Editing Hull classification symbol (section)

===Temporary designations===
United States Navy Designations (Temporary) are a form of U.S. Navy ship designation, intended for temporary identification use. Such designations usually occur during periods of sudden mobilization, such as that which occurred prior to, and during, [[World War II]] or the [[Korean War]], when it was determined that a sudden temporary need arose for a ship for which there was no official Navy designation.

During [[World War II]], for example, a number of commercial vessels were requisitioned, or acquired, by the U.S. Navy to meet the sudden requirements of war. A [[yacht]] acquired by the U.S. Navy during the start of World War II might seem desirable to the Navy whose use for the vessel might not be fully developed or explored at the time of acquisition.

On the other hand, a U.S. Navy vessel, such as the yacht in the example above, already in commission or service, might be desired, or found useful, for another need or purpose for which there is no official designation.
* IX: Unclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary Ship, for example, yacht ''Chanco'' acquired by the U.S. Navy on 1 October 1940. It was classified as a [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]] {{USS|Kestrel|AMc-5|1}}, but instead, mainly used as a [[patrol craft]] along the [[New England]] coast. When another assignment came, and it could not be determined how to classify the vessel, it was redesignated IX-175 on 10 July 1944.
* IXSS: Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarines, such as the {{USS|Cod|IXSS-224}}, the {{USS|Angler|IXSS-240}} and the {{USS|Croaker|IXSS-246}}.
* YAG: Miscellaneous Auxiliary Service Craft, such as the {{USS|George Eastman|YAG-39}}, {{USS|Butternut|YAG-60}} and {{USS|Christiana|YAG-32}} which, curiously, was earlier known as {{USS|Christiana|IX-80|1}}.

Numerous other U.S. Navy vessels were launched with a temporary, or nominal, designation, such as YMS or PC, since it could not be determined, at the time of construction, what they should be used for. Many of these were vessels in the 150 to 200 feet length class with powerful engines, whose function could be that of a [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]], [[patrol craft]], [[submarine chaser]], [[seaplane tender]], [[tugboat]], or other. Once their destiny, or capability, was found or determined, such vessels were reclassified with their actual designation.