The United States Navy uses hull classification symbols (sometimes called hull codes) to identify the types of its ships. See also pennant number, a somewhat analogous system used by the Royal Navy and some European and Commonwealth navies.
The combination of symbol and hull number identify a modern Navy ship uniquely. A heavily modified or repurposed ship may receive a new symbol, and either retain the hull number or receive a new one. Also, the system of symbols has changed a number of times since it was introduced in 1907, so ships' symbols sometimes change without anything being done to the physical ship.
Many of these symbols listed here are not presently in use. The Naval Vessel Register maintains an online database of US Navy ships.
The 1975 ship reclassification of cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts brought US Navy classifications into line with other nations' classifications, and eliminated the perceived "cruiser gap" with the Soviet Navy.
If a ship's hull classification symbol begins with "T-", it is part of the Military Sealift Command and has a primarily civilian crew.
Warships are designed to participate in combat operations.
Aircraft Carrier Type
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. The "CV" designation was originally derived from cruisers, since aircraft carriers were seen as an extension of the sea control and denial mission of cruisers. The "V" designation for heavier than air craft comes from the French verb "Voler" (to fly). Since 1935, "CV" has been a two-letter, unitary hull classification symbol, meaning "aircraft carrier." Aircraft carriers are designated in two sequences: The first, which has run from CV-1 USS Langley to the very latest ships, and the second, the CVE escort carrier sequence, ran from CVE-1 Long Island to CVE-128 Okinawa before being discontinued. *AVG Auxiliary Aircraft Ferry (Escort carrier) (1941-2) *ACV Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier (Escort carrier) (1942) *CV Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier *CVA Attack Aircraft Carrier (category merged into CV, 30 June 1975) *CVAN Attack Aircraft Carrier, Nuclear (category merged into CVN, 30 June 1975) *CVB Large Aircraft Carrier (category merged into CVA, 1952) *CVE Escort aircraft carrier (retired) (1943-retirement of type) *CVHA Assault Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired in favor of various L-series amphibious assault ship hull codes) *CVHE Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired) *CVL Light aircraft carrier (retired) *CVN Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear-Propulsion) *CVS Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (retired) *CVT Training Aircraft Carrier (changed to AVT (Auxiliary)) *CVU Utility Aircraft Carrier (retired)
Surface Combatant Type
Surface ships which are designed primarily to engage enemy forces on the high seas. The primary surface combatants are battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Battleships are very heavily armed and armored; cruisers moderately so; destroyers and smaller warships, less so. Before 1920, ships were called " no. X," with the type fully pronounced. The types were commonly abbreviated in ship lists to "B-X," "C-X," "D-X" et cetera - for example, before 1920, USS Minnesota (BB-22) would have been called "USS Minnesota, Battleship number 22" verbally and "USS Minnesota, B-22" in writing. After 1920, the ship's name would have been both written and pronounced "USS Minnesota (BB-22)" In generally decreasing size, the types are: *B Battleship (pre-1920) *BB Battleship *BBG Guided Missile Battleship (theoretical only, never assigned) *BM Monitor (1920-retirement) *ACR Armored Cruiser (pre-1920) *C Cruiser (pre-1920 Protected Cruisers and Peace Cruisers) *CA (first series) Cruiser (retired, composed all surviving pre-1920 Protected and Peace Cruisers) *CA (second series) Heavy Cruiser, category later renamed Gun Cruiser (retired) *CAG Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser (retired) *CB Battlecruiser (retired) *CBC Large Command Cruiser (retired, never used operationally) *CC Battlecruiser (retired, never used operationally) *CC (second usage) Command Cruiser (retired) *CG Guided Missile Cruiser *CGN Guided Missile Cruiser (Nuclear-Propulsion) *CL Light Cruiser (retired) *CLAA Antiaircraft Cruiser (retired) *CLG Guided Missile Light Cruiser (retired) *CLGN Guided Missile Light Cruiser (Nuclear-Propulsion) (retired) *CLK Hunter-Killer Cruiser (abolished 1951) *CS Scout Cruiser (retired) *CSGN Strike Cruiser *D Destroyer (pre-1920) *DD Destroyer *DDE Escort Destroyer (not to be confused with Destroyer Escort, DE - an Escort Destroyer, DDE, was a Destroyer, DD, converted for antisubmarine warfare) (category abolished 1962) *DDG Guided Missile Destroyer *DDK Hunter-Killer Destroyer (category merged into DDE, 4 March1950) *DDR Radar Picket Destroyer (retired) *DE Destroyer Escort (World War II, later became Ocean Escort) *DE Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June1975) *DEG Guided Missile Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June1975) *DER Radar Picket Destroyer Escort (abolished 30 June1975)
A word about the DE type symbol is in order here. There were two distinct breeds of DE, the World War II Destroyer Escorts (some of which were converted to DERs) and the postwar DE/DEG classes, which were known as Ocean Escorts despite carrying the same type symbol as the WWII Destroyer Escorts. All DEs, DEGs, and DERs were reclassified as FFs, FFGs, or FFRs, 30 June1975. *DL Destroyer Leader (later Frigate) (retired) *DLG Guided Missile Frigate (abolished 30 June1975) *DLGN Guided Missile Frigate (Nuclear-Propulsion) (abolished 30 June1975)
The DL category was established in 1951 with the abolition of the CLK category. CLK 1 became DL 1 and DD 927-930 became DL 2-5. By the mid-1950s the term Destroyer Leader had been dropped in favor of Frigate. Most DLGs and DLGNs were reclassified as CGs and CGNs, 30 June1975. However, DLG 6-15 became DDG 37-46. The old DLs were already gone by that time. *DM Destroyer Minelayer (retired) *FF Frigate (retired) *FFG Guided Missile Frigate *FFR Radar Picket Frigate (retired) *FFT Frigate (Reserve Training) (retired)
The FF, FFG, and FFR designations were established 30 June1975 as new type symbols for ex-DEs, DEGs, and DERs. The first new-build ships to carry the FF/FFG designation were the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class frigates. A new series of frigate-size warships for shallow-water combat at expense of battlegroup performance is under production: *K Corvette (retired] *LCS Littoral Combat Ship *M Monitor (1880s-1920)
Note that this list is from a United States Navy perspective. Frigate and Corvette designations are used in other navies.
Submarine type
All self-propelled submersible types (usually started with SS meaning submersible ship) regardless of whether employed as combatant, auxiliary, or research and development vehicles which have at least a residual combat capability. *SC Cruiser Submarine (retired) *SF Fleet Submarine (retired) *SM Submarine Minelayer (retired) *SS Submarine (none in commission) *SSA Cargo Submarine (retired) *SSK Hunter-Killer Submarine (retired) *SSN Attack Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) *SSBN Ballistic Missile Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) *SSG Guided Missile Submarine (retired) *SSGN Guided Missile Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) *SSO Submarine Oiler (retired) *SSP Submarine Transport (retired) *SSR Radar Picket Submarine (retired) *SSRN Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) (retired) *SST Training Submarine (retired)
There have been several other submarine designations which did not begin with SS, included here for completeness: *AGSS Auxiliary Submarine *AOSS Submarine Oiler (retired) *ASSP Transport Submarine (retired) *APSS Transport Submarine (retired) *LPSS Amphibious Transport Submarine (retired)(Note: SSP, ASSP, APSS, and LPSS were all the same type, redesignated over the years.) *IXSS Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine *MTS Moored Training Ship (Navy Nuclear Prototype School Training Platform; Reconditioned SSBN's)
Patrol Combatant Type
Combatants whose mission may extend beyond coastal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping providing a capability for operations exceeding 48 hours on the high seas without support. Few in service today. *PC Coastal Patrol, originally Sub Chaser *PCF Vietnam Swift Boat *PE Eagle Boat of World War I *PF World War II Frigate, Based on British River class. **PFG Original designation of USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) *PG Gunboat, later Patrol combatant *PT Motor Torpedo Boat (World War II) *PGH Patrol Combatant, Hydrofoil *PHM Patrol, Hydrofoil Missile
Amphibious Warfare Type
All ships having organic capability for amphibious assault and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. There are two classifications of craft here, the amhibious assault ships, built to cross oceans, and Landing Craft, to take men from the ship to the shore in an invasion.
All ships whose primary function is mine warfare on the high seas. *AM Minesweeper *AMb Harbor Minesweeper *AMc Coastal Minesweeper *AMCU Underwater Mine Locater *MSO Minesweeper - Ocean *MSC Minesweeper - Coastal *MCM Mine Countermeasures Ship *MCS Mine Countermeasures Support Ship *MH(C)(I)(O)(S) Minehunter, (Coastal)(Inshore)(Ocean)(Hunter and Sweeper,General) *CM Minelayer *CMc Coastal Minelayer *MLC Coastal Minelayer *DM Destroyer Minelayer
Coastal Defense Type
All ships whose primary function is coastal patrol and interdiction. *FS Corvette *PB Patrol boat *PC Patrol, Coastal *PCE Patrol Escort *PF Frigate, in a role similar to World War II Commonwealth corvette *SP Shore Patrol
