing Buoy Tender |
| WLM | Coast Guard Coastal Buoy Tender |
| WMEC | Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutter |
| WPB | Coast Guard Patrol Craft |
| WPC | Coast Guard Submarine Chaser |
| WPF | Coast Guard Patrol Escort or Frigate |
| WPG | Coast Guard Gunboat |
| WPR | Coast Guard River Gunboat |
| WSC | Coast Guard Patrol Craft |
| WTR | Coast Guard Training Vessel |
| WYT | Coast Guard Harbor Tug |
| YAG | Miscellaneous Auxiliary |
| YAGR | Ocean Station Radar Ship |
| YDG | Degaussing Ship |
| YF | Covered Lighter |
| YFD | Yard Floating Dry Dock |
| YFNB | Large Covered Lighter |
| YH | Ambulance Boat |
| YMS | Motor Mine Sweeper |
| YN | Net Tender (boom) |
| YNg | Net Tender (gate vessel) |
| YNT | District Net Tender |
| YO | Fuel Oil Barge |
| YOG | Gasoline Barge |
| YP | Patrol Craft |
| YR | Floating Workshop |
| YRBM | Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge |
| YRST | Yard Salvage Craft Tender |
| YT | Harbor Tug |
| YTB | Large Harbor Tug |
| YTM | Medium Harbor Tug |
| YV | Drone Aircraft Catapult Control Ship |
| YW | Water Barge |
If a designation is missing from this list, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Hull Designation Index Pages for detailed information on editing this page.
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