Ship genera and categories of the US Navy

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US Naval Jack
Ships of the
US Navy

A - B - C - D - E - F - G
H - I - J - K - L - M - N
O - P - Q - R - S - T - U
V - W - X - Y - Z

Lists of
United States Navy ships
by type
Amphibious warfare
Aircraft carrier
Frigates
Frigates (sails)
Escort aircraft carrier
Escort destroyer
Auxiliary ships
cruiser
Ships of the line
Airships
Anti-mine units
Patrol boats
Battleships
Submarines
destroyer
and their additional
information
Ship categories
Camouflage schemes
Combat systems

List of ship types and categories of the United States Navy . The list contains the classification system with the most common and widely used categories of ships in the United States Navy.

In general, the ships of the United States Navy are clearly registered in the shipping register by at least two letters followed by a serial number. To identify a ship and what its function is, it is of great help to be able to decipher the letter code. From 1920, the US Navy introduced a system of genres and categories. The following table lists the generic letters introduced at the time that are still in use today.

Letter designation German
A. Auxiliary Auxiliary ship
B. Battleship Battleship
C. Cruiser cruiser
D. Destroyer destroyer
P Patrol Vessel Guard / small combat ship
S. Submarine Submarines
V Heavier-than-air craft Airplane 1
Y District craft Emergency service vehicle
Z Lighter-than-air craft Airship
  • 1 This genus explains the V in the letter symbol of many aircraft carrier categories

Genus amphibious warships

Letter code designation German
AGC Amphibious Force Flagship Landing fleet ship
LCC Amphibious Command Ship Amphibious lead ship
LHA Amphibious Assault Ship Multipurpose amphibious assault ship
LHD Amphibious Assault Ship Amphibious universal ship
LKA Amphibious cargo ship Amphibious cargo ship
LPA Amphibious transporter Amphibious troop transport
LPD Amphibious Transport Dock Amphibious transport dock ship
LPH Amphibious Assault Ship Amphibious helicopter carrier
LPR Small amphibious transporter Small amphibious troop transport
LSD Dock Landing Ship Dock landing ship
LST Tank Landing Ship Tank landing ship
LSU Utility Landing Ship Multipurpose landing ship
LCAC Landing Craft Air Cushion Landing craft air cushion

Type of aircraft carrier

Letter code designation German
CV Multi-purpose aircraft carrier Multipurpose aircraft carrier
CVA Attack Aircraft Carrier Attack aircraft carrier
CVAN Attack Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear Propulsion) nuclear powered aircraft carrier
CVB Large aircraft carrier Large aircraft carrier
CVE Escort Aircraft Carrier Escort aircraft carrier
CVHE Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier Riding helicopter carrier
CVL Small aircraft carrier Light aircraft carrier
CVN Multi-Purpose Aircraft Carrier multi-role nuclear powered aircraft carrier
CVS ASW Aircraft Carrier Anti-submarine aircraft carrier
CVT Training aircraft carrier Training aircraft carrier

Type of command ships

Letter code designation German
CC Command ship Lead ship
CLC Tactical Command Ship Tactical lead ship

Genus escort ships and frigates

Letter code designation German
DE Destroyer escort Escort destroyer
DEG Guided Missile Destroyer Escort Guided missile escort destroyer
OF THE Radar Picket Destroyer Escort Radar early warning destroyer
FF Frigate frigate
FFG Guided Missile Frigate Guided missile frigate
FFR Radar Picket Frigate Radar early warning frigate
FFT Training frigate School frigate

Cruiser class

Letter code designation German
ACR Armored cruiser Armored cruiser
C. Cruiser cruiser
CA Gun cruiser Artillery cruiser
CAG Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser Heavy guided missile cruiser
CB Large cruiser Big cruiser
CG Guided Missile Cruiser Guided missile cruiser
CL Light cruiser Light cruiser
CLG Guided Missile Light Cruiser Light guided missile cruiser
OCA Cruiser, second line Second class cruiser
OCL Light cruiser, second line Second class light cruiser

Type of mine warships

Letter code designation German
ACM Auxiliary Mine Layer Auxiliary miners
AT THE Mine sweeper Mine clearers
AMC Coastal Mine Sweeper Deminers
AMCU Mine Hunter Mine hunter
CMC Coastal mine layer Coast Mine Layers
DM Minelayer, destroyer Destroyer minelayer
DMS Minesweeper, destroyer Destroyer deminers
MCM Mine Countermeasure Ship Anti-mine ship
MHA Minelayer, auxiliary Auxiliary miners
MHC Minehunter, Coastal Coast mine hunters
MM Minelayer, Fleet Fleet miners
MMA Minelayer, auxiliary Auxiliary miners
MMC Minelayer, Coastal Coast Mine Layers
MMD Minelayer, Fast fast mine-layer

Genus battleships

Letter code designation German
BB Battleship Battleship
BBG Guided Missile Battleship Guided missile battleship
BM monitor monitor
OBB Battleship, second line Second class battleship
OBM Monitor, second line Second class monitor

Category of submarines

Letter code designation German
OSS Submarine, second line Second class submarine
SC Fleet submarine, cruiser type Submarine cruiser
SF Fleet Submarine, first line First class fleet submarine
SS Submarine Submarine
SSB Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Strategic missile submarine
SSBN Ballistic Missile Submarine, nuclear propulsion nuclear powered strategic submarine
SSG Guided Missile Submarine Guided missile submarine
SSGN Guided Missile Submarine, nuclear propulsion nuclear powered guided missile submarine
SSN Submarine, nuclear propulsion nuclear powered submarine ship
SSO Submarine oilers Submarine tankers
SSR Radar Picket Submarine Radar early warning submarine
SST Training submarine School submarine

Genus destroyer

Letter code designation German
DD Destroyer destroyer
DDE Anti-Submarine Destroyer Anti-submarine destroyer
DDG Guided Missile Destroyer Guided missile destroyer
DDK Hunter-Killer Destroyer Anti-submarine destroyer
GDR Radar Picket Destroyer Radar early warning destroyer
DL Destroyer Leader Great destroyer
DLG Guided Missile Destroyer Leader Large guided missile destroyer
DLGN Guided Missile Destroyer Leader, Nuclear Propulsion nuclear powered large guided missile destroyer
ODD Destroyer, second line Second class destroyer

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