List of hull classifications

The list of hull classifications comprises an alphabetical list of the hull classification symbols used by the United States Navy to identify the type of a ship.

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 the symbols listed here are not presently in use. The Naval Vessel Register maintains an online database of U.S. Navy ships.

The 1975 ship reclassification of cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts brought U.S. 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 has "T-" preceding it, that symbolizes that it is a ship of the Military Sealift Command, with a primarily civilian crew.

A

 * AALC: Amphibious Assault Landing Craft
 * AARCS: Air Raid Report Control Ship
 * AASGP: Amphibious Assault Ship, General Purpose
 * AB: Crane Ship
 * ABU: Boom defense vessel
 * AC: Collier
 * ACR: Armored Cruiser (pre-1920)
 * ACS: Auxiliary Crane Ship
 * ACV: Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier (Escort carrier) (1942)
 * AD: Destroyer Tender
 * ADC: Ammunition Storage Cargo ship
 * ADG: Degaussing Ship (ADG = Auxiliary Degaussing General)
 * ADS: Air Defense Ship
 * AE: Ammunition Ship
 * AEFS: Fleet replenishment ship
 * AEM: Ammunition Ship, Missile (retired)
 * AF: Refrigerated ship
 * AFDB: Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
 * AFDL: Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
 * AFDM: Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock
 * AFDS: Auxiliary Fighter Directing Ship
 * AFS: Combat Stores Ship
 * AG: Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG = Auxiliary General)
 * AGB: Icebreaker
 * AGCL: Auxiliary General Communication (ship), Light
 * AGD: Degaussing Ship
 * AGDE: Testing Ocean Escort
 * AGDS: Deep Submergence Support Ship
 * AGE: General Purpose Experimental Ship (AGE = Auxiliary General Experimental)
 * AGER: Environmental Research Ship
 * AGF: Miscellaneous Command Ship
 * AGFF: Testing Frigate
 * AGH: Weather Ship (AGH = Auxiliary General Hydrometeorology)
 * AGHS: Hydroplane research ship
 * AGI: Intelligence Collecting Ship (AGI = Auxiliary General Intelligence)
 * AGM: Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
 * AGMR: Auxiliary Major Communication Relay Ship
 * AGOR: Oceanographic Research Ship
 * AGOS: Ocean Surveillance Ship
 * AGP: Patrol Craft Tender
 * AGR: Radar Picket Ship (retired)
 * AGS: Surveying Ship
 * AGSL: Auxiliary General Satellilte Launching ship
 * AGSS: Auxiliary Submarine
 * AGT: Target ship (AGT = Auxiliary General Target)
 * AGTR: Technical research ship
 * AH: Hospital ship
 * AHC: Auxiliary Helicopter Carrier
 * AHP: Medical Evacuation Ship
 * AIRIS: Aviation store issue ship
 * AK: Cargo Ship
 * AKA: Attack Cargo Ship
 * AKB: Cargo Ship, Barge
 * AKD: Cargo Ship, Dock (cargo dock ship)
 * AKE: Underway Replenishment Dry Cargo Ship
 * AKF: Float-on/Float-off (flo-flo) Ship
 * AKFBM: Fleet ballistic missile trial ship
 * AKL: Cargo Ship, Light
 * AKN: Cargo Ship, Net
 * AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ship (Cargo Ship, Roll-on/Roll-off)
 * AKS: Store Issue Ship
 * AKV: Cargo Ship, Aircraft Transport
 * AKX: Container ship
 * AL: Auxiliary Lighter
 * AM: Minesweeper or MCM tender
 * AMb: Harbor Minesweeper
 * AMc: Coastal Minesweeper
 * AMCU: Underwater Mine Locater
 * AN: Net Laying Ship
 * AO: Fleet Oiler
 * AOE: Fast Combat Support Ship
 * AOG: Gasoline Tanker
 * AOR: Replenishment Oiler
 * AOS: Specialized Oiler/Tanker
 * AOSS: Submarine Oiler (retired)
 * AOT: Transport/Storage Oiler
 * AP: Transport
 * APA: Attack Transport
 * APB: Self-Propelled Barracks Ship
 * APC: Transport, Coastal
 * APD: High Speed Transport
 * APF: Administrative flagship
 * APG: Coastal artillery supply ship
 * APH: Ambulance Transport
 * APL: Barracks Craft
 * APP: Troop Barge
 * APR: Cargo ship, rescue / med evac
 * APS: Minelaying Submarine (retired)
 * APSS: Transport Submarine (retired)
 * APT: Troop transport
 * APV: Aircraft transport
 * APY: Large Y-boat (large Rigid-hulled inflatable boat)
 * AR: Repair ship
 * ARB: Repair Ship, Battle damage
 * ARC: Cable Repair Ship
 * ARD: Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock
 * ARDM: Medium Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock
 * ARG: Marine engine repair ship
 * ARH: Heavy repair ship (ARH = Auxiliary Repair, Heavy)
 * ARIS: Space exploration tracking ship
 * ARL: Small Repair Ship (ARL = Auxiliary Repair, Light)
 * ARM: Heavy machinery repair ship (ARM = Auxiliary Repair, Machinery, heavy)
 * ARR: Repair ship, radioactive
 * ARS: Rescue/Salvage Ship
 * ARDS: Salvage Lifting Ship
 * ARST: Auxiliary Rescue Salvage Tender
 * ARV: Aircraft repair ship
 * ARVA: Aircraft repair ship
 * ARVE: Aviation engine repair ship
 * ARVH: Helicopter repair ship
 * AS: Submarine tender
 * ASPB: Assault Support Patrol Boat
 * ASR: Submarine Rescue Ship
 * ASSP: Transport Submarine (retired)
 * AT: Ocean Going Tug
 * ATA: Auxiliary Ocean Tug
 * ATC: Armored Troop Carrier
 * ATF: Fleet Ocean Tug
 * ATR: Rescue tug (ATR = Auxiliary Tug, Rescue)
 * ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ship
 * AV: Seaplane Tender
 * AVB: Aviation Logistics Support Ship
 * AVC: Large catapult lighter (for launching seaplanes)
 * AVD: Seaplane Tender Destroyer (retired)
 * AVG: Auxiliary Aircraft Ferry (Escort carrier) (1941-2)
 * AVM: Missile trial ship
 * AVP: Seaplane Tender, light
 * AVS: Helicopter training ship
 * AVT: Auxiliary Aircraft Landing Training Ship
 * AW: Distilling Ship
 * AWT: Water Tanker
 * AX: Training ship
 * AXS: Training ship, sail
 * AXT: Training ship tender
 * AZ: Airship Tender (retired)

B

 * B: Battleship (pre-1920)
 * BB: Battleship
 * BM: Monitor (retired)

C

 * 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: Heavy Cruiser, Guided Missile (retired)
 * CB: Large cruiser (retired)
 * CBC: Large Command Cruiser (retired, never used operationally)
 * CC: Battlecruiser (retired, never used operationally)
 * CC: (second usage) Command Cruiser (retired); cruiser
 * CG: Guided Missile Cruiser
 * CGN: Guided Missile Cruiser (Nuclear-Propulsion)
 * CL: Light Cruiser (retired)
 * CLAA: Antiaircraft Cruiser (retired)
 * CLG: Light Cruiser, Guided Missile (retired)
 * CLGN: Light Cruiser, Guided Missile (Nuclear propulsion) (retired)
 * CLK: Hunter-Killer Cruiser (abolished 1951)
 * CM: Minelayer
 * CMc: Coastal Minelayer
 * CS: Scout Cruiser (retired)
 * CSGN: Strike Cruiser (Proposed, never used operationally)
 * CV: Aircraft Carrier
 * CVA: Attack Aircraft Carrier (retired)
 * CVB: Large Aircraft Carrier (category merged into CVA, 1952)
 * CVE: Escort aircraft carrier (retired) (1943-retirement of type)
 * CVF: Future Aircraft carrier (used briefly for Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier)
 * CVHA: Assault Helicopter Aircraft Carrier (retired in favor of various L-series amphibious assault ship hull codes)
 * CVHE: Escort Aircraft Carrier, Helicopter (retired)
 * CVL: Light aircraft carrier (retired)
 * CVN: Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear-Propulsion)
 * CVS: Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (retired)
 * CVT: Training Aircraft Carrier (changed to AVT (Auxiliary))
 * CVU: Utility Aircraft Carrier (retired)

D

 * D: Destroyer (pre-1920)
 * DD: Destroyer
 * DDE: Escort destroyer (category abolished 1962)
 * DDG: Guided missile destroyer
 * DDK: Hunter-Killer Destroyer (category merged into DDE, 4 March 1950)
 * DDR: Radar Picket Destroyer (retired)
 * DE: Destroyer Escort (World War II, later became Ocean Escort)
 * DE: Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)
 * DEG: Guided Missile Ocean Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)
 * DER: Radar Picket Destroyer Escort (abolished 30 June 1975)
 * DL: Destroyer Leader (later Frigate) (retired)
 * DLG: Guided Missile Frigate (abolished 30 June 1975)
 * DLGN: Guided Missile Frigate (Nuclear-Propulsion) (abolished 30 June 1975)
 * DM: Destroyer Minelayer (retired)
 * DM: Destroyer Minesweeper (retired)
 * DSRV: Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle
 * DSV: Deep Submergence Vehicle

F

 * FF: Frigate (retired)
 * FFG: Guided Missile Frigate
 * FFH: Fast Frigate Helo
 * FFL: Light frigate
 * FFR: Radar Picket Frigate (retired)
 * FFT: Frigate (Reserve Training) (retired)
 * FS: Corvette

I

 * IX: Unclassified miscellaneous vessel
 * IXSS: Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine

L

 * LB: Landing Boat
 * LBE: Landing Barge, Emergency repair
 * LBS: Landing Barge, Support
 * LBV: Landing Boat, Vehicle
 * LC: Landing Craft
 * LCA: Landing Craft, Assault
 * LCAC: Landing Craft, Air Cushioned
 * LCB: Landing Craft, Barge
 * LCC: Landing Craft, Command
 * LCE: Landing Craft, Emergency repair
 * LCEOP: Landing Craft, Engine Overhaul Party
 * LCF: Landing Craft, Flak
 * LCFF: Landing Craft, Flotilla Flagship
 * LCG: Landing Craft, Gun
 * LCGL: Landing Craft, Gun, Large
 * LCGM: Landing Craft, Gun, Medium
 * LCH: Landing Craft, Heavy
 * LCI: Landing Craft, Infantry
 * LCIFF: Landing Craft, Infantry, Flotilla Flagship
 * LCIFL: Landing Craft, Infantry, Flotilla Leader
 * LCIG: Landing Craft, Infantry, Gun
 * LCIL: Landing Craft, Infantry, Large
 * LCIM: Landing Craft, Infantry, Medium
 * LCIR: Landing Craft, Infantry, Rocket
 * LCL: Landing Craft, Logistic
 * LCM: Landing Craft, Mechanized
 * LCN: Landing Craft, Navigation
 * LCOCU: Landing Craft, Obstacle Clearing Unit
 * LCP: Landing Craft, Personnel
 * LCPA: Landing Craft, Personnel, Air-Cushioned
 * LCPL: Landing Craft, Personnel, Large
 * LCPM: Landing Craft, Personnel, Medium
 * LCPN: Landing Craft, Personnel, Nested
 * LCPP: Landing Craft, Personnel, Plastic
 * LCPR: Landing Craft, Personnel, Ramped
 * LCPS: Landing Craft, Personnel, Survey
 * LCRL: Landing Craft, Rubber, Large
 * LCPR: Landing Craft, Rubber, Rocket
 * LCRS: Landing Craft, Rubber, Small
 * LCRU: Landing Craft, Recovery Unit
 * LCS: Littoral Combat Ship
 * LCSL: Landing Craft, Support (Large) (World War II era)
 * LCSM: Landing Craft, Support, Medium
 * LCSR: Landing Craft, Support, Rocket
 * LCSS: Landing Craft, Support, Small
 * LCT: Landing Craft, Tank (World War II era)
 * LCTA: Landing Craft, Tank, Armored
 * LCU: Landing Craft, Utility
 * LCV: Landing Craft, Vehicle
 * LCVP: Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel
 * LES: Landing boat, support
 * LHA: Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose)
 * LHD: Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose, i.e. added Landing Craft ability versus LHA)
 * LKA: Amphibious Cargo Ship (out of commission)
 * LPA: Landing Platform, Amphibious
 * LPD: Amphibious Transport, Dock (aka Landing Platform, Dock)
 * LPH: Landing Platform, Helicopter (out of commission)
 * LPSS: Amphibious Transport Submarine (retired)
 * LSA: Landing Ship, Assault
 * LSB: Landing Ship, Bombardment
 * LSD: Landing Ship, Dock
 * LSF: Landing Ship, Flagship
 * LSH: Landing Ship, Heavy or Helicopter
 * LSHL: Landing Ship, Headquarter, Large
 * LSI: Landing Ship, Infantry
 * LSIG: Landing Ship, Infantry, Gun
 * LSIL: Landing Ship, Infantry (Large) (formerly LCIL)
 * LSIM: Landing Ship, Infantry, Medium
 * LSL: Landing Ship, Logistics
 * LSM: Landing Ship, Medium
 * LSMR: Landing Ship, Medium, Rocket
 * LSR: Landing Ship, Rocket
 * LSS: Landing Ship, Support
 * LSSL: Landing Ship, Support (Large) (formerly LCSL)
 * LST: Landing Ship, Tank
 * LSTH: Landing Ship, Tank, Hospital
 * LSU: Landing Ship, Utility
 * LSV: Landing Ship Vehicle
 * LWT: Amphibious Warping Tug

M

 * MCM: Mine Countermeasures Ship
 * MCS: Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
 * MHC: Minehunter, Coastal
 * MHI: Mine Hunter Inshore
 * MLC: Motorized Landing Craft
 * MSO: Minesweeper - Ocean

N

 * NR: Submersible Research Vehicle

P

 * PB: Patrol boat
 * PBR: Patrol boat, River
 * PC: Coastal Patrol, originally Sub chaser
 * PCE: Patrol Escort
 * PCER: Patrol Escort, Rescue
 * PCF: Vietnam Patrol Craft Fast
 * PCSC: Patrol Craft, Submarine Chaser
 * PCV: Primary Control Vessel
 * 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
 * PGH: Patrol Combatant, Hydrofoil
 * PHM: Patrol, Hydrofoil Missile
 * PM: Monitor
 * PR: Riverine gun ship
 * PY: Seagoing gun ship
 * PT: Motor Torpedo Boat (World War II)

S

 * SC: Cruiser Submarine (retired)
 * SF: Fleet Submarine (retired)
 * SM: Submarine Minelayer (retired)
 * SP: Shore Patrol
 * SS: Attack Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
 * SSA: Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
 * SSAN: Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine (Nuclear Power)
 * SSB: Ballistic Missile Submarine (Diesel Electric Power)
 * SSBN: Ballistic Missile Submarine (Nuclear-Powered)
 * SSC: Coastal Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power), over 150 tons
 * SSG: Guided Missile Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)
 * SSGN: Guided Missile Submarine (Nuclear-Powered)
 * SSI: Attack Submarine (Diesel Air-Independent Propulsion)
 * SSK: Hunter-Killer/ASW Submarine (retired)
 * SSM: Midget Submarine, under 150 tons
 * SSN: Attack Submarine (Nuclear-Powered)
 * SSO: Submarine Oiler (retired)
 * SSP: Attack Submarine (Diesel Air-Independent Power) (alternate use), formerly Submarine Transport
 * SSQ: Auxiliary Submarine, Communications (retired)
 * SSQN: Auxiliary Submarine, Communications (Nuclear-Powered)(retired)
 * SSR: Radar Picket Submarine (retired)
 * SSRN: Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear-Powered) (retired)
 * SST: Training Submarine (Diesel-Electric Power)

T

 * TCD: Small LSD
 * TGB: Icebreaking Tug
 * TR: Torpedo Retriver
 * TWR: Torpedo Weapon Retriever

W

 * W: United States Coast Guard

X

 * X: Submersible Craft

Y

 * YA: Ash lighterf
 * YAGR: Oceanic radar station
 * YAGT: Target barge
 * YC: Open Lighter
 * YCD: Oil storage barge
 * YCF: Car Float
 * YCV: Aircraft Transportation Lighter
 * YD: Floating Crane
 * YDG: Degaussing tender
 * YDT: Diving Tender
 * YE: Ammunition storage barge
 * YF: Covered Lighter
 * YFB: Ferry Boat or Launch
 * YFD: Yard Floating Dry Dock
 * YFN: Covered Lighter (non-self propelled)
 * YFNB: Large Covered Lighter (non-self propelled)
 * YFND: Dry Dock Companion Craft (non-self propelled)
 * YFNX: Lighter (Special purpose) (non-self propelled)
 * YFP: Floating Power Barge
 * YFR: Refrigerated Cover Lighter
 * YFRN: Refrigerated Covered Lighter (non-self propelled)
 * YFRT: Range Tender
 * YFU: Harbor Utility Craft
 * YG: Garbage Lighter
 * YGN: Garbage Lighter (non-self propelled)
 * YH: Ambulance craft
 * YHB: House boat
 * YHLC: Heavy (salvage) lifting craft
 * YHT: Heading scow
 * YLA: Open lighter, landing
 * YLLC: Salvage Lift Craft
 * YM: Dredge
 * YMN: Dredge (non-self propelled)
 * YMT: Motor tug
 * YN: Net tender
 * YND: net tender, district
 * YNG: Gate Craft
 * YNT: Net Tender
 * YO: Fuel Oil Barge
 * YOG: Gasoline Barge
 * YOGN: Gasoline Barge (non-self propelled)
 * YON: Fuel Oil Barge (non-self propelled)
 * YOS: Oil Storage Barge
 * YP: Patrol Craft, Training
 * YPD: Floating Pile Driver
 * YR: Floating Workshop
 * YRB: Repair and Berthing Barge
 * YRBM: Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge
 * YRDH: Floating Dry Dock Workshop (Hull)
 * YRDM: Floating Dry Dock Workshop (Machine)
 * YRR: Radiological Repair Barge
 * YRST: Salvage Craft Tender
 * YSD: Seaplane Wrecking Derrick
 * YSR: Sludge Removal Barge
 * YT: Harbor Tug (craft later assigned YTB, YTM, or YTM classifications)
 * YTB: Large Harbor Tug
 * YTL: Small Harbor Tug
 * YTM: Medium Harbor Tug
 * YTR: Rescue tug
 * YTT: Torpedo Trials Craft
 * YV: UAV recovery craft
 * YW: Water Barge
 * YWD: distilling craft
 * YWN: Water Barge (non-self propelled)

Z

 * ZMC: Airship Metal Clad
 * ZNN-G: G-Class Blimp
 * ZNN-J: J-Class Blimp
 * ZNN-L: L-Class Blimp
 * ZNP-K: K-Class Blimp
 * ZNP-M: M-Class Blimp
 * ZNP-N: N-Class Blimp
 * ZPG-3W: surveillance patrol blimp
 * ZR: Rigid Airship
 * ZRS: Rigid Airship