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From: vrdxhq!vrdxhq.verdix.com!bsmart@uunet.UU.NET (Bob Smart)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: US Naval Craft Designations
Summary: More & changes
Keywords: A request for a listing.
Message-ID: <6026@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 28 Apr 89 03:23:55 GMT
References: <5855@cbnews.ATT.COM> <5982@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
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From: vrdxhq!vrdxhq.verdix.com!bsmart@uunet.UU.NET (Bob Smart)

In article <5982@cbnews.ATT.COM>, howard@cos.com (Howard C. Berkowitz) writes:
> 
> BBG:    Battleship with guided missiles; "G" suffix can be added to
>         most
 This was only a suggested ddesignation when the uncompleted Kentucky
(Iowa class) was being considered as a missle launcher during the 50's
I don't believe it was ever actually used

> OBB:    Old Battleship (basically WWII term for WWI ships)
 
This is one I can find no acceptance of Breyer doesnt mention it ( he does 
mention the BBG project and I cannot find any other references to it. I would
imagine that if it was used it would be BBO.

> CB:     Battle cruiser
> [ I think CB is actually "Large Cruiser", our designation for the Alaskas.
>  Internationally, battlecruisers were designated "CC" ]
You are right here bill and it is an important difference. The US Navy had
used CC for the Lexington class Battle cruisers in the teens and 20s. This 
represented the thought that they were Capital ships. Their design represented
Capital ship thinking. The Alaska class was simply a larger version of the
current Heavy cruiser. All of their design follows cruiser design not Capital
ship design. I think this was one reason that they were cancelled so fast,
someone finally realised that they were neither fish nor fowl.
> 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)
> 
There has been a change here in the last 10 years. Thew navy has begun 
redesignating the CVAs (Forrestal and newer) as CV representing the
general purpose nature  of carriers as they add anti-sub assets to the air
group. the old CVA/CVS split was primarily used to designate Essex class
carriers that had been upgraded tyo support the most modern equipment (CVA)
versis the un or less modified CVS that had Anti-sub groups on board. The
USS Intrepid was a CVS but during Vietnam was deployed ( and I believe
designated) a 'limited CVA' She carried a large contigent of A-4s including
some A-4c's equiped for 'limited fighter duties'.

Please don't get the wrong idea I am glad someone took the time to post the
whole list. I didn't have time to dig out the books and do a complete list.

Also one more recent change the A* series used to support the Amphib forces
(APA, AKA, etc) have been redesignated L* series to show that they are not
auxilery(sp) but amphibious forces ships.

Bob Smart (bsmart@verdix.com)