Ships By Designation
This index lists U.S. Navy hull designations grouped into general categories. The categories are:
| Aircraft Carriers | Battleships | Cruisers | Destroyers and Frigates |
| Submarines | Amphibious Ships | Mine Warfare Vessels | Patrol Craft |
| Auxiliaries | Unclassified | Coast Guard | Other |
Each designation is a link to a page for the given designation. That page lists 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 in alphabetical order.
Aircraft Carriers
| Designation | Description |
| ACV | Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier |
| AVT | Auxiliary Aircraft Transport / Training Carrier (1978) |
| 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 |
| T-CVE | Military Sealift Command Escort Aircraft Carrier |
| T-CVU | Military Sealift Command Utility Aircraft Carrier |
Battleships
| Designation | Description |
| BB | Battleship |
Cruisers
| Designation | Description |
| ACR | Armored Cruiser (pre 1920) |
| C | Protected Cruiser (pre 1920) |
| CA | Heavy Cruiser |
| CAG | Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser |
| CB | Large Cruiser |
| C-C | Battle Cruiser |
| CG | Guided Missile Cruiser (from 1975) |
| 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 |
| CS | Scout Cruiser (pre 1920) |
Destroyers and Frigates
| Designation | Description |
| AGFF | Frigate Research Ship |
| 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.) |
| EDD | Destroyer (Experimental) |
| EDDE | Escort Destroyer (Experimental) |
| EDE | Destroyer Escort (Experimental) |
| FF | Frigate (from 1975) |
| FFG | Guided Missile Frigate (from 1975) |
| FFR | Radar Picket Frigate (from 1975) |
| FFT | Training Frigate (from 1990) |
Submarines
| Designation | Description |
| AGSS | Auxiliary Submarine |
| AOSS | Submarine Oiler |
| APS | Transport Submarine (WW II) |
| APSS | Transport Submarine |
| ASSA | Cargo Submarine |
| ASSP | Transport Submarine |
| DSRV | Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle |
| DSV | Deep Submergence (Research) Vehicle |
| ESS | Submarine (Experimental) |
| IXSS | Miscellaneous Submarine |
| NR | Submersible Research Vessel (nuc.) |
| PRM | Pressurized Rescue Module |
| SC | Cruiser Submarine |
| SF | Fleet Submarine |
| SM | Mine Laying Submarine |
| 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 |
| SSX | Midget Submarine |
| TROV | Torpedo ROV |
Amphibious Ships
| Designation | Description |
| AGC | Amphibious Force Flagship |
| AKA | Attack Cargo Ship |
| APA | Attack Transport |
| EPF | Expeditionary Fast Transport |
| JHSV | Joint High Speed Vessel |
| LCC | Amphibious Command Ship |
| LCI | Landing Craft Infantry |
| LCI(G) | Landing Craft Infantry, Gunboat |
| LCI(L) | Landing Craft Infantry, Large |
| LCS | Littoral Combat Ship |
| LCS(L)(3) | Landing Craft, Support (Large) |
| 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 |
| MLP | Mobile Landing Platform Ship |
| T-ESB | Expeditionary Mobile Base |
| T-ESD | Expeditionary Transfer Dock |
Mine Warfare Vessels
| Designation | Description |
| ACM | Auxiliary Mine Layer |
| AM | Minesweeper |
| AMc | Coastal Minesweeper |
| AMCU | Coastal Minesweeper Underwater Locator |
| AMS | Motor Minesweepers Ship |
| CM | Mine Layer |
| CMc | Coastal Mine Layer |
| DM | Destroyer Minelayer |
| DMS | Destroyer Minesweeper |
| EMSF | Fleet Minesweeper (steel hull) (Experimental) |
| 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 | Coastal Minesweeper |
| MSC(O) | Coastal Minesweeper (Old) |
| MSF | Fleet Minesweeper (steel hull) |
| MSO | Ocean Minesweeper (non-magnetic) |
| YMS | Motor Mine Sweeper |
Patrol Craft
| Designation | Description |
| AGEH | Patrol Research Ship (Hydrofoil) |
| EPCER | Patrol Rescue Escort (Experimental) |
| PC | Submarine Chaser (WWII) |
| PC | Patrol Craft Coastal |
| PCC | Control Submarine Chaser |
| PCE | Patrol Escort (steel hulled) |
| PCE(R) | Patrol Rescue Escort |
| PCEC | Control Patrol Escort |
| PCS | Submarine Chaser |
| PCSC | Control Submarine Chaser |
| PE | Eagle (Patrol) Boat |
| PF | Patrol Escort or Frigate |
| PG | Gunboat Corvette (1942-43) |
| PGH | Patrol Gunboat (Hydrofoil) |
| PGM / (PG after 1967) | Motor Gunboat |
| PHM | Patrol Combatant-Missile (Hydrofoil) |
| PR | River Gunboat (Yangtze River Patrol) |
| PT | Motor Torpedo Boat |
| PY | Patrol Vessel, Converted Yacht |
| PYc | Patrol Vessel, Converted Yacht Coastal |
| SP | Scout (Section) Patrol Craft (WW I) |
| TB | Torpedo Boat |
Auxiliaries
| Designation | Description |
| AB | Crane Ship (converted BB) |
| ABSD | Advance Base Sectional Dock |
| AC | Collier |
| 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 |
| AGDE | Escort Research Ship |
| AGDS | Deep Submergence Support Ship |
| AGER | Environmental Research Ship |
| AGF | Miscellaneous Command 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 |
| AGTR | Technical Research Ship |
| AH | Hospital Ship |
| AK | Cargo Ship |
| AKD | Cargo Ship Dock |
| AKL | Light Cargo Ship |
| AKN | Net Cargo Ship |
| AKS | General Stores Issue Ship |
| AKV | Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry |
| 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 |
| AP | Transport (troops) |
| APB | Self-propelled Barracks Ship |
| APD | High Speed Transport |
| APH | Transport (Wounded) |
| APL | Barracks Ship |
| APM | Mechanized Artillery Transport |
| APR | Rescue Transport |
| 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 |
| ARSD | Salvage Lifting 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| AW | Distilling Ship |
| AZ | Airship Tender |
| EAG | Miscellaneous Auxiliary (Experimental) |
| T-AE | Military Sealift Command Ammunition Ship |
| T-AF | Military Sealift Command Store Ship (Refrigerated) |
| T-AFS | Military Sealift Command Combat Store Ship |
| T-AG | Military Sealift Command Miscellaneous Auxiliary |
| T-AGM | Military Sealift Command Missile Range Instrumentation Ship |
| T-AGOR | Military Sealift Command Oceanographic Research Ship |
| T-AGOS | Military Sealift Command Ocean Surveillance Ship |
| T-AGS | Military Sealift Command Survey Ship |
| T-AH | Military Sealift Command Hospital Ship |
| T-AK | Military Sealift Command Cargo Ship |
| T-AKA | Military Sealift Command Attack Cargo 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-AO | Military Sealift Command Fleet Oiler |
| T-AOG | Military Sealift Command Fleet Gasoline Tanker |
| T-AOT | Military Sealift Command Fleet Oil Tanker |
| T-AP | Military Sealift Command Transport (Troops) |
| T-ARC | Military Sealift Command Cable Repairing or Laying Ship |
| T-ARS | Military Sealift Command Salvage Ship |
| T-ARVH | Military Sealift Command Aircraft Repair Ship, Helicopter |
| T-ATF | Military Sealift Command 226-ft Ocean Going Tug |
| T-LST | Military Sealift Command Tank Landing Ship |
| T-MLP | Military Sealift Command Mobile Landing Platform Ship |
"Unclassified Miscellaneous"
| Designation | Description |
| IX | Unclassified Miscellaneous Vessel |
Coast Guard
| Designation | Description |
| Boat | Coast Guard Boat (Less Than 64 feet in Length) |
| CGC | Coast Guard Cutter (pre 1942) |
| CGD | Coast Guard Destroyer (1924-1934) |
| Ferry | Coast Guard Ferry |
| Revenue Cutter | Coast Guard Revenue Cutter |
| WACV | Coast Guard Air Cushion Vehicle |
| 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 |
| WLBB | Coast Guard 240 ft Buoy Tender and Icebreaker |
| WLI | Coast Guard 65ft / 100ft Inland Buoy Tender |
| WLIC | Coast Guard 75ft / 100ft / 160ft Inland Construction Tender |
| WLM | Coast Guard Coastal Buoy Tender |
| WLR | Coast Guard Coastal Buoy Tender |
| WLV | Coast Guard Lightship |
| WMEC | Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutter |
| WMLB | Coast Guard 52 ft Motor Lifeboat |
| WMSL | Coast Guard 418 ft Maritime Security Cutter, Large |
| WPB | Coast Guard Patrol Craft |
| WPC | Coast Guard Submarine Chaser |
| WPF | Coast Guard Patrol Escort or Frigate |
| WPG | Coast Guard Gunboat |
| WPGH | Coast Guard Patrol Craft (Hydrofoil) |
| WPR | Coast Guard River Gunboat |
| WSC | Coast Guard Patrol Craft |
| WSES | Coast Guard Test Craft |
| WTGB | Coast Guard 140 ft Icebreaking Tug |
| WTR | Coast Guard Training Vessel |
| WYP | Coast Guard 100-foot Patrol Boat |
| WYT | Coast Guard 110-foot Harbor Tug |
| WYTL | Coast Guard 65-foot Harbor Tug |
| WYTM | Coast Guard 110-foot Tug, Medium |
Other
| Designation | Description |
| (None) | Vessels with no designation |
| Austrian Battleship | Austrian Battleship |
| Auxiliary Cruiser | Auxiliary Cruiser |
| Bark | Bark |
| BM | Monitor |
| Brigantine | Brigantine |
| CC | Command Ship |
| Collier | Collier |
| CofE | US Army Corps of Engineers |
| FSF | Fast Sea Frame |
| German Battleship | German Battleship |
| Gunboat | Gunboat |
| Hospital Ship | Hospital Ship |
| NOTS | Naval Overseas Transport Service Ship (WW I) |
| Old Frigate | Old Frigate |
| Patrol Yacht | Patrol Yacht |
| Sail Frigate | Sail Frigate |
| Screw Sloop | Screw Sloop |
| Screw Steamer | Screw Steamer |
| Second Class Battleship | Second Class Battleship |
| Ship of the Line | Ship of the Line |
| Sloop of War | Sloop of War |
| Steam Sloop | Steam Sloop |
| Steamer | Steamer |
| Steel Bark | Steel Bark |
| Survey Ship | Survey Ship |
| Troop Transport | Troop Transport |
| TT | Troop Transport (WW I) |
| WYT | Coast Guard Harbor Tug |
| YAG | Miscellaneous Auxiliary |
| YAGR | Ocean Station Radar Ship |
| YDG | Degaussing Ship |
| YF | Covered Lighter |
| YFB | Ferryboat or Launch |
| YFD | Yard Floating Dry Dock |
| YFNB | Large Covered Lighter |
| YFP | Floating Power Barge |
| YH | Ambulance Boat |
| YMLC | Salvage Lifting Craft Medium |
| YMS | Motor Mine Sweeper |
| YN | Net Tender (boom) |
| YNg | Net Tender (gate vessel) |
| YO | Fuel Oil Barge |
| YOG | Gasoline Barge |
| YP | Patrol Craft |
| YR | Floating Workshop |
| YRBM | Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge |
| 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.
Copyright 2024 Naval Cover Museum