Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!deimos.cis.ksu.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!howard@cos.com From: howard@cos.com (Howard C. Berkowitz) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: US Naval Craft Designations Keywords: A request for a listing. Message-ID: <5982@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 27 Apr 89 03:10:52 GMT References: <5855@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Corporation for Open Systems, McLean, VA Lines: 77 Approved: military@att.att.com From: howard@cos.com (Howard C. Berkowitz) In article <5855@cbnews.ATT.COM>, tellab5!tellab5.tellabs.CHI.IL.US!gandy@uunet.UU.NET (John Gandy) writes: > > > From: tellab5!tellab5.tellabs.CHI.IL.US!gandy@uunet.UU.NET (John Gandy) > Being an aviation type and, hence, inherently fearful of large beweaponed > things that displace water, I've never learned or deciphered the the > designations the USN gives to our Naval craft. Could someone please post a > listing of these acronyms/designations (i.e, e.g., SSBN = nuclear sub [and > a `boomer'?], FF = frigate, etc.). I worked on CNO data bases in the early 70's, and was amazed on how many different ship types are defined. Here's a partial list: [mod.note: With apologies to Howard, I'll add a few notes in brackets - Bill ] BB: Battleship BBG: Battleship with guided missiles; "G" suffix can be added to most OBB: Old Battleship (basically WWII term for WWI ships) CB: Battle cruiser [ I think CB is actually "Large Cruiser", our designation for the Alaskas. Internationally, battlecruisers were designated "CC" ] CA: Heavy cruiser CL: Light cruiser CLAA: Antiaircraft cruiser (WWII gun type) CG: Missile cruiser CGN: Nuclear-powered missile cruiser (again, "N" suffix is general) CV: Aircraft carrier (generic or medium) CVA: Attack carrier (i.e., BIG mother) CVH: Helicopter carrier CVE: Escort carrier CVL: Light carrier [let's not forget the "N" suffix for Nuclear; CVN, CVAN ] DD: Destroyer DDR: Destroyer with extra radar (picket type) DL: Destroyer leader DE: Destroyer escort FF: Fast frigate PG: Patrol gunboat PGH: Hydrofoil patrol gunboat SS: Submarine SSBN: Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine SSGN: Nuclear-powered sub with other than ballistic missiles AGSS: Auxiliary submarine (includes troop carriers) AO: Oiler AOG: Gasoline oiler AK: Supply ship APA: Assault personnel transport AKA: Assault transport ARS/ASR: One is a submarine rescue ship; one is a support ship; I never can remember :-) AGTR: Auxiliary Technical Reconnaissance (euphemism for electronic intelligence collection platform) LPH: Landing Platform Helicopter (mini-carrier) LSD: No, not that. Landing Ship Dock. LST: Landing Ship Tank LCI: Landing Craft Infantry LSMR: Rocket-firing landing ship medium [LCU: Landing Craft, Utility LCVP: Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel LVT: Landing Vehicle, Tracked ] -- howard@cos.com OR {uunet, decuac, sun!sundc, hadron, hqda-ai}!cos!howard (703) 883-2812 [W] (703) 998-5017 [H] DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Corporation for Open Systems, its members, or any standards body.