from William G. Sadler;
USAF and Army designations are more informal than Navy designations and
are essentially nothing more than an accounting system.
Prefixes:
Army
BC Cargo Barge (*)
BCDX Enclosed Barge (*)
BD Floating Crane (*)
BDL Beach Discharge Lighter
BG Liquid Cargo Barge (*)
BK Cargo Barge (*)
BPL Elevating Pier (*)
BR Refrigerated Barge (*)
FB Ferry
FMS Marine Repair Shop (*)
FS Freight and Supply Vessel
FSR Refrigerated Freight and Supply Vessel
HLS Heavy Lift Ship
J Small Work Boat
LARC Amphibious Cargo Lighter
LCM Mechanized Landing Craft
LCU Utility Landing Craft
LCV Vehicle Landing Craft
LT Large Tug
Q Work Boat
SBA Aerostat Tender
ST Small Tug
T Inshore Transport
Y Liquid Cargo Vessel
Navy
USS = United States Ship (Naval vessel manned by military personnel)
USNS = United States Naval Ship (Vessel manned by civilian crew)
USCGC = United States Coast Guard Cutter
MTS = Moored Training Ship (ex SSBNs converted to training hulks)
Non self propelled craft are marked with an asterisk (*)
**Warships:
CVN Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier
CV Aircraft Carrier
CGN Nuclear Power Guided Missile Cruiser
CG Guided Missile Cruiser
DDG Guided Missile Destroyer
DD Destroyer
FFG Guided Missile Frigate
FF Frigate
SSBN Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
SSN Nuclear Powered Submarine
**Other Combatants, Patrol Boats and Landing Craft:
LCC Command Ship
AGF Flagship
LHD Amphibious Assault Ship
LHA Amphibious Assault Ship
LPH Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier
LKA Amphibious Cargo Ship
LPD Amphibious Transport Dock
LSD Dock Landing Ship
LST Tank Landing Ship
AOE Fast Combat Support Ship
AOR Replenishment Oiler
AE Ammunition Ship
AFS Combat Stores Ship
AO Fleet Oiler
MCS Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
MCM Mine Countermeasures Ship
MHC Coastal Minehunter
PC Coastal Patrol Craft
LCAC Air Cushion Landing Craft
LCM Mechanized Landing Craft
LCPL Large Personnel Landing Craft
LCU Utility Landing Craft
LCVP Vehicle and Personnel Landing Craft
SDV Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
SLWT Side Loading Warping Tug
**Auxiliaries
ACS Crane Ship
AD Destroyer Tender
AG Auxiliary
AGM Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
AGOR Oceanographic Research Ship
AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ship
AGS Surveying Ship
AGSS Experimental Submarine
AK Cargo Ship
AH Hospital Ship
AKR Roll-on/Roll-off (Vehicle) Cargo Ship
AOG Gasoline Tanker
AOT Transport Oiler
ARC Cable Ship
ARS Salvage Ship
AS Submarine Tender
ATF Fleet Tug
ATS Salvage Tug
AVB Aviation Logistics Support Ship
**Support Craft
AFDB Large Floating Drydock (*)
AFDL Small Floating Drydock (*)
AFDM Medium Floating Drydock (*)
ARD Repair Dock (*)
ARDM Medium Repair Dock (*)
APL Floating Barracks (*)
DSRV Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle
DSV Deep Submergence Vehicle
IX Unclassified Miscellaneous
NR Nuclear Powered Research Submersible (unofficial designation)
TWR Torpedo Retriever (unofficial designation)
YAG Miscellaneous Service Craft
YC Lighter (*)
YCF Car Float (*)
YCV Aircraft Transportation Lighter (*)
YD Floating Crane (*)
YDT Diving Tender (*)
YF Covered Lighter
YFB Ferry
YFN Covered Lighter (*)
YFNB Large Covered Lighter (*)
YFND Dry Dock Companion Craft (*)
YFNX Special Purpose Lighter (*)
YFP Power Barge (*)
YFRT Range Tender (*)
YFU Harbor Utility Craft (*)
YGN Garbage Barge (*)
YLC Salvage Lift Craft (*)
YM Dredge
YMN Dredge (*)
YNG Gate Craft (*)
YO Oil Barge
YOG Gasoline Barge
YOGN Gasoline Barge (*)
YON Oil Barge (*)
YOS Oil Storage Barge (*)
YP Seamanship Training Craft
YPD Pile Driver (*)
YR Repair Barge (*)
YRB Repair and Berthing Barge (*)
YRBM Repair, Berthing, and Messing Barge (*)
YRDH Hull Repair Barge (*)
YRDM Machinery Repair Barge (*)
YRR Radiological Repair Barge (*)
YRST Salvage Craft Tender (*)
YSR Sludge Removal Barge (*)
YTB Large Tug
YTL Small Tug
YTT Torpedo Trials Craft
YW Water Barge
YWN Water Barge (*)
Coast Guard
WHEC High Endurance Cutter
WMEC Medium Endurance Cutter
WPB Patrol Boat
WFCI Fast Coastal Interceptor
WAGB Icebreaker
WIX Sail Training Ship
WLB Seagoing Buoy Tender
WLM Coastal Buoy Tender
WLI Inland Buoy Tender
WLIC Inland Construction Tender
WLR River Buoy Tender
WTGB Large Icebreaking Tug
WYTL Small Harbor Tug
Air Force
B Barge (*)
C Mechanized Landing Craft
D Dredge (*)
DT Dredge Tender
L Amphibious Cargo Lighter
MR Missile Retriever
P Personnel Boat
PR Parasail Training Craft
TG Tug
TR Training/Recovery Boat
U Utility Boat
* = non self-propelled