| Additional Resources | |
|---|---|
| My aim is to eventually have a separate page for each ship, which includes the specifications, history, and one or more photographs. In the meantime, if you don't find a photo here, check out the sites below. Additional sites for specific types and specific ships are listed on the individual pages. | |
|
| The links from alphabetical list are horribly out of date, as I create individual pages for each ship. However, it may still be useful in finding the correct name, type and hull number for any ship. The list will be re-created as soon as the individual pages are complete. |
| To make this list as accessible as possbile to users with partial information, I have endeavored to list ships by variations of their names: "General Robert E. Lee", "Robert E. Lee, General", and "Lee, General Robert E." -- Good Luck! and Good Hunting! |
| Type: | Designation: | Naming: |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Carriers: | ----- | ----- |
| --Fleet Aircraft Carriers, Large | CVB | Famous battles, President |
| --Fleet Aircraft Carriers | CV | Famous old ships of USN, famous battles |
| --Light Aircraft Carriers | CVL | Famous old ships of USN, famous battles |
| --Escort Carriers | CVE | Sounds, bays & battles of WW II; nicknamed "Jeep" carriers |
| Battleships | BB | States of the Union |
| Cruisers: | ----- | ----- |
| --Large Cruisers | CB | Territories & insular possessions |
| --Heavy Cruisers | CA | Cities & towns |
| --Light Cruisers | CL | Cities & towns |
| Destroyers: | ----- | ----- |
| --Destroyers | DD | Distinguished officers & enlisted men of USN & USMC |
| --Destroyer Escorts | DE | Distinguished officers & enlisted men of USN & USMC |
| Submarines | SS | Fish and other marine creatures |
| Minecraft: | ----- | ----- |
| --Minelayers & Coastal Minelayers | CM | Old monitors of USN |
| --Light Minelayers | DM | Old monitors of USN |
| --Auxiliary Minelayers | ACM | Obstructions |
| --Minesweepers | AM | Birds or abstract qualities, word of action, etc. |
| --Coastal Minesweepers | AMc | Birds or abstract qualities, word of action, etc. |
| --Fast Minesweepers | DMS | Birds or abstract qualities, word of action, etc. |
| --Motor Minesweepers | YMS | (none) |
| Patrol Craft: | ----- | ----- |
| --Gunboats | PG | Cities & towns |
| --Converted Yachts | PG | Precious & semi-precious stones, general words |
| --Frigates | PF | Cities & towns |
| --River Gunboats | PR | Islands |
| --Smaller Converted Yachts | PY | Precious & semi-precious stones, general words |
| --Coastal Yachts | PYc | Precious & semi-precious stones, general words |
| --Escort Patrol Craft | PCE | (none) |
| --Eagle Boats | PE | (none) |
| --Patrol Craft, Sweepers | PCS | (none) |
| --Motor Gunboats | PGM | (none) |
| Submarine Chasers: | ----- | ----- |
| --Submarine Chasers (Steel Hull) | PC | (none) |
| --Submarine Chasers (Wooden Hull) | SC | (none) |
| Motor Torpedo Boats: | ----- | ----- |
| --Motor Torpedo Boats | PT | (none) |
| --Motor Boat Submarine Chasers | PTC | (none) |
| Auxiliaries: | ----- | ----- |
| --Crane Ship | AB | "Crane Ship No. 1" |
| --Advanced Base Section Dock | ABSD | (n/a) |
| --Advanced Base Dock | ABD | (n/a) |
| --Destroyer Tenders | AD | Geographical areas of the US |
| --Ammunition Ships | AE | Volcanoes, or explosive-related |
| --Provision Store Ships | AF | Stars |
| --Auxiliary Floating Dock | AFD | |
| --Large Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) | AFDB | |
| --Small Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) | AFDL | |
| --Medium Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) | AFDM | |
| --Miscellaneous Auxiliaries | AG | (unknown) |
| --Amphibious Force Command Ships | AGC | Mountains |
| --MTB Tenders | AGP | Mythological tenders |
| --Surveying Ships | AGS | Distinguished marine surveyors |
| Hospital Ships | AH | Peaceful or comforting words |
| Cargo Ships: | ----- | ----- |
| --Cargo Ships | AK | Stars, or counties of the US |
| --Attack Cargo Ships | AKA | Counties of the US |
| --Net Cargo Ships | AKN | Stars, or counties of the US |
| --General Stores Issue Ships | AKS | Stars? |
| --Cargo Ships and Aircraft Ferries | AKV | Places associated with history of aviation |
| Net-Laying Ships | AN | Trees or old USN monitors |
| Oilers & Tankers: | ----- | ----- |
| --Oilers | AO | American rivers with Indian names |
| --Gaoline Tankers | AOG | American rivers with Indian names |
| Transports: | ----- | ----- |
| --Transports | AP | Presidents; Signers of Declaration of Independence; distinguished generals & admirals; famous women; historic places |
| --Attack Transports | APA | Counties of the US |
| --Self-Propelled Barracks Ships | APB | (none) |
| --Coastal Transports | APc | (none) |
| --High-Speed Transports | APD | (Retained original DD/DE name) |
| --Evacuation Transports | APH | Surgeons General of the USN |
| --Barracks Ships | APL | None; unofficially: famous hotels |
| --Mechanized Artillery Transport | APM | "Lakehurst" (only 1) |
| --Transport Submarine | APS | "Argonaut" (only 1) |
| --Aircraft Ferries | APV | Places associated with history of aviation |
| Repair Ships: | ----- | ----- |
| --Repair Ships | AR | Mythological figures |
| --Battle-Damage Repair Ships | ARB | Mythological figures |
| --Auxiliary Repair Dock (Concrete) | ARDC | (n/a) |
| --Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ships | ARG | Islands |
| --Heavy Hull Repair Ships | ARH | Mythological figures |
| --Landing Craft Repair Ships | ARL | Mythological figures |
| --Salvage Vessels | ARS | Terms associated with marine salvage |
| --Salvage Craft Tenders | ARS(T) | ? |
| --Aircraft Repair Ships (Aircraft) | ARV(A) | ? |
| --Aircraft Repair Ships (Engine) | ARV(E) | ? |
| Submarine Tenders & Rescue Vessels: | ----- | ----- |
| --Submarine Tenders | AS | Submarine pioneers & mythological characters |
| --Submarine Rescue Vessels | ASR | Birds |
| Tugboats: | ----- | ----- |
| --Auxiliary Tugs | ATA | Indian Tribes |
| --Fleet Ocean Tugs | ATF | Indian Tribes |
| --Old Ocean Tugs | ATO | Indian Tribes |
| --Rescue Tugs | ATR | (none) |
| Seaplane Tenders & Aviation Supply Ships: | ----- | ----- |
| --Seaplane Tenders | AV | Aviation pioneers, bays, sounds & straits |
| --Catapult Lighter | AVC | (none) |
| --Seaplane Tenders (Destroyers) | AVD | ? |
| --Small Seaplane Tenders | AVP | Birds, |
| --Aviations Supply Ships | AVS | (none) |
| Distilling Ships | AW | (none) |
| Unclassified Vessels | IX | Various... |
| Landing Ships & Craft: | ----- | ----- |
| --Landing Ships, Vehicle | LSV | Old Monitors of USN (Converted Minecraft & Net Tenders) |
| --Landing Ships, Dock | LSD | Homes of famous Americans, famous spots |
| --Landing Ships, Tank | LST | (none) |
| --Landing Ships, Medium | LSM | (none) |
| --Landing Ships, Medium (Rocket) | LSM(R) | (none; later, American rivers with non-Indian names) |
| --Landing Craft, Flotilla Flagships | LC(FF) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Flak | LCF | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Infantry (Gunboat) | LCI(G) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Infantry (Large) | LCI(L) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Infantry (Mortar) | LCI(M) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Infantry (Rocket) | LCI(R) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Support (Large) | LCS(L) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Tank | LCT | (none) |
| Small Landing Craft: | ----- | ----- |
| --Landing Craft, Control | LCC | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Mechanized | LCM | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Personnel (Large) | LCP(L) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Personnel (Ramp) | LCP(R) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Rubber (Large) | LCR(L) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Rubber (Small) | LCR(S) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Support (S) | LSC(S) | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Vehicle | LCV | (none) |
| --Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel | LCVP | (none) |
| --Landing Vehicle, Tracked | LVT | (none) |
| --Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored) | LVT(A) | (none) |
| --Landing Vehicle, Wheeled (Mark) | LVW | (none) |
| --Amphibious Trucks | DUKW | (none) |
| Yard and District Craft | ----- | (none) |
| Coast Guard Cutters: | ----- | ----- |
| --Cruising Cutters | WPG | ? |
| --Weather Patrol Ships | WIX | ? |
| --Weather Patrol Cutters | WPC | ? |
| --Icebreakers | WAG | Winds |
| Maritime Commission Types | ----- | ----- |
Where the sources have been in conflict I have attempted to cross-check them for internal consistency; when no obvious clarification has been found, I have deferred to United States Naval Vessels: The Official United States Navy Reference Manual as the authority.
Various sources present conflicting numbers for ships' dimensions. Given my ignorance of the sources of these differences, I have not attempted to reconcile them. Differences also exist regarding ships' complements and armament. I assume these reflect changing circumstances at different times during the war; in general, I have gone with the higher numbers, or end-of-the-war status.
This work is "Under Construction": I will continue to consult additional reference material, refining and adding to the information presented. Corrections, additions, and suggestions are welcome at any time!
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