Ship naming convention

[smrtwhkd]

I know ships are usually named with a number such SSN-21, BB-17 etc. What does BB stand for? How about SSN? SSK? DDG, FFG, CG etc. Could someone provide a comprehensive list of all these acronyms?

[Drebbel]

http://www.hazegray.org/faq/

* Base Designations Suffixes are added to these to create complete designations. Where no suffix is used, the initial letter is used twice (i.e. DD). A suffix is often added to an existing two- or three-letter abbreviation at a later date (i.e. DDG, AGF, SSGN).
o A -- Auxiliaries
o B -- Battleship/battlecruiser
o C -- Cruiser
o CV -- Aircraft Carrier (originally a cruiser derivative)
o D -- Destroyer
o F -- Frigate
o L -- Ampbibious ships (derived from "L" for "Landing")
o M -- Mine craft
o P -- Patrol craft
o S -- Submarine
o Y -- Yard craft
* Suffixes These and others are added to base designations to create complete designations. Many suffixes (i.e. M) have many meanings; only the most common modern-usage meanings are listed. Suffix meanings as applied to yard (Y) craft are not included in this list.
o A -- Attack or Auxiliary
o B -- Ballistic Missile
o C -- Command/Control
o D -- Destroyer or Dock
o E -- Escort (combatants); Ammunition (auxiliaries)
o F -- Fast or Fleet or Refrigerated Stores or Fire Support
o G -- Guided Missile (AAW) (large vessels) or Gun (small vessels)
o H -- Helicopter or Hospital
o K -- Cargo
o L -- Light
o M -- Missile (surface-to-surface) or Missile Tracking
o N -- Nuclear Power
o O -- Oil (tanker)
o P -- Personnel/Troop Transport
o R -- Repair or Replenishment or Roll-On/Roll-Off (cargo)
o S -- Surveying or Salvage or Submarine
o T -- Tug or Transport
o U -- Utility
o V -- Heavier-Than-Air (later fixed wing) Aircraft or Vehicle (transport)
o W -- Water

* Aircraft Carriers
o CV -- Aircraft Carrier
o CVA -- Attack Aircraft Carrier
o CVAN -- Nuclear Powered Attack Aircraft Carrier
o CVE -- Escort Aircraft Carrier
o CVL -- Light Aircraft Carrier
o CVN -- Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier
o CVS -- ASW Aircraft Carrier (sometimes Seaplane Carrier, esp. WWII)
* Major Surface Combatants
o BB -- Battleship
o BC -- Battlecruiser (unofficial)
o CA -- Heavy Cruiser
o CB -- Large Cruiser
o CG -- Guided Missile Cruiser
o CGN -- Nuclear Powered Guided Missile Cruiser
o CL -- Light Cruiser
o CLAA -- AntiAircraft Cruiser
o DD -- Destroyer
o DDG -- Guided Missile Destroyer
o DE -- Destroyer Escort
o FF -- Frigate
o FFG -- Guided Missile Frigate
* Submarines
o SS -- Submarine
o SSBN -- Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
o SSG -- Guided Missile Submarine
o SSGN -- Nuclear Powered Guided Missile Submarine
o SSK -- Hunter-Killler Submarine
o SSN -- Nuclear Powered Submarine
o SSQ -- Communications or ELINT submarine (unofficial)
o SSQN --Nuclear Powered Communications or ELINT submarine (unofficial)
* Ampbibious/Landing Ships
o LCC -- Amphibious Command Ship
o LHA -- Amphibious Assault Ship
o LHD -- Amphibious Assault Ship
o LKA -- Amphibious Cargo Ship
o LPA -- Amphibious Personnel Transport
o LPD -- Amphibious Transport Dock
o LPH -- Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier
o LSD -- Dock Landing Ship
o LST -- Tank Landing Ship
* Mine Vessels
o CM -- Minelayer (derived from Cruiser-Minelayer)
o DM -- Destroyer Minelayer (or light minelayer or high-speed minelayer)
o DMS -- High Speed Minesweeper (derived from Destroyer-Minesweeper)
o MCM -- Mine Countermeasures Ship
o MCS -- Mine Countermeasures Support Ship
o MF -- Fleet Minelayer
o MHC -- Coastal Minehunter
o MSB -- Minesweeping Boat
o MSC -- Coastal Minesweeper
o MSO -- Ocean Minesweeper
* Minor Surface Combatants
o PC -- Coastal Patrol Craft
o PF -- Patrol Frigate
o PG -- Patrol Gunboat
o PGM -- Missile Patrol Boat
o PT -- Torpedo Boat
o PTF -- Fast Patrol Boat
* Auxiliaries
o AD -- Destroyer Tender
o AE -- Ammunition Ship
o AF -- Refrigerated Stores Ship
o AFS -- Combat Stores Ship
o AG -- Miscellaneous Auxiliary
o AGF -- Flagship
o AGOR -- Oceanographic Research Ship
o AGS -- Surveying Ship
o AK -- Cargo Ship
o AO -- Fleet Oiler
o AOE -- Fast Combat Support Ship
o AOR -- Replenishment Oiler
o AR -- Repair Ship
o ARS -- Salvage Ship
o AS -- Submarine Tender
o ATF -- Fleet Tug
o AV -- Seaplane Tender
o AVT -- Aircraft Transport, later Training Aircraft Carrier

[Hellcat]

whoa someone beat me too it.... :rotfl:

[AG124]

BB = Battleship
SSN - Nuclear Submarine
SS = Submarine
DD = Destroyer
CA = Heavy Cruiser
CL = Light Cruiser
CV = Carrier
CVL = Light Carrier
CVN = Nuclear Carrier
CVG = Guided Missile Cruiser (I think).
CC = "Large Cruiser" (There is another for "Super Cruiser - both of these are pretty much the same as Battlecruiser).
DE = Destroyer Escort
AO = Fleet Oiler
AKS = General Stores Ship
AR = Repair Ship
AD = Destroyer Tender

These are US designations, and some are outdated.

Maybe someone else can post some more.

[AG124]

Never mind - someone else beat me to it while I was posting. :rotfl:

[TLAM Strike]

A few I think have been missed:
AGSS Auxiliary Research Submarine
SSR(N) Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear)
SSP Submarine Transport
ASSP Transport Submarine
APSS Submarine Transport
LPSS Amphibious Transport Submarine
IXSS Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine
SSA Cargo Submarine
SSO Submarine Oiler
AOSS Submarine Oiler
SSAG Auxiliary Submarine (See India class submarine)

[Etienne]

MV - Motor Vessel
MT - Motor Tanker
SS - Steam Ship
SV - Sailling Vessel
FV - Fishing Vessel

Plus all the national language translation of MV (NM, MS, etc)

[Oberon]

http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/Arms_systems/Navy/Ships_designation_compara_USSR_USA.htm

[Kapitan]

you guys forgot the most basic one

T.S TRAINING SHIP !

[Etienne]

Those things still exist?

[Kapitan]

yes the do we have TS earl of romney and ts royalist