Editing Hull classification symbol (section)

=== Warships ===
Warships are designed to participate in combat operations.

The origin of the two-letter code derives from the need to distinguish various cruiser subtypes.<ref name=DerDigiCru1>Derdall and DiGiulian, (section: ''Cruisers'')</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Battleship
| Heavy gun-armed vessel (–1962)
! BB
|-
|align="center" rowspan="5" | Cruiser
| armored (1921–1931)<br>heavy (1931–1975)
! CA
|-
| large (–1947)
! CB
|-
| battle<br/>command<br/>(–1961)
! CC
|-
| light (–1950)
! CL
|-
| aviation or ''voler''
! CV
|-
|align="center" rowspan="2" | Destroyer
| ship
! DD
|-
| escort
! DE
|}

==== Aircraft carrier type ====
Aircraft carriers are ships designed primarily for the purpose of conducting combat operations by aircraft which engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets. Contrary to popular belief, the "CV" hull classification symbol does not stand for "carrier vessel". "CV" derives from the cruiser designation, with one popular theory that the V comes from French ''voler'', "to fly", but this has never been definitively proven.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Grossnick|first=Roy|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/pdf/app16.pdf|title=United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995|publisher=Naval Historical Center|year=1997|isbn=0-945274-34-3|location=Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, D.C.|pages=625}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/french-english/voler|title=English Translation of "voler" {{!}} Collins French-English Dictionary|website=www.collinsdictionary.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-07}}</ref> The V has long been used by the U.S. Navy for heavier-than-air craft and possibly comes from the French [[volplane]].<ref>''United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995.'' Appendix 16: ''US Navy and Marine Corps Squadron Designations and Abbreviations.''</ref><ref>[https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20050417-2005-04-17-0504170205-story.html Military naming conventions: The ABCs of US ships], Daily Press</ref> Aircraft carriers are designated in two sequences: the first sequence runs from CV-1 USS ''[[USS Langley (CV-1)|Langley]]'' to the very latest ships, and the second sequence, "CVE" for escort carriers, ran from CVE-1 [[USS Long Island (CVE-1)|''Long Island'']] to CVE-127 [[USS Okinawa (CVE-127)|''Okinawa'']] before being discontinued.
* AV: Heavier-than-air aircraft tender, later [[List of seaplane carriers by country#United States AVs|Seaplane tender]] (retired)
* AVD: [[List of seaplane carriers by country#United States AVDs|Seaplane tender destroyer]] (retired)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-12|title=Flush-deck destroyers converted as seaplane tenders (AVD)|url=https://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/avd/|access-date=2021-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612121543/https://destroyerhistory.org/flushdeck/avd/|archive-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>
* AVP: [[List of seaplane carriers by country#United States AVPs|Seaplane tender, Small]] (retired)
* AZ: Lighter-than-air aircraft tender (retired) (1920–1923)<ref name=Wright group=A>See {{USS|Wright|AZ-1}}.</ref>
* AVG: General-purpose aircraft tender (repurposed [[escort carrier]]) (1941–42)
* AVT (i) Auxiliary aircraft transport (retired)
* AVT (ii) Auxiliary training carrier (retired)
* ACV: Auxiliary aircraft carrier (escort carrier, replaced by CVE) (1942)
* CV: [[Fleet aircraft carrier]] (1921–1975), multi-purpose [[aircraft carrier]] (1975–present)
* CVA: Aircraft carrier, attack (category merged into CV, 30 June 1975)
* CV(N): Aircraft carrier, night (deck equipped with lighting and pilots trained for nighttime fights) (1944) (retired)
* CVAN: Aircraft carrier, attack, nuclear-powered (category merged into CVN, 30 June 1975)
* CVB: Aircraft carrier, large (original USS ''Midway'' class, category merged into CVA, 1952)
* CVE: [[List of United States Navy escort aircraft carriers|Aircraft carrier, escort]] (retired) (1943–retirement of type)
* CVHA: Aircraft carrier, helicopter assault (retired in favor of several LH-series [[amphibious assault ship]] hull codes)
* CVHE: Aircraft carrier, helicopter, escort (retired)
* CVL: [[Light aircraft carrier]] or aircraft carrier, small (retired)<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/1940/pdf/1aug43.pdf Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department."New Carrier Designations". ''BuAER News'' (title later changed to ''Naval Aviation News''). Washington, D.C. No. 198 (1 Aug 1943) p. 9.]</ref><ref>[http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031962056;view=1up;seq=3 United States. Office of Naval History. ''Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations''. 3d ed. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1947. p. 20.]</ref><ref>United States. Office of Naval Records and History. ''Glossary of US Naval Abbreviations''. 5th ed. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1949. [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/us-navy-abbreviations-of-ww2.html Naval History and Heritage Command]. accessed 6 May 2017.</ref>
* CVN: Aircraft carrier, nuclear-powered
* CVS: [[Antisubmarine aircraft carrier]] (retired)
* CVT: Aircraft carrier, training (changed to AVT (auxiliary))
* CVU: Aircraft carrier, utility (retired)
* CVG: Aircraft carrier, guided missile (retired)
* CF: [[Flight deck cruiser]] (1930s, retired unused)
* CVV:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0757047 |title=The Vari-Purpose Carrier |access-date=4 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053703/http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0757047 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Aircraft Carrier (Medium)|Aircraft carrier, vari-purpose, medium]] (retired unused)

==== Surface combatant type ====
Surface combatants are ships which are designed primarily to engage enemy forces on the high seas. The primary surface combatants are battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Battleships are very heavily armed and armored; cruisers moderately so; destroyers and smaller warships, less so. Before 1920, ships were called "<type> no. X", with the type fully pronounced. The types were commonly abbreviated in ship lists to "B-X", "C-X", "D-X" et cetera—for example, before 1920, {{USS|Minnesota|BB-22}} would have been called "USS ''Minnesota'', Battleship number&nbsp;22" orally and "USS ''Minnesota'', B-22" in writing. After 1920, the ship's name would have been both written and pronounced "USS ''Minnesota'' (BB-22)". In generally decreasing size, the types are:
* ACR: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Armored cruisers (ACR)|Armored cruiser]] (pre-1920)
* AFSB: [[Afloat forward staging base]] (also AFSB(I) for "interim", changed to MLP ([[Mobile Landing Platform]], then ESD and ESB)
* B: Battleship (pre-1920)
* BB: [[List of battleships of the United States Navy|Battleship]]
* BBG: Battleship, guided missile or [[arsenal ship]] (never used operationally)<ref group=A>See {{USS|Kentucky|BB-66}}.</ref>
* BM: [[List of monitors of the United States Navy#"New Navy" monitors|Monitor]] (1920–retirement)
* C: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Protected and Peace cruisers (C, PG)|Cruiser]] (pre-1920 protected cruisers and peace cruisers)
* CA: (first series) Cruiser, armored (retired, comprised all surviving pre-1920 armored and protected cruisers)
* CA: (second series) [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Heavy and light cruisers (CA, CL)|Heavy cruiser]], category later renamed gun cruiser (retired)
* CAG: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Guided missile cruisers (CAG, CLG, CG)|Cruiser, heavy, guided missile]] (retired)
* CB:  [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Large cruisers (CB)|Large cruiser]] (retired)<ref group=A>See {{sclass|Alaska|cruiser|2}}.</ref>
* CBC: Large command cruiser (never used operationally)<ref group=A>See {{USS|Hawaii|CB-3}}.</ref>
* CC: (first usage) [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Battlecruisers (CC)|Battlecruiser]] (never used operationally)<ref group=A>See {{sclass|Lexington|battlecruiser|2}}.</ref>
* CC: (second usage) [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Command cruisers (CLC, CC)|Command cruiser]] (retired)
* CLC: Command cruiser, light (retired)<ref name=Northampton group=A>See {{USS|Northampton|CLC-1}}.</ref>
* CG: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Guided missile cruisers (CAG, CLG, CG)|Cruiser, guided missile]]
* CGN: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Guided missile cruisers (CAG, CLG, CG)|Cruiser, guided missile, nuclear-powered]]: {{USS|Long Beach|CGN-9}} and {{USS|Bainbridge|CGN-25}}
* CL: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Heavy and light cruisers (CA, CL)|Cruiser, light]] (retired)
* CLAA: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Antiaircraft cruisers (CLAA)|Cruiser, light, anti-aircraft]] (retired)
* CLD: [[CL-154-class cruiser#The CLD|Cruiser-destroyer, light]] (never used operationally)
* CLG: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Guided missile cruisers (CAG, CLG, CG)|Cruiser, light, guided missile]] (retired)
* CLGN: Cruiser, light, guided missile, nuclear-powered (never used operationally)
* CLK: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Hunter-Killer cruisers (CLK)|Cruiser, hunter–killer]] (never used operationally)<ref name=Norfolk group=A>see {{USS|Norfolk|DL-1}}.</ref>
* CM: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Cruiser minelayers (CM)|Cruiser–minelayer]] (retired)
* CS: [[List of cruisers of the United States Navy#Scout cruisers (CS)|Scout cruiser]] (retired)
* CSGN: [[Strike cruiser|Cruiser, strike]], guided missile, nuclear-powered (never used operationally)
* D: Destroyer (pre-1920)
* DD: [[Destroyer]]
* DDC: Corvette (briefly proposed in the mid-1950s)<ref>{{cite book |title=U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History |edition=Revised  |last=Friedman |first=Norman |author-link=Norman Friedman |year=2003 |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |isbn=978-1-55750-442-5 |pages=266–267 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tzp58htKLkEC&pg=PA266 |quote=...a gutted {{sclass|Benson|destroyer}}. This "corvette" (DDC) "can be readily obtained..."}}</ref>
* DDE: [[Escort destroyer]], a destroyer (DD) converted for [[antisubmarine warfare]] – category abolished 1962. (''not to be confused with destroyer escort DE'')
* DDG: [[Guided missile destroyer|Destroyer, guided missile]]
* DDK: Hunter–killer destroyer (category merged into DDE, 4 March 1950)
* DDR: [[Radar picket#US Navy World War II radar pickets|Destroyer, radar picket]] (retired)
* DE: [[Destroyer escort]] (World War II, later became [[Ocean escort]])
* DE: [[Ocean escort]] (abolished 30 June 1975)
* DEG: Guided missile ocean escort (abolished 30 June 1975)
* DER: Destroyer escort, radar picket (abolished 30 June 1975) There were two distinct breeds of DER, the DEs [[Radar picket#US Navy World War II radar pickets|which were converted to DERs during World War II]] and [[Radar picket#Destroyer Escort conversions|the more numerous postwar DER conversions]].
* DL: Destroyer leader (later frigate) (retired)
* DLG: Destroyer leader, guided missile (later frigate) (abolished 30 June 1975)
* DLGN: Destroyer leader, guided missile, nuclear-propulsion (later frigate) (abolished 30 June 1975) The DL category was established in 1951 with the abolition of the CLK category. CLK 1 became DL 1 and DD 927–930 became DL 2–5. By the mid-1950s the term destroyer leader had been dropped in favor of frigate. Most DLGs and DLGNs were reclassified as CGs and CGNs, 30 June 1975. However, DLG 6–15 became DDG 37–46. The old DLs were already gone by that time. Only applied to {{USS|Bainbridge|DLGN-25}}.
* DM: Destroyer, minelayer (retired)
* DMS: Destroyer, minesweeper (retired)
* FF: [[Frigate]]
* PF: Patrol frigate (retired)
* FFG: Frigate, guided missile
* FFH: Frigate with assigned helicopter<ref>Derdall and DiGiulian, (section: ''Torpedo Boats, Destroyers, Escorts and Frigates'')</ref>
* FFL: Frigate, light
* FFR: Frigate, radar picket (retired)
* FFT: Frigate (reserve training) (retired) The FF, FFG, and FFR designations were established 30 June 1975 as new type symbols for ex-DEs, DEGs, and DERs. The first new-built ships to carry the FF/FFG designation were the {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate}}s.
* PG: Patrol gunboat (retired)
* PCH: [[USS High Point|Patrol craft, hydrofoil]] (retired)
* PHM: [[Pegasus-class hydrofoil|Patrol, hydrofoil, missile]] (retired)
* K: [[Corvette]] (retired)
* LCS: [[Littoral combat ship]] In January 2015, the Navy announced that the up-gunned LCS will be reclassified as a frigate, since the requirements of the [[Littoral Combat Ship#Small surface combatant (SSC)|SSC Task Force]] was to upgrade the ships with frigate-like capabilities. The Navy is hoping to start retrofitting technological upgrades onto existing and under construction LCSs before 2019.<ref>[http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/03/04/navy-plans-to-expand-speed-up-lcs-modifications.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm Navy Plans to Expand, Speed-Up LCS Modifications] – Military.com, 4 March 2015</ref>
* LSES: Large Surface Effect Ship
* M: [[List of monitors of the United States Navy|Monitor]] (1880s–1920)
* SES: [[Surface effect ship|Surface Effect Ship]]
* TB: [[List of torpedo boats of the United States Navy|Torpedo boat]]

==== Submarine type ====
Submarines are all self-propelled submersible types (usually started with SS) regardless of whether employed as combatant, auxiliary, or research and development vehicles which have at least a residual combat capability. While some classes, including all diesel-electric submarines, are retired from USN service, non-U.S. navies continue to employ SS, SSA, SSAN, SSB, SSC, SSG, SSM, and SST types.<ref>Russia still employs several SSA and SSAN class submarines like the Delta Stretch as well as one SST, China has older SSB and SSG types such as the Golf and Mod Romeo classes, and North Korea has built many SSCs and SSMs. See 2007–2008 ''Jane{{'}}s Fighting Ships''.</ref> With the advent of new [[Air Independent Propulsion]]/Power (AIP) systems, both SSI and SSP are used to distinguish the types within the USN, but SSP has been declared the preferred term. SSK, retired by the USN, continues to be used colloquially and interchangeably with SS for diesel-electric attack/patrol submarines within the USN, and, more formally, by the Royal Navy and British firms such as [[Jane's Information Group]].
* SC: Cruiser Submarine (retired)
* SF: Fleet [[Submarine]] (retired)
* SM: Submarine Minelayer (retired)
* SS: Submarine, [[Attack Submarine]]<ref>[http://www.nvr.navy.mil/CLASS.HTM U.S. Navy Ship And Service Craft Classifications<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016023831/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/class.htm |date=16 October 2004 }}</ref>
* SSA: Submarine Auxiliary, Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine
* SSAN: Submarine Auxiliary Nuclear, Auxiliary/Cargo Submarine, Nuclear-powered
* SSB: Submarine Ballistic, [[Ballistic missile submarine|Ballistic Missile Submarine]]
* SSBN: Submarine Ballistic Nuclear, [[Ballistic missile submarine|Ballistic Missile Submarine]], Nuclear-powered
* SSC: Coastal Submarine, over 150 tons
* SSG: [[Cruise missile submarine#U.S. Navy|Guided Missile Submarine]]
* SSGN: Guided Missile Submarine, Nuclear-powered<ref name=Halibut group=A>See {{USS|Halibut|SSGN-587}}.</ref>
* SSI: Attack Submarine (Diesel Air-Independent Propulsion)<ref>{{cite journal | last = Buff | first = Joe | author-link = Joe Buff
 |date=June 2007 | title = Subs in the Littoral: Diesels Just Blowing Smoke? | journal = Proceedings of the Naval Institute
 | volume = 133 | issue = 6 | pages = 40–43 | issn = 0041-798X | url = http://www.usni.org/ | access-date = 2007-06-13
 | quote = Diesel AIP boats are known as SSIs, differentiating them from purely diesel-electric-powered hunter-killer subs, or SSKs. }}</ref>
* [[SSK (hull classification symbol)|SSK]]: [[Hunter-killer submarine|Hunter-Killer]]/ASW Submarine (retired)<ref>[http://www.nvr.navy.mil/oldclass.htm Inactive Classification Symbols<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118095120/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/oldclass.htm |date=18 January 2012 }}</ref>
* [[SSKN]]: Hunter-Killer/ASW Submarine, Nuclear-powered (retired)
* SSM: Midget Submarine, under 150 tons
* [[SSN (hull classification symbol)|SSN]]: [[Attack submarine|Attack Submarine]], Nuclear-powered
* SSNR: Special Attack Submarine <ref group="note">This odd entry is not recognized by the U.S. Naval Vessel Register, and appears only in MIL-STD-2525A: ''Common Warfighting Symbology'' (15 December 1996) and later editions (MIL-STD-2525B: ''Common Warfighting Symbology'' (30 January 1999) and MIL-STD-2525C: ''Common Warfighting Symbology'' (17 November 2008)). It seems to refer to some kind of nuclear-powered submarine used by Special Operations Forces.</ref>
* SSO: Submarine Oiler (retired)<ref name=Guavina group=A>See {{USS|Guavina|SSO-362}}.</ref>
* SSP: Attack Submarine (Diesel Air-Independent Power) (alternate use), formerly Submarine Transport
* SSQ: Auxiliary Submarine, Communications (retired)
* SSQN: Auxiliary Submarine, Communications, Nuclear-powered (retired)<ref>[http://www.dia.mil/publicaffairs/Foia/abbrev_acron.pdf 28034_cov.fh<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927024419/http://www.dia.mil/publicaffairs/Foia/abbrev_acron.pdf |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>
* SSR: [[Radar picket#Converted and purpose-built submarines|Radar Picket Submarine]] (retired)
* SSRN: Radar Picket Submarine, Nuclear-powered (retired)<ref name=Triton group=A>See {{USS|Triton|SSRN-586}}.</ref>
* SST: Training Submarine
{|
|style="width: 50%;"|
* AGSS: Auxiliary Submarine
* AOSS: Submarine Oiler (retired)
* ASSP: Transport Submarine (retired)
* APSS: Transport Submarine (retired)
* LPSS: Amphibious Transport Submarine (retired)
* SSLP: Transport Submarine (retired)
|SSP, ASSP, APSS, and LPSS were all the same type, redesignated over the years.
|}
* X: [[Midget submarine]]<ref name=X-1 group=A>See [[X-1 submarine]].</ref>
* IXSS: Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine
* MTS: Moored Training Ship ([[Naval Nuclear Power School]] Training Platform; reconditioned SSBNs and SSNs)

==== Patrol combatant type ====
Patrol combatants are ships whose mission may extend beyond coastal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and seakeeping, providing a capability for operations exceeding 48&nbsp;hours on the high seas without support. This notably included [[Brown Water Navy]]/Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War. Few of these ships are in service today.
* PBR: [[Patrol Boat, River]], Brown Water Navy (Pibber or PBR-Vietnam)
* PC: Coastal Patrol, originally [[Submarine chaser|Sub Chaser]]
* PCF: [[Patrol Craft, Fast]]; Swift Boat, Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)
* PE: [[Eagle-class patrol craft|Eagle Boat]] of [[World War I]]
* PF: World War II Frigate, based on British {{sclass2|River|frigate|4}}.
** PFG: Original designation of {{USS|Oliver Hazard Perry|FFG-7}}
* PG: WWII-era [[Gunboat]]s, later Patrol combatant, with ability to operate in rivers; what is generally known as [[River gunboat]]s
* PGH: Patrol Combatant, Hydrofoil ({{USS|High Point}})
* PHM: Patrol, [[Hydrofoil]] Missile ({{sclass|Pegasus|hydrofoil}})
* PR: Patrol, River, such as the {{USS|Panay|PR-5}}
* PT: [[PT Boat|Patrol Torpedo Boat]], the U.S. take on the [[Motor Torpedo Boat]] (World War II)
* PTF:[[Patrol Torpedo Fast]], Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)
* PTG/PTGB: Patrol Torpedo Gunboat
* [[List of monitors of the United States Navy|Monitor]]: Heavily gunned riverine boat, Brown Water Navy (Vietnam and prior). Named for {{USS|Monitor}}
* ASPB: [[Assault Support Patrol Boat]], "Alpha Boat", Brown Water Navy; also used as riverine minesweeper (Vietnam)
* [[PACV]]: [[Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle]], [[hovercraft]] that was part of the Brown Water Navy (Vietnam)
* SP: [[Section Patrol]], used indiscriminately for [[patrol vessel]]s, [[Minelayer|mine warfare vessels]], and some other types (World War I; retired 1920)

==== Amphibious warfare type ====
Amphibious warfare vessels include all ships having an organic capability for amphibious warfare and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. There are two classifications of craft: [[amphibious warfare ship]]s, which are built to cross oceans, and [[landing craft]], which are designed to take troops from ship to shore in an invasion.

The U.S. Navy hull classification symbol for a ship with a [[Well dock|well deck]] depends on its [[Aviation-capable naval vessel|facilities for aircraft]]:
* An [[Dock landing ship|LSD]] has a [[helicopter deck]], which was removable in the older ships.
* An [[Amphibious transport dock|LPD]] has a hangar in addition to the helicopter deck.
* An [[Landing Helicopter Dock|LHD]] or [[Landing Helicopter Assault|LHA]] has a full-length flight deck.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/amphibious-dock.htm|title=World Wide Landing Ship Dock/Landing Platform Dock|access-date=2012-05-17}}</ref>

Ships
* AKA: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Attack Cargo Ship (AKA)|Attack Cargo Ship]] (To LKA, 1969)
* APA: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Attack Transport (APA)|Attack Transport]] (To LPA, 1969)
* APD: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#High-speed Transport (APD)|High speed transport]] (Converted Destroyer or Destroyer Escort) (To LPR, 1969)
* APM: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Mechanized Artillery Transports (APM)|Mechanized Artillery Transports]] (To LSD)
* AGC: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Force Flagship (AGC)|Amphibious Force Flagship]] (To LCC, 1969)
* LCC: (second usage) [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Command Ship (LCC)|Amphibious Command Ship]]
* LHA: General-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship, also known as [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) (LHA)|Landing ship, Helicopter, Assault]]
* LHD: Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship, also known as [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose) (LHD)|Landing ship, Helicopter, Dock]]
* LKA: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA)|Amphibious Cargo Ship]] (out of commission)
* LPA: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Transport (LPA)|Amphibious Transport]]
* LPD: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Landing Platform Dock (LPD)|Amphibious transport dock]], also known as Landing ship, Personnel, Dock
* LPH: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH)|Landing ship, Personnel, Helicopter]]<ref name=Friedman2002>{{cite book|last=Friedman |first=Norman |title=U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=2002 |series=Illustrated Design Histories |page=656 |isbn=1-55750-250-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWX-x0b4pw4C&pg=PA218 }}</ref>
* LPR: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Amphibious Transport, Small (LPR)|High speed transport]]
* LSD: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Landing Ship Dock (LSD)|Landing Ship, Dock]]
* LSH: [[Landing Ship Heavy|Landing Ship, Heavy]]
* LSIL: [[Landing Ship, Infantry]] (Large) (formerly LCIL)
* LSL: [[Landing Ship Logistics|Landing Ship, Logistics]]
* LSM: [[List of United States Navy Landing Ship Medium (LSMs)|Landing Ship, Medium]]
** LSM(R): Landing Ship, Medium (Rocket)
* LSSL: [[Landing Craft Support|Landing Ship, Support (Large)]] (formerly LCSL)
* LST: [[List of United States Navy LSTs|Landing Ship, Tank]]
** LST(H): [[Landing Ship, Tank (Hospital)]]
* LSV: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Vehicle Landing Ship (LSV)|Landing Ship, Vehicle]]

Landing Craft
* LCA: [[Landing Craft Assault|Landing Craft, Assault]]
* LCAC: [[Landing Craft Air Cushion]]
* LCC: (first usage) Landing Craft, Control
* LCFF: (Flotilla Flagship)
* LCH: Landing Craft, Heavy
* LCI: [[Landing Craft Infantry|Landing Craft, Infantry]], World War II-era classification further modified by
** (G) – Gunboat
** (L) – Large
** (M) – Mortar
** (R) – [[Landing Craft Infantry#LCI(R) – Rocket|Rocket]]
* LCL: [[Landing Ship Logistics|Landing Craft, Logistics]] (UK)
* LCM: [[Landing Craft Mechanized|Landing Craft, Mechanized]]
* LCP: Landing Craft, Personnel
* LCP(L): [[LCPL|Landing Craft, Personnel, Large]]
* LCP(R): [[LCPR|Landing Craft, Personnel, Ramped]]
* LCPA: Landing Craft, Personnel, Air-Cushioned
* LCS(L): [[Landing Craft Support|Landing Craft, Support (Large)]] changed to '''LSSL''' in 1949
* LCT: [[Landing craft tank|Landing Craft, Tank]] (World War II era)
* LCU: [[Landing Craft Utility|Landing Craft, Utility]]
* LCVP: [[LCVP (United States)|Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel]]
* LSH: [[Landing Ship Heavy]] (Royal Australian Navy)

====Expeditionary support====
Operated by Military Sealift Command, have ship prefix "USNS", hull code begins with "T-".
* EMS: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Expeditionary Medical Ship (EMS)|Expeditionary Medical Ship]], an EPF modified into a hospital ship<ref name=USNI_20230515>{{cite news|title=SECNAV Del Toro Names New Class of Medical Ships After Bethesda Medical Center |date=May 2023 |first=Heather |last=Mongilio |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/05/15/secnav-del-toro-names-new-class-of-medical-ships-after-bethesda-medical-center |newspaper=USNI News |publisher=United States Naval Institute }}</ref>
* EPF: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF)|Expeditionary fast transport]]
* ESB: [[Expeditionary Mobile Base]] (a variant of ESD, formerly  Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB))
* ESD: [[List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships#Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD)|Expeditionary Transfer Dock]]
* HST: [[HST-2|High-Speed Transport]] (similar to JHSV, not to be confused with WWII-era [[High-speed transport]] (APD))
* HSV: High-Speed Vessel
* JHSV: Joint High-Speed Vessel (changed to EPF)
* MLP: Mobile Landing Platform (changed to ESD)

==== Mine warfare type ====
Mine warfare ships are those ships whose primary function is [[Minelaying|mine warfare]] on the high seas.
* ADG: [[List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy#Degaussing Ships (ADG)|Degaussing ship]]
* AM: [[Minesweeper (ship)|Minesweeper]]
* AMb: Harbor minesweeper
* AMc: Coastal minesweeper
* AMCU: Underwater mine locater
* AMS: Motor minesweeper
* CM: Cruiser (i.e., large) minelayer
* CMc: Coastal minelayer
* DM: High-speed minelayer (converted destroyer)
* DMS: High-speed minesweeper (converted-destroyer)
* PCS: Submarine chasers (wooden) fitted for minesweeping<ref>{{cite web|url=http://militarypower.wikidot.com/hull-classification-symbol|title=Hull Classification Symbol|publisher=militarypower.wikidot.com|access-date=17 January 2018}}</ref>
* YDG: District degaussing vessel

In 1955 all mine warfare vessels except for degaussing vessels had their hull codes changed to begin with "M".
* MCM: [[Mine countermeasures ship]]
* MCS: [[List of mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy#Mine Countermeasures Support Ships (MCS)|Mine countermeasures support ship]]
* MH(C)(I)(O)(S): [[Minehunter]], (coastal) (inshore) (ocean) (hunter and sweeper, general)
* MLC: Coastal minelayer
* MSC: [[Coastal minesweeper|Minesweeper, coastal]]
* MSF: Minesweeper, steel hulled
* MSO: [[Ocean minesweeper|Minesweeper, ocean]]

==== Coastal defense type ====
Coastal defense ships are those whose primary function is coastal patrol and interdiction.
* FS: [[Corvette]]
* PB: [[Patrol boat]]
* PBR: [[Patrol boat]], river
* PC: [[Patrol craft|Patrol]], coastal
* PCE: Patrol craft, escort
* PCF: Patrol craft, fast, (swift boat)
* PCS: Patrol craft, sweeper (modified-motor minesweepers meant for anti-submarine warfare)
* PF: [[Frigate]], in a role similar to World War II Commonwealth [[corvette]]
* PG: Patrol [[Gunboat#Early Modern era|gunboat]]
* PGM: Motor gunboat (To PG, 1967)
* PR: Patrol, [[River gunboat|river]]
* SP: [[Section patrol]]