Ship prefix

A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship.

Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "PS" for paddle steamer, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. Sometimes a slash is used to separate the letters, as in "M/S".

Naval prefixes came into use as abbreviations for longer titles, such as "His/Her Majesty's Ship" in the British Royal Navy, abbreviated "H.M.S." and then "HMS". Earlier uses often included the type of vessel, as for instance "U.S.F." ("United States Frigate") for frigates of the United States Navy, that were eliminated by President Theodore Roosevelt's Executive order of 1907 making "United States Ship" (USS) the standard for the Navy's commissioned ships while in commission.[1] In the United States Navy that prefix officially only applies while the ship is in active commission, with only the name used before or after a period of commission and for all vessels "in service" rather than commissioned status.[1] Today the common practice is to use a single prefix for all warships of a nation's navy, and other prefixes for auxiliaries and ships of allied services, such as coast guards.

The use of ship prefixes is not universal; in particular neither the German Kriegsmarine nor the Imperial Japanese Navy used ship prefixes. Some English-language writers use prefixes like "DKM" (for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine") and "HIJMS" (for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship") or "IJN" (for "Imperial Japanese Navy", a translation of 大日本帝国海軍 dai-nippon teikoku kaigun) for consistency with "HMS" and "USS". Other writers follow the practice of the navy and omit any prefix.

From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by hull numbers (pennant numbers)—identification codes typically painted on the side of the ship. Each navy has its own system: the United States Navy uses hull classification symbols, and the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.

These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.

Generic (merchant navy) prefixes

AHTS Balder Viking
FPSO Noble Seillean
  Prefix   Meaning
AHT Anchor Handling Tug
AHTS Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel
AOR Auxiliary, Replenishment Oiler
ATB Articulated Tug Barge
CRV Coastal Research Vessel
C/F Car Ferry
CS Cable Ship
DB Derrick Barge
DEPV Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel
DLB Derrick Lay Barge
DCV Deepwater Construction Vessel
DSV Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle
DV Dead vessel[2][3]
ERRV Emergency Response Rescue Vessel[3]
FPSO Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel
FPV Free Piston Vessel
FPV Fishery Patrol Vessel
FT Factory Stern Trawler
FV Fishing Vessel
GTS Gas Turbine Ship
HLV Heavy lift vessel
HSC High Speed Craft
HSF High Speed Ferry
HTV Heavy Transport Vessel
IRV International Research Vessel
ITB Integrated Tug barge
LB Liftboat
LNG/C Liquefied natural gas carrier
LPG/C Liquefied petroleum gas carrier
MF Motor Ferry
MS (M/S) Motor Ship (interchangeable with MV)
MSV Multipurpose support/supply vessel
MSY Motor Sailing Yacht
MT Motor Tanker
MTS Marine Towage and Salvage/Tugboat
MV (M/V) Motor Vessel (interchangeable with MS)
MY Motor Yacht
NB Narrowboat
NRV NATO Research Vessel
NS Nuclear Ship
OSV Offshore supply vessel
PS Paddle Steamer
PSV Platform Supply Vessel
QSMV Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel
QTEV Quadruple Turbo Electric Vessel
RMS Royal Mail Ship or Royal Mail Steamer
RNLB Royal National Lifeboat
RV / RSV Research Vessel
SB Sailing Barge
SS (S/S) Screw Steamer driven by propellers or screws, often understood to stand for "steamship". May also stand for steam ship or sailing ship.
SSCV Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel
SSS Sea Scout Ship
SSV Sailing School Vessel, Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel[4]
ST Steam Tug or Steam Trawler
STS Sail Training Ship
STV Sail Training Vessel or Steam Turbine Vessel
SV Sailing Vessel
SY Sailing Yacht or Steam Yacht
TEV Turbine Electric Vessel
TIV Turbine Installation Vessel
TS Training Ship
TSS Turbine Steam Ship or Twin Screw Steamer
TV Training vessel

National or military prefixes

Country Service Prefix Meaning
 Argentina Argentine Navy ARA Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Armada de la Republica Argentina)
Argentine Coast Guard GC Argentine Coast Guard Ship (Spanish: Guardacostas)
 Australia Royal Australian Navy HMAS His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship/Submarine/Station
NUSHIP New Ship/Submarine (Yet to be commissioned)
ADV Australian Defence Vessel (non-commissioned naval-operated ships)
MSA Minesweeper Auxiliary[5]
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service ACV Australian Customs Vessel
Australian Border Force ABFC Australian Border Force Cutter
Australia (pre-Federation) Colonial navies of Australia HMCS His/Her Majesty's Colonial Ship
HMQS His/Her Majesty's Queensland Ship (Queensland Maritime Defence Force)
HMVS His/Her Majesty's Victorian Ship (Victorian Naval Forces)
 Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Navy SMS Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship)
 Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force HMBS His/Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship
 Bangladesh Bangladesh Coast Guard CGS Coast Guard Ship
Bangladesh Navy BNS Bangladesh Navy Ship
 Barbados Barbados Defence Force HMBS His/Her Majesty's Barbadian Ship
 Belgium Belgian Navy BNS Belgium Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
 Brunei Royal Brunei Navy KDB Kapal Di-Raja Brunei – Royal Brunei Ship
 Burma Myanmar Navy UMS Myanmar Sit Yay Yin – Union of Myanmar Ship
 Canada Royal Canadian Navy, formerly Canadian Forces Maritime Command HMCS/NCSM His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship/Navire canadien de Sa Majesté (French)
CFAV/NAFC Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel/Navire auxiliaire des Forces canadiennes (French)
Canadian Coast Guard CCGS/NGCC Canadian Coast Guard Ship/Navire de Garde côtière canadienne (French)
CCGC/CGCC Canadian Coast Guard Cutter/Cotre de Garde côtière canadienne (French) (no longer used)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Transport, and predecessor departments CGS Canadian Government Ship (no longer used)
CSS Canadian Survey Ship (no longer used)
DGS Dominion Government Ship (no longer used)
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets SCTS/NECM Sea Cadet Training Ship/Navire école des cadets de la Marine (French)
 China People's Liberation Army Navy — No official prefix; some authors use "CNS" (Chinese Navy Ship) or "PLANS" (People's Liberation Army Navy Ship)
 Colombia Armada Nacional ARC Armada de la Republica de Colombia
 Confederate States Confederate States Navy CSS Confederate States Ship
 Cook Islands Cook Islands Police CIPPB Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat
 Denmark Royal Danish Navy HDMS (Danish: KDM) His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship (Danish: Kongelige Danske Marine)
 Ecuador Armada Ecuatoriana BAE Buque de la Armada de Ecuador
 Egypt Egyptian Navy ENS Egyptian Naval Ship
 Estonia Estonian Navy ENS (Estonian: EML) Estonian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
Estonian Coast Guard ECGS Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)
 Fiji Republic of Fiji Navy RFNS Republic of Fiji Naval Ship
 Finland Finnish Navy FNS Finnish Navy Ship. Prefixes are not used in Finnish-language communications.
 France French Navy OF Okręt Francuski (Polish French Ship); used in 1940–41 for French destroyer Ouragan
FS French Ship (NATO designation); France does not use prefixes internally
 German Empire Kaiserliche Marine SM U## Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (English: His Majesty's Submarine)
SMS Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship)
 Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine — (no prefix; some authors use "DKM" for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine" and "KMS" for "Kriegsmarine Schiffe")
 West Germany Bundesmarine FGS Federal German Ship (NATO designation); West Germany did not use prefixes internally
 Germany (reunited) German Navy FGS Federal German Ship (NATO designation)
 Kingdom of Greece Royal Hellenic Navy ΒΠ (VP) Βασιλικόν Πλοίον (Vassilikón Ploíon), "Royal Ship"; RHS (Royal Hellenic Ship) or HHMS (His Hellenic Majesty's Ship) in use by English-language authors and contemporary foreign navies.
 Greece Hellenic Navy HS Hellenic Ship: NATO designation, used in international communications; internally the Hellenic Navy uses prefixes indicating ship type.
 Guyana Guyanese Coast Guard[6] GDFS Guyanese Defence Forces Ship
 Kingdom of Hawaii Hawaiian Navy HHMS His Hawaiian Majesty's Ship; the only one being Kaimiloa
 Iceland Icelandic Coast Guard ICGV (Icelandic: VS) Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:Varðskip)
 India Indian Navy (pre-Republic) HMIS His/Her Majesty's Indian Ship
 India Indian Coast Guard ICGS Indian Coast Guard Ship
Indian Navy INS Indian Naval Ship
 Indonesia Indonesian Navy KRI Kapal Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia Ship)
Republic of Indonesia KL Kapal Layar (Sailing Ship)
Republic of Indonesia KM Kapal Motor (Motor Ship)
Republic of Indonesia KN Kapal Negara (State Ship)
Iran Iran Imperial Iranian Navy IIS Imperial Iranian Ship (Persian: ناو شاهنشاهی ایران)
 Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Navy IRIS Islamic Republic of Iran ship (Persian: ناو جمهوری اسلامی ایران)
 Ireland Irish Naval Service LÉ Long Éireannach — Irish ship
 Israel Israeli Sea Corps INS Israeli Naval Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam – Sea Corps Ship)
 Kingdom of Italy
(until 1946)		 Regia Marina RN Regia Nave – Royal Ship
Regia Marina R.Smg. Regio Sommergibile – Royal Submarine
 Italy Marina Militare ITS Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes
 Jamaica Jamaica Defence Force HMJS His/Her Majesty's Jamaican Ship
 Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy — (no prefix; some authors use "HIJMS" for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship" and "IJN" for "Imperial Japanese Navy")
 Japan Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force JDS or JS Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship
 Kenya Kenyan Navy KNS Kenyan Naval Ship
 Kiribati Kiribati Police Force RKS Republic of Kiribati Ship
 North Korea Korean People's Navy — (currently unknown)
 South Korea Republic of Korea Navy ROKS Republic of Korea Ship
 Latvia Latvian Navy LVNS Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
 Lithuania Lithuanian Navy LKL

LNS

 Lietuvos Karinis Laivas – Lithuanian Military Ship

Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)

 Malaysia Royal Malaysian Navy KD Kapal Di-Raja — His Majesty's Ship, literal: Royal Ship.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency KM Kapal Maritim — Maritime Ship
 Marshall Islands Marshall Islands Police RMIS Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship
 Federated States of Micronesia FSM National Police FSM Federated States of Micronesia
 Mexico Armada de México ARM Armada de la República Mexicana
 Myanmar Tatmadaw Yay UMS Myanma Sit Yay Yin – Union of Myanmar Ship
 Namibia Namibian Navy NS Namibian Ship
 Netherlands Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS (Dutch: Zr.Ms./Hr.Ms.) His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship (Dutch: Zijner/Harer Majesteits, archaic Dutch language genitive, lit. "His/Her Majesty's")
 New Zealand Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship
 Nigeria Nigerian Navy NNS Nigerian Naval Ship
 Norway Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS (Norwegian: KNM), in use since 1946 His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (Norwegian: Kongelige Norske Marine)
Norwegian Coast Guard NoCGV (Norwegian: KV) Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel (Norwegian: Kystvakten)
 Oman Royal Navy of Oman SNV Sultanate Naval Vessel
 Pakistan Pakistan Navy PNS Pakistani Naval Ship
 Palau Palau Police PSS Palau State Ship
 Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Defence Force HMPNGS His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship
 Peru Peruvian Navy BAP Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana)
BIC Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: Buque de Investigación Científica)
 Philippines Philippine Navy BRP Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas; in use since 1 July 1980
(Ship of the Republic of the Philippines)
RPS Republic of the Philippines Ship (Obsolete); before 1 July 1980
 Poland Polish Navy ORP Ship of the Republic of Poland
(Polish: Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
 Portugal Marinha Portuguesa NRP Navio da República Portuguesa – Ship of the Portuguese Republic
PNS Portuguese Navy Ship (NATO designation, not used internally)
UAM Unidade Auxiliar da Marinha – Navy Auxiliary Unit (used by the Portuguese Navy non-military ships)
 Romania Romanian Navy NMS Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship) – used before 1945 by the Royal Romanian Navy
SMR Serviciul Maritim Român (The Romanian Sea Service) – used by transport ships
ROS Romanian Ship (NATO designation, not used internally)
 Russia Russian Navy — No official prefix; some authors use "RFS" (Russian: Корабль Российской Федерации)
 Saudi Arabia Saudi Navy HMS His Majesty's Ship – the same as the Royal Navy
 Singapore Republic of Singapore Navy RSS Republic of Singapore Ship
 Solomon Islands Royal Solomon Islands Police RSIPV Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel
 South Africa South African Navy SAS South African Ship (previously HMSAS – His/Her Majesty's South African Ship)
SATS South African Training Ship
 Soviet Union Soviet Navy — No official prefix; some authors use "USSRS"[7] (Russian: Сою́з Сове́тских Социалисти́ческих Респу́блик Судно)
 Spain Armada Española ESPS Spanish Naval Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally)
 Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Navy SLNS Sri Lanka Naval Ship
 Sweden Swedish Navy HMS/HSwMS Hans/Hennes Majestäts Skepp – the same as the Royal Navy but in Swedish
 Republic of China Republic of China Navy ROCS (older usage: CNS) Republic of China Ship (older usage: Chinese Navy Ship)
 Thailand Royal Thai Navy HTMS His Thai Majesty's Ship
 Timor-Leste Timor Leste Defense Force NRTL Navio da República de Timor Leste (Ship of the Timor Leste Republic)
 Tonga Tonga Defence Services VOEA Vaka O Ene Afio (His Majesty's Vessel)
 Turkey Turkish Navy TCG Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi.)
 Tuvalu Tuvalu Police Force HMTSS His/Her Majesty's Tuvaluan State Ship
 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force TTS Trinidad and Tobago Ship
 United Kingdom Ships carrying mail RMS Royal Mail Steamer/Ship
Fishery protection vessels FPV Fisheries Protection Vessel
Royal Air Force HMAFV His/Her Majesty's Air Force Vessel (not currently in use)
Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships RFA Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Royal Maritime Auxiliary
Service ships		 RMAS Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (now obsolete)
Royal Navy HM Sloop His/Her Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete)
HMS His/Her Majesty's Ship/Submarine
HMSm His/Her Majesty's Submarine (not currently in use)
HMT Hired Military Transport (not currently in use)
HMAV His/Her Majesty's Armed Vessel[8] (not currently in use)
HMY His/Her Majesty's Yacht (not currently in use)
HMMGB His/Her Majesty's Motor Gun Boat (not currently in use)
HMM His/Her Majesty's Monitor (not currently in use)
HMSML His/Her Majesty's Small Motor Launch
HBMS His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship (archaic)
HM His/Her Majesty's, then used with the type of ship in military use (e.g. "HM Trawler")
Hospital ships HMHS His/Her Majesty's Hospital Ship
Joint Services HMSTC His/Her Majesty's Sail Training Craft
Trinity House THV Trinity House Vessel (Lighthouse and Buoy Tender)
Northern Lighthouse Board NLV Northern Lighthouse Vessel (Lighthouse tender)
Commissioners of Irish Lights ILV Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)
British Army HMAV Her Majesty's Army Vessel[9]
RCLV Royal Corps of Logistics Vessel (not currently in use)
Government research ships RRS Royal Research Ship
HM Revenue and Customs HMCC, HMC His/Her Majesty's Customs Cutter shortened to His/Her Majesty's Cutter after being transferred to UK Visas and Immigration
HM Customs and Excise (replaced by HMRC, above) HMRC His/Her Majesty's Revenue Cutter (not used since 18 April 2005)
 United States United States Air Force USAF, USAFS United States Air Force ship (not currently in use)
United States Army (modern) USAS United States Army Ship (modern)
USAV United States Army Vessel (modern)
United States Army (historical)
USAT United States Army Transport (large troop or cargo transports, not currently in use)
USAMP U.S. Army Mine Planter (not currently in use)
U.S. Army Vessels not otherwise designated: tugs, FS, Q, P etc. (not currently in use)
USAHS United States Army Hospital Ship (not currently in use)
United States Navy USF United States Frigate (obsolete)
USFS United States Flagship (obsolete)
USS United States Ship – Commissioned ships only. [1]
PCU Pre-Commissioning Unit, For United States Navy ships that are in the later stages of construction and have not yet been commissioned. [10]
USNV United States Naval Vessel (Small utility vessels, not MSC, operated by local commands)[11]
U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) USNS United States Naval Ship (USN-owned, civilian crews)
United States Coast Guard USCGC United States Coast Guard Cutter
USCGD United States Coast Guard Destroyer (not currently in use)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAAS National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ship
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey USC&GS United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (obsolete); occasionally a second "S" for "survey ship" was used
United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries USFC United States Fish Commission (obsolete); commonly used informal name for the Commission; no "S" for "ship" was used
United States Lighthouse Service USLHT United States Lighthouse Tender (obsolete)
United States Revenue Cutter Service USRC United States Revenue Cutter (obsolete)
 Uruguay Uruguayan Navy ROU Republica Oriental del Uruguay
 Vanuatu Vanuatu Police Force RVS Republic of Vanuatu Ship
 Venezuela Venezuelan Navy FNV Fuerzas Navales de Venezuela Not in use since 1949
ARV Armada Republica de Venezuela Not in use 1999
ARBV Armada Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia Royal Yugoslav Navy KB Kraljevski brod or Краљевски брод (English: Royal Ship), 1918–1941
 YUG  SCG Jugoslovenska Ratna Mornarica JRM (English: Yugoslavia war navy) Yugoslav Navy 1969–1992

Ratna Mornarica Vojske Jugoslavije RМVЈ (English: War navy of Yugoslavia Armed Forces) 1992–2003

 RTOP Raketna Topovnjača or Ракетна Топовњача (English: Rocket gunship), named by Yugoslavia peoples heroes
RČ Raketni Čamac or Ракетни Чамац (English: Rocket boat), 1969–1992, named by Yugoslavia peoples heroes
VPBR Veliki Patrolni Brod or Велики Патролни Брод (English: Big patrol ship), 1969–1992, named by Yugoslavia coastal towns
TČ Torpedni Čamac or Торпедни Чамац (English: Torpedo boat), 1969–1992
PČ Patrolni Čamac or Патролни Чамац (English: Patrol boat), 1969–1992, named by mountains
PO Pomoćni Oružar or Помоћни Оружар (English: Auxiliary аrmourer), 1969–1992
RML Rečni minolovac or Речни миноловац (English: River minesweepers), 1969–1992, named by places of WWII battles
RPB Rečni patrolni brod or Речни патролни брод (English: River patrol boat), 1969–1992
P Podmornica or Подморница (English: Submarine), 1969–1992, named by rivers or human qualities
RЕ Razarač Eskortni or Разарач Ескортни (English: Escort destroyer), 1969–1992
PT Pomoćni transportni or Помоћни транспортни (English: Auxiliary transport), 1969–1992
DČ Desantni čamci or Десантни чамци (English: Landing craft), 1969–1992

Notes and references

The designations for United Kingdom ships applied at the time of the British Empire, before the establishment of separate navies for the Dominions.

In the Royal Netherlands Navy, "HNLMS" is the prefix in English, a translation of the Dutch original "Hr.Ms." or "Zr.Ms.". "Hr.Ms." should preferably not be used in English-language documents; nevertheless it is often seen on the World Wide Web. Until the moment a Dutch naval ship officially enters active service in the fleet, the ship's name is used without the prefix.[12] Since King Willem-Alexander succeeded Queen Beatrix on 30 April 2013, "Hr.Ms." is replaced by "Zr.Ms.".

In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.[13]

In the United States, all prefixes other than "USS," "USNS", "USNV", and "USRC" were made obsolete in 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive order fixing American naval nomenclature.[1] USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the United States Lifesaving Service to become the United States Coast Guard in 1915.[14] USLHT also was replaced by USCGC when the United States Lighthouse Service became a part of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. USC&GS was replaced by NOAAS when the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey merged with other U.S. Government scientific agencies to form the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1970.

A United States Navy ship that is not in active commission does not hold the title of United States Ship with simply the name without prefix used before and after commissioned service.[1] Vessels, such as yard and harbor craft that are not commissioned and "in service" are simply referred to by name or hull number without prefix.[1] Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian manned ships "in service" are given the prefix United States Naval Ship (USNS).[1] In some popular usage as ship being constructed for commissioned service might be given the designation Pre-commissioned unit (PCU) even though not officially so designated. For example, say a shipyard is building a new aircraft carrier, the Flattop. From the date the keel is laid to the date it is commissioned, it is called the PCU Flattop.[15]

When it is stricken from the fleet list, a ship typically has the prefix "ex-" added to its name, to distinguish it from any active ships bearing the same name. For example, after USS Constellation (CV-64) was retired in 2003, she became referred to as ex-Constellation.

Note that while calling a US ship "the USS Flattop" may make grammatical sense, the preliminary article "the" is discouraged by nearly all style guides, and the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy uses ship names without article, except for USS The Sullivans, named for the five Sullivan brothers, all lost at sea during World War II.[16] Its British equivalent ("the HMS Flattop") is also discouraged, since "the Her Majesty's Ship" would be grammatically incorrect.

Yugoslavia war navy had strict naming rules and ships prefix that was driven by order by President of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1969. After dissolution of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia new state Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continued same naming convention for War navy of Yugoslavia Armed Forces from 1992 to 2003.

Civilian ship naming

In 1939, the British Ministry of Shipping adopted a standard naming system whereby all merchant ships ordered to be built in Britain to Government account, except very small ship types, would be given the prefix Empire to their name. This applied to ships acquired through purchase, requisition, or taken in prize, with some exceptions. It also applied to older ships acquired from the USA, modern ships acquired on Lease/Lend arrangements, salved and refitted ships, and captured enemy ships.

In science fiction

Fictional equivalents of tri-letter prefixes frequently appear in English-language science fiction works, applied to seafaring and spaceborne ships alike. See also Space navy for similar adoption of naval customs for fictional spacefaring military organizations.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Naval History And Heritage Command.
  2. ↑ ""Dead Vessel" Doctrine". USLegal.com. US Legal, Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 "SHIP PREFIX -- GLOSSARY – CONTINUED". richatlanticinterserv.com. Rich Atlantic International Services. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel". Military Sealift Command. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  5. ↑ Royal Australian Navy. "MSA Brolga". navy.gov.au. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "About the Coast Guard". 4 September 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  7. ↑ "Russian and Soviet Navy Battleships". frontier.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "List of Acronyms Preceding the Name of a Ship". 22 March 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  9. ↑ Habesch, The Army's Navy, p. 154
  10. ↑ http://www.navy.mil/local/cvn78/
  11. ↑ Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) (July 25, 2012). "Dry Dock and overhaul of USNV Battle Point YTT-10". Navy Electronic Business Opportunities. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Circulaire Zeemacht 1569cc (1988)
  13. ↑ Dasgupta, Soumyajit. "What are Ship Prefixes for Naval and Merchant Vessels?". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. ↑ United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
  15. ↑ Lasco, Dominique. "Navy Christens Guided-Missile Destroyer Michael Murphy". Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  16. ↑ http://www.the-sullivans.navy.mil/
  17. ↑ In-Game Codex, entry for SSV Normandy

References

  • Naval History And Heritage Command. "Ship Naming in the United States Navy". Naval History And Heritage Command. Retrieved 7 April 2015. 
  • United States Coast Guard Historian's Office (5 January 2015). "Coast Guard History". Frequently Asked Questions. United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 7 April 2015. 

External links

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