CURRENT US NAVY SHIP CLASSIFICATIONS
Designations currently in use or officially in effect are listed here, all others are no
longer in use. If you do not find the classification symbol you are looking for here
it may be in the US Navy Inactive Classification Symbol file.
The letter "T-" indicates that a goverment owned or bareboat-chartered ship is assigned to
Commander, MSC as type commander. "F-" indicates the ship is being constructed for a
foreign governmment. The letter "N" when used as the last letter of a ship classification symbol
denotes nuclear propulsion. When used as the last letter of a a service craft classification, it
indicates a non-delf-propelled version of a similar self-propelled service craft.
COMBATANT SHIP CATEGORY
1. Warship classification. Any commissioned ship built for or armed for naval combat.
a. Aircraft Carrier. 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.
Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) Aircraft Carriers
Multi-purpose Aircraft Carrier CVN
(Nuclear-Powered)
b. Surface Combatant. Surface ships which are designed primarily to engage in
attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets.
Cruisers
Guided Missile Cruiser CG
Destroyers
Guided Missile Destroyer DDG
Frigates
Guided Missile Frigate FFG
Littoral Combat Ship
Littoral Combat Ship LCS
c. Submarine. All self-propelled submersible types regardless of whether employed as
combatant, auxiliary, or research and development vehicles which have at least a
residual combat capability.
Attack Submarines
Submarine SSN
(Nuclear-Powered)
Ballistic Missile Submarines
Ballistic Missile Submarine SSBN
(Nuclear-Powered)
Guided Missile Submarines
Guided Missile Submarine SSGN
(Nuclear-Powered)
d. Amphibious Warfare. All ships having organic capability for amphibious assault and
which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas.
Amphibious Helicopter and Landing Craft Carriers
Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) LHA
Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose) LHD
Amphibious Transport Dock LPD
Landing Craft Carriers
Dock Landing Ship LSD
2. Other Combatant Classification. Ships which have the capability to provide support to the fleet.
a. Mine Warfare Type Ships. All ships whose primary function is mine warfare.
Mine Countermeasures Ships
Mine Countermeasures Ship MCM
b. Combat Logistics. Naval fleet auxilliary ships which have the capability to provide
underway replenishment to fleet units. Auxilliary ships that are operated by MSC will
have a "T-" designation before the classification (i.e. T-AE).
Underway Replenishment
Ammunition Ship AE
Combat Store Ship AFS
Oiler AO
Fast Combat Support Ship AOE
Dry Cargo and Ammunition Ship AKE
c. Fleet Support. A group of ships designed to operate in the open ocean to provide
general support to combatant forces.
Command
Command Ship LCC
Material Support
Submarine Tender AS
Sea Base Connector
Joint High Speed Vessel JHSV
Surveillance
Surveillance AGOS
Salvage Ships
Salvage Ship ARS
Fleet Ocean Tugs
Fleet Ocean Tug ATF
Seabasing Support*
Mobile Launch Platform MLP
Dry Cargo/Amunition T-AKE
Offshore Petroleum Distribution System T-AG
*Note: These ships are normally assigned as part of the Maratime Prepositioning Force,
but are available for other fleet support missions.
Auxilliary Ship Category
Auxilliary Classification. Naval Ships designed to provide
support to combatant ships and other naval operations.
Support Type Ships. A grouping of ships designed to provide general support to either
combatant forces or shore based establishments. Those auxilliary ships that provide
support to naval operations but are not involved with combatent forces, Navy
warfighting or support missions and are not part of the battleforce inventory are listed
below. Auxilliary ships that are operated by MSC will have a "T-" designation before the
classification (i.e. T-AE).
Other Auxiliaries
Auxiliary Crane Ship ACS
Missile Range Instrumentation Ship AGM
Oceanographic Research Ship AGOR
Surveying Ship AGS
Hospital Ship AH
Cargo Ship AK
Vehicle Cargo Ship AKR
Transport Oiler AOT
Cable Repair Ship ARC
Aviation Logistics Support Ship AVB
Patrol Combatant. Combatants whose mission may extend beyond costal duties and
whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping to provide a
capability for operations on the high seas without support.
Patrol Ships
Patrol, Coastal PC
Constitution. USS Constitution known affectionaly as old ironsides is the oldest
commisioned warship afloat in the world.
Environmental Research Ship AGER
NRFA Ships that are mobilization forces category A assets and are ships that are part
of the battleforce. NRFA ships have a reduced skeleton crew of active duty personel
assigned to provide training of assigned reservists for limited operations and
maintenance.
