This list includes current US Ship designations - US Navy, Coast Guard, and Army.
Designations in italics are no longer carried by active ships, but are commonly seen nonetheless.
Prefixes
USS = United States Ship (Naval vessel manned by military personnel)
USNS = United States Naval Ship (Vessel manned by civilian crew)
USCGC = United States Coast Guard Cutter
MTS = Moored Training Ship (ex SSBNs converted to training hulks)
Non self propelled craft are marked with an asterisk (*)
Warships
CVN Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier CV Aircraft Carrier CGN Nuclear Power Guided Missile Cruiser CG Guided Missile Cruiser DDG Guided Missile Destroyer DD Destroyer FFG Guided Missile Frigate FF Frigate SSBN Nuclear Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine SSN Nuclear Powered Submarine
Other Combatants, Patrol Boats and Landing Craft
LCC Command Ship [Joint Command Ship] AGF Flagship [Joint Command Ship] LHD Amphibious Assault Ship LHA Amphibious Assault Ship LPH Amphibious Assault Helicopter Carrier LKA Amphibious Cargo Ship LPD Amphibious Transport Dock LSD Dock Landing Ship LST Tank Landing Ship AOE Fast Combat Support Ship AOR Replenishment Oiler AE Ammunition Ship AFS Combat Stores Ship AO Fleet Oiler MCS Mine Countermeasures Support Ship MCM Mine Countermeasures Ship MHC Coastal Minehunter PC Coastal Patrol Craft LCAC Air Cushion Landing Craft LCM Mechanized Landing Craft LCPL Large Personnel Landing Craft LCU Utility Landing Craft LCVP Vehicle and Personnel Landing Craft SDV Swimmer Delivery Vehicle SLWT Side Loading Warping Tug
Auxiliaries
ACS Crane Ship AD Destroyer Tender AG Miscellaneous Auxiliary AGM Missile Range Instrumentation Ship AGOR Oceanographic Research Ship AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ship AGS Surveying Ship AGSS Experimental Submarine AK Cargo Ship AH Hospital Ship AKR Roll-on/Roll-off (Vehicle) Cargo Ship AOG Gasoline Tanker AOT Transport Oiler ARC Cablelayer ARS Salvage Ship AS Submarine Tender ASR Submarine Rescue Ship ATF Fleet Tug ATS Salvage Tug AVB Aviation Logistics Support Ship
Support Craft
AFDL Small Floating Drydock (*) AFDM Medium Floating Drydock (*) ARDM Medium Repair Dock (*) APL Floating Barracks (*) DSRV Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle DSV Deep Submergence Vehicle IX Unclassified Miscellaneous NR Nuclear Powered Research Submersible (unofficial designation) TWR Torpedo Retriever (unofficial designation) YC Lighter (*) YCF Car Float (*) YCV Aircraft Transportation Lighter (*) YD Floating Crane (*) YDT Diving Tender YF Covered Lighter YFB Ferry YFN Covered Lighter (*) YFNB Large Covered Lighter (*) YFND Dry Dock Companion Craft (*) YFNX Special Purpose Lighter (*) YFP Power Barge (*) YFRT Range Tender YFU Harbor Utility Craft YGN Garbage Barge (*) YLC Salvage Lift Craft (*) YM Dredge YNG Gate Craft (*) YO Oil Barge YOG Gasoline Barge YOGN Gasoline Barge (*) YON Oil Barge (*) YOS Oil Storage Barge (*) YP Seamanship Training Craft YPD Pile Driver (*) YR Repair Barge (*) YRB Repair and Berthing Barge (*) YRBM Repair, Berthing, and Messing Barge (*) YRDH Hull Repair Barge (*) YRDM Machinery Repair Barge (*) YRR Radiological Repair Barge (*) YRST Salvage Craft Tender (*) YSR Sludge Removal Barge (*) YTB Large Tug YTL Small Tug YTT Torpedo Trials Craft YWN Water Barge (*)
Coast Guard
WHEC High Endurance Cutter WMEC Medium Endurance Cutter WPB Patrol Boat WAGB Icebreaker WIX Training Ship WLB Seagoing Buoy Tender WLM Coastal Buoy Tender WLI Inland Buoy Tender WLIC Inland Construction Tender WLR River Buoy Tender WTGB Large Icebreaking Tug WYTL Small Harbor Tug
Army
BC Cargo Barge (*) BCDX Enclosed Barge (*) BD Floating Crane (*) BG Liquid Cargo Barge (*) BK Cargo Barge (*) BPL Elevating Pier (*) BR Refrigerated Barge (*) FB Ferry FMS Marine Repair Shop (*) J Small Work Boat LARC Amphibious Cargo Lighter LCM Mechanized Landing Craft LCU Utility Landing Craft LCV Vehicle Landing Craft LT Large Tug Q Work Boat ST Small Tug T Inshore Transport