TYPE DESIGNATIONS: U.S. NAVAL VESSELS

PRINCIPAL COMBATANT TYPESBB BattleshipCB Large CruiserCV Aircraft CarrierCVLAircraft Carrier (Light)CVEAircraft Carrier (Escort)CAHeavy Cruiser CL Light CruiserDD DestroyerDE Destroyer Escort VesselSS SubmarineSM Minelaying Submarine

MINOR COMBATANT TYPESCM MinelayerDM Light MinelayerDMS High-Speed MinesweeperAM MinesweeperAN Net-Laying ShipPF . . . → Read More: U.S. Naval Vessels Type Designations]]> U.S. Navy WWII vessel type abbreviations from FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels, U.S. Navy Department, September 1943:

TYPE DESIGNATIONS: U.S. NAVAL VESSELS

PRINCIPAL COMBATANT TYPES

BB	Battleship
CB	Large Cruiser
CV	Aircraft Carrier
CVL	Aircraft Carrier (Light)
CVE	Aircraft Carrier (Escort)
CA	Heavy Cruiser
CL	Light Cruiser
DD	Destroyer
DE	Destroyer Escort Vessel
SS	Submarine
SM	Minelaying Submarine

MINOR COMBATANT TYPES

CM	Minelayer
DM	Light Minelayer
DMS	High-Speed Minesweeper
AM	Minesweeper
AN	Net-Laying Ship
PF	Frigate
PE	Eagle Boat
PG	Gunboat
PC	Submarine Chaser
PCE	Patrol Craft Escort
PCS	Submarine Chaser (136′)
SC	Submarine Chaser (110′)
PT	PTC Motor Torpedo Boat
PY	Yacht

NAVAL AUXILIARIES

Tenders

AD	Destroyer Tender
AH	Hospital Ship
AS	Submarine Tender
ASR	Submarine Rescue Vessel
AR	Repair Shop
ARB	Battle Damage Repair Ship
ARG	Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship
ARH	Hull Repair Ship
ARL	Landing Craft Repair Ship
ARS	Salvage Vessel
AV	Seaplane Tender
AVD	Destroyer Seaplane Tender
AVP	Small Seaplane Tender
AGP	Motor Torpedo Boat Tender

CARGO AND FUEL SHIPS

AE	Ammunition Ship
AF	Provision Storeship
AK	Cargo Ship
AKA	Attack Cargo Ship
AKS	Stores Issue Ship
AO	Oiler
AOG	Gasoline Tanker

TRANSPORTS

AP	Troop Transport
APA	Attack Transport
APD	High-Speed Transport
APN	Wounded Evacuation Transport
APM	Mechanized Artillery Transport
APR	Rescue Transport
APV	Aircraft Transport
AGC	Operations And Command Headquarters Ship

LANDING CRAFT

LCC	Control Landing Craft
LCI	Infantry Landing Craft
LCT	Tank Landing Craft
LSO	Dock Landing Ship
LST	Tank Landing Ship
LCM	Mechanized Equipment Landing Craft
LCV	Vehicle Landing Craft
LCS	Support Landing Craft
LCP	Personnel Landing Craft
LVT	Tracked Landing Craft
LCR	Rubber Landing Craft

NAVAL AUXILIARIES

Base Craft

AB	Crane Ship
ABD	Advance Base Dock
ABSO	Advance Base Sectional Dock
AFD	Mobile Floating Dock
APL	Barracks Ship
APC	Coastal Transport
ARDC	Concrete Repair Dock
ARD	Floating Drydock
AT	Ocean-Going Tug
ATR	Rescue Tug
AVR	Aircraft Resscue Vessel
AMB	Harbor Minesweeper

Miscellaneous

AG	Miscellaneous Auxiliaries
AGS	Surveying Ship
IX	Unclassified

DISTRICT CRAFT

YAG	Miscellaneous District Auxiliaries
YMS	Motor Minesweeper
YMT	Motor Tug
YN	Net Tender
YNG	Gate Tender
YP	District Patrol Vessel
YT	Harbor Tug
CMC	Coastal Minesweeper

Barges

YCD	Fueling Barge
YO	Fuel-Oil Barge
YOS	Oil Storage Barge
YPK	Pontoon Storage Barge
YS	Stevedoring Barge
YSR	Sludge Removal Barge
YTT	Torpedo Testing Barge
YW	Water Barge

LIGHTERS

YA	Ash Lighter
YC	Open Lighter
YCK	Open Cargo Lighter
YCV	Aircraft Transport Lighter
YF	Covered Lighter
YFT	Torpedo Transport Lighter
YG	Garbage Lighter
YLA	Open Landing Lighter

MISCELLANEOUS

YCF	Car Floats
YD	Floating Derrick
YDG	Degaussing Vessel
YDT	Diving Tender
YE	Ammunition Tender
YFB	Ferry Boat
YFD	Floating Drydock
YHB	Houseboat
YHT	Heating Scow
YM	Dredge
YPD	Floating Pile Driver
YR	Floating Workshop
YRDH	Dry Dock Workshop–Hull
YSD	Seaplane Wreck Derrick
YSP	Salvage Pontoon

From top to bottom, ships shown are Battleships-BB: Littorio . . . → Read More: Italian Navy Ship Silhouettes]]> The following simplified Italian ship silhouettes show the profiles and relative sizes of the various classes of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers in the Italian Navy in WWII. The silhouettes are taken from the U.S. Navy manual FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels.

From top to bottom, ships shown are

• Battleships-BB: Littorio Class; Cavour Class; Doria Class
  
• Heavy Cruisers-CA: Bolzano; Gorizia
  
• Light Cruisers-CL: Montecuccoli Class; Garibaldi Class; Luigi Class; Regolo Class
  
• Destroyers-DD: Navigatore Class; Turbine Class; Spica Class; Grecale-Aviere Class

Source: FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels, U.S. Navy Department, September 1943.
 

From top to bottom, ships shown are Battleships-BB: Iowa; South Dakota Class; Nevada; North Carolina Class; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; . . . → Read More: U.S. Navy Ship Silhouettes]]> The WWII U.S. Navy manual FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels contained the following U.S. ship silhouettes showing the relative size of the various classes of aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

From top to bottom, ships shown are

• Battleships-BB: Iowa; South Dakota Class; Nevada; North Carolina Class; Pennsylvania; Tennessee; Colorado Class; New Mexico Class; New York Class; Arkansas
  
• Heavy Cruisers-CA: Northampton Class; New Orleans Class; Portland Class; Pensacola Class; Wichita; Baltimore Class
  
• Light Cruisers-CL: Atlanta Class; Omaha Class; St. Louis; Brooklyn Class; Cleveland Class
  
• Aircraft Carriers-CV-CVL-CVE: Saratoga-CA; Essex Class-CV; Enterprise-CV; Ranger-CV; Independence Class-CVL; Bogue, Sangamon, Prince William Classes-CVE; Long Island-CVE; Casablanca-CVE; Charger-CVE
  
• Destroyers-DD: Mahan-Dunlap Classes; Gridley-Bagley Classes; Benham-Sims Classes; Benson-Livermore Classes; Fletcher Class; Porter Class; Somers Class; Farragut Class; Fletcher (Catapult) Class; Flush Deck Type; DE-1; DE-51

Source: FM 30-50: Recognition Pictorial Manual of Naval Vessels, U.S. Navy Department, September 1943.