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
Web links / sources
Stefan Terzibaschitsch : US Navy aircraft carrier - fleet aircraft carrier / escort aircraft carrier . 3. Edition. Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn 1999, ISBN 3-7637-6200-0
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: The aircraft of the US Navy . Wehr & Wissen Verlag, Koblenz / Bonn 1980, ISBN 3-8033-0309-5
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: US Navy cruisers from the Omaha class to Long Beach . Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1997, ISBN 3-86047-588-6
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Destroyer of the US Navy from the Farragut class to the Forrest Sherman class . Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1997, ISBN 3-86047-587-8
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Escort ships of the US Navy from the Evarts to the Claud Jones class . Koehler Verlag, October 1998, ISBN 3-7822-0457-3
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Combat systems of the US: Navy . Koehler Verlag, Hamburg 2001, ISBN 3-7822-0806-4
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: US Navy battleships in World War II . Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn 2001, ISBN 3-7637-6217-5
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: The ships of the US Navy . Koehler Verlag, Hamburg 2002, ISBN 3-7822-0846-3
Stefan Terzibaschitsch: Sea power USA . Bernard & Graefe, Bonn 1982, ISBN 3-8033-0327-3
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