Ship Type and Class Designations - 1993
Between 1968 and 1993, SECNAVINST 5030.1 went through an additional seven (7) versions, with version L released on 22 January 1993. The first instruction released following the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the list of ship types - which dropped from 186 in 1968 to 147 in this directive - reflects the contemporary trend towards a smaller, less hyper-specialized force.
Letter prefixes are used in conjunction with classification symbols as follows:
T - To indicate that a ship is assigned to MSTS (Military Sea Transportation Service).
F - To indicate that a ship is being constructed for a foreign government.
W - To indicate a Coast Guard Ship.
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 service craft classification symbol, the letter "N" indicates a non-self-propelled version of a similar self-propelled service craft.
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Combatant Ship Category
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| A. Warship Classification | |
| 1. 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. | |
| a. CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing Aircraft Carriers) | |
| CV | |
| CVN | |
| 2. Surface Combatant Type | |
| Large, heavily armed, surface ships which are designed primarily to engage enemy forces on the high seas. | |
| a. Battleships | |
| Battleship | BB |
| b. Cruisers | |
| CG | |
| CGN | |
| c. Destroyers | |
| DD | |
| DDG | |
| d. Frigates | |
| FF | |
| FFG | |
| FFT | |
| 3. Submarine Type | |
| 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. | |
| a. Attack Submarines | |
| SSN | |
| b. Ballistic Missile Submarines | |
| SSBN | |
| SSG | |
| B. Other Combatant Classification | |
| 1. Patrol Combatant Type | |
| Combatants whose mission may extend beyond coastal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping to provide a capability for operations exceeding 48 hours on the high seas without support. | |
| a. Patrol Ships | |
| PHM | |
| 2. Amphibious Warfare Type Ships | |
| All ships having organic capability for amphibious assault and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. | |
| a. Amphibious Helicopter/Landing Craft Carriers | |
| LHA | |
| LHD | |
| LPD | |
| LPH | |
| b. Landing Craft Carriers | |
| LKA | |
| LSD | |
| LST | |
| c. Miscellaneous | |
| LCC | |
| 3. Combat Logistics Type Ships | |
| Ships which have the capability to provide underway replenishment to fleet units. | |
| a. Underway Replenishment | |
| AE | |
| AF | |
| AFS | |
| AO | |
| AOE | |
| AOR | |
| 4. Mine Warfare Ships | |
| All ships whose primary function is mine warfare on the high seas. | |
| a. Minesweepers | |
| MSO | |
| b. Mine Countermeasures Ships | |
| MCM | |
| MCS | |
| MHC | |
| 5. Coastal Defense Ships | |
| All ships whose primary function is coastal patrol and interdiction. | |
| a. Special Warfare | |
| PC | |
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Auxiliary Ship Category
|
|
| A. Auxiliary Classification | |
| 1. Mobile Logistics Type Ships | |
| Ships which have the capability to provide direct material support to other deployed units operating far from home. | |
| a. Material Support | |
| AD | |
| AR | |
| AS | |
| 2. Support Type Ships | |
| A grouping of ships designed to operate in the open ocean in a variety of sea states to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore based establishments (Includes smaller auxiliaries which by the nature of their duties, leave inshore waters). | |
| a. Fleet Support | |
| ARS | |
| ASR | |
| ATF | |
| ATS | |
| b. Other Auxiliaries | |
| ACS | |
| AG | |
| AGDS | |
| AGF | |
| AGFF | |
| AGM | |
| AGOR | |
| AGOS | |
| AGS | |
| AGSS | |
| AH | |
| AK | |
| AKB | |
| AKF | |
| AKR | |
| AOG | |
| AOT | |
| AP | |
| ARC | |
| AVB | |
| AVT | |
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Combatant Craft Category
|
|
| A. Combatant Craft Classification | |
| 1. Patrol Type Craft | |
| Surface patrol craft intended for use relatively near the coast or in sheltered waters or rivers. | |
| a. Coastal Patrol Combatants | |
| PB | |
| PCF | |
| PTF | |
| b. River/Roadstead Craft | |
| ATC | |
| PBR | |
| 2. Amphibious Warfare Type Craft | |
| All amphibious craft which have the organic capacity for amphibious assault and are intended to operate principally in coastal waters or may be carried aboard larger units. | |
| a. Landing Craft | |
| LCAC | |
| LCM | |
| LCPL | |
| LCU | |
| LCVP | |
| LWT | |
| SLWT | |
| b. Special Warfare Craft | |
| LSSC | |
| MSSC | |
| SDV | |
| SWCL | |
| SWCM | |
|
Support Craft Category
|
|
| A. Support Craft Classification | |
| 1. Service Type Craft | |
| A grouping of navy-subordinated craft (including non-self-propelled) designed to provide general support to either combatant forces or shore-based establishment. | |
| a. Dry Docks (Non-Self Propelled) | |
| AFDB | |
| AFDL | |
| AFDM | |
| ARD | |
| ARDM | |
| YFD | |
| b. Tugs (Self-propelled) | |
| YTB | |
| YTL | |
| YTM | |
| c. Tankers (Self-Propelled) | |
| YO | |
| YOG | |
| YW | |
| d. Lighters and Barges | |
| (1) Self-propelled | |
| CSP | |
| YF | |
| YFR | |
| YFU | |
| YG | |
| (2) Non-self propelled | |
| CSNP | |
| YC | |
| YCF | |
| YCSS | |
| YCV | |
| YFN | |
| YFNB | |
| YFNX | |
| YFRN | |
| YFRT | |
| YGN | |
| YON | |
| YOGN | |
| YOS | |
| YSR | |
| YWN | |
| e. Other Craft | |
| (1) Self-propelled | |
| DSRV | |
| DSV | |
| NR | |
| YAG | |
| YFB | |
| YM | |
| YP | |
| YSD | |
| YTT | |
| (2) Non self-propelled | |
| APL | |
| YD | |
| YDT | |
| YFND | |
| YFP | |
| YHLC | |
| YLC | |
| YMN | |
| YNG | |
| YPD | |
| YR | |
| YRB | |
| YRBM | |
| YRDH | |
| YRDM | |
| YRR | |
| YRST |
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