Ship prefix

Type of abbreviation used to describe ships

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A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship that has historically served numerous purposes, such as identifying the vessel's mode of propulsion, purpose, or ownership/nationality. In the modern environment, prefixes are cited inconsistently in civilian service, whereas in government service a vessel's prefix is seldom omitted due to government regulations dictating that a certain prefix be used. 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. For example, the modern navy of Japan adopts the prefix "JS" – Japanese Ship. However, not all navies use prefixes. Among the blue-water navies,[1] those of France, Brazil, China, Russia, Germany, and Spain do not use ship prefixes. NATO designations such as FS (French Ship), FGS (Federal German Ship), and SPS (Spanish Ship) can be used if needed.[citation needed]

## Usage[edit]

Historically, prefixes for civilian vessels often identified the vessel's mode of propulsion, such as "MV" (motor vessel), "SS" (screw steamer;[2] often cited as "steam ship"), or "PS" (paddle steamer).[3][2]

These days, general civilian prefixes are used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. In terms of abbreviations that may reflect a vessel's purpose or function, technology has introduced a broad variety of differently named vessels onto the world's oceans, such as "LPGC" (liquified petroleum gas carrier), or "TB" (tug-boat), or "DB" (derrick barge). In many cases though, these abbreviations are used for purely formal, legal identification and are not used colloquially or in the daily working environment. Prefixes indicating a vessel's purpose (e.g., "RMS" for a Royal Mail ship or "RV" for research vessel) are also used.[citation needed]

Prefixes used for naval ships primarily reflect ownership, but may also indicate a vessel's type or purpose as a sub-set. Historically, the most significant navy was Britain's Royal Navy, which has usually used the prefix "HMS", standing for "His/Her Majesty's Ship". The Royal Navy also adopted nomenclature that reflected a vessel's type or purpose, e.g. HM Sloop. Commonwealth navies adopted a variation, with, for example, HMAS, HMCS, and HMNZS pertaining to Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, respectively.

In the early days of the United States Navy, abbreviations often included the type of vessel, for instance "USF" (United States Frigate), but this method was abandoned by President Theodore Roosevelt's Executive Order No. 549 of 1907, which made "United States Ship" (USS) the standard signifier for USN ships on active commissioned service.[4][5] United States Navy prefixes officially only apply while a 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.[5][6]

However, not all navies used prefixes; this includes the significant navies of China, France and Russia.[citation needed]

From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by letters or hull numbers (pennant numbers)[7] or a combination of such. These identification codes were, and still are, 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 (e.g. 'D35' is destroyer 35 – HMS Dragon) and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.[citation needed]

These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.[8]

## Generic (merchant navy) prefixes[edit]

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These prefixes are generally used for merchant vessels of any nationality.[9]

Prefix | Meaning

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AE  | Ammunition ship
AFS  | Combat stores ship
AHT  | Anchor handling tug
AHTS  | Anchor handling tug supply vessel[10]
AO  | United States Navy oiler
AOG  | Gasoline tanker
AOR  | Auxiliary replenishment oiler
AOT  | Transport oiler[citation needed]
ASDS  | Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship
ATB  | Articulated Tug Barge[citation needed]
CRV  | Coastal Research Vessel[citation needed]
C/F  | Car ferry
CS  | Container ship[10] or
Cable ship
DB  | Derrick barge
DEPV  | Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel[citation needed]
DLB  | Derrick Lay Barge[citation needed]
DCV  | Deepwater Construction Vessel[citation needed]
DSV  | Diving support vessel or
deep-submergence vehicle
DV  | Dead vessel[11][12]
ERRV  | Emergency Response Rescue Vessel[12]
EV  | Exploration Vessel
FPSO  | Floating production storage and offloading vessel[10]
FPV  | Free Piston Vessel[citation needed]
FPV  | Fishery Protection Vessel[10]
FT  | Factory Stern Trawler
FV  | Fishing Vessel
GTS  | Gas Turbine Ship
HLV  | Heavy lift vessel
HMT  | Hired military transport[13] (not currently in use)
HMHS  | His(/Her) Majesty's Hospital Ship
HSC  | High Speed Craft[10]
HSF  | High Speed Ferry[citation needed]
HTV  | Heavy transport vessel
IRV  | International Research Vessel[citation needed]
ITB  | Integrated Tug barge[citation needed]
LB  | Liftboat
LNG/C  | Liquefied natural gas carrier
LPG/C  | Liquefied petroleum gas carrier
MF  | Motor ferry
MFV  | Motor fishing vessel (mainly UK Royal Naval Reserve)
MS (M/S)  | Motor ship[10] (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[10] (interchangeable with MS)
MY (M/Y)  | 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[10]
QTEV  | Quadruple turbo electric vessel
RMP  | Royal Mail Packet
RMS  | Royal Mail Ship[10] or Royal Mail Steamer
RNLB  | Royal National Lifeboat
RNMB  | Royal Navy Motor Boat
RRS  | Royal Research Ship
RV / RSV  | Research vessel/Research Survey Vessel[14]
SB  | Sailing Barge[citation needed]
SL  | Steam Launch[citation needed]
SS (S/S)  | Single-screw steamship[10]
(also used as generic term for any steam-powered ship)
SSCV  | Semi-submersible crane vessel
SSS  | Sea Scout Ship
SSV  | Sailing School Vessel,[citation needed] or
Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel[15]
ST  | Steam tug or
Steam trawler
STS  | Sail training ship
STV  | Sail Training Vessel or
Steam Turbine Vessel
SV (S/V)  | Sailing Vessel
SY (S/Y)  | sailing yacht or
steam yacht
TB  | Tug boat
TIV  | Turbine Installation Vessel
TEV  | Turbine electric vessel
TrSS  | Triple-screw steamship or steamer[10]
TS  | Training Ship or
turbine steamship or turbine steam ship
Tr.SMV  | Triple-Screw Motor Vessel
TSMV  | Twin-Screw Motor Vessel[16]
TSMS  | Twin-Screw Motor Ship[17]
TSS  | Twin-screw steamship or steamer[10]
TST  | Twin-screw tug
TT (T/T)  | "Tender to" ..., the prefix is placed on the tender followed by the name of the mother ship; or Turbine Tanker[citation needed]
TV  | Training vessel
ULCC  | Ultra Large Crude Carrier
VLCC  | Very Large Crude Carrier
YD  | Yard derrick
YT  | Yard Tug
YMT  | Yard Motor Tug
YTB  | Yard Tug Big
YTL  | Yard Tug Little
YTM  | Yard Tug Medium
YW  | Water barge, self-propelled
YWN  | Water barge, non-propelled
YOS  | Concrete vessel

## National or military prefixes[edit]

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Country | Service | Prefix | Meaning

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Albania | Albanian Naval Force | ALS  | Albanian Ship (NATO prefix)
Algeria | Algerian National Navy | ANS  | Algerian Navy Ship
Argentina | Argentine Navy | ARA  | Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Armada de la República Argentina)
Argentine Coast Guard | GC  | Argentine Coast Guard Ship (Spanish: Guardacostas)
Australia | Royal Australian Navy | HMAS | His 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[18]
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 Majesty's Colonial Ship
HMQS  | His Majesty's Queensland Ship (Queensland Maritime Defence Force)
HMVS  | His Majesty's Victorian Ship (Victorian Naval Forces)
Austria-Hungary | Austro-Hungarian Navy | SMS | Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
Azerbaijan | Azerbaijani Navy | ARG  | Azərbaycan Respublikasının hərbi Gəmisi (Warship of the Republic of Azerbaijan)
Bahamas | Royal Bahamas Defence Force | HMBS | His Majesty's Bahamian Ship
Bahrain | Royal Bahrain Naval Force | RBNS  | Royal Bahrain Naval Ship
Bangladesh | Bangladesh Coast Guard | CGS  | Coast Guard Ship
Bangladesh Navy | BNS  | Bangladesh Navy Ship
Barbados | Barbados Coast Guard | BCGS  | Barbados Coast Guard Ship
Belgium | Belgian Navy | BNS  | Belgian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
Brazil | Brazilian Navy | (No Official Prefix) | Brazilian naval prefix indicates ship type.
British Raj | Royal Indian Marine (1892–1934)  | RIMS  | Royal Indian Marine Ship
Royal Indian Navy (1934–1950)  | HMIS  | His Majesty's Indian Ship
Brunei | Royal Brunei Navy | KDB  | Kapal Di-Raja Brunei (Royal Brunei Ship)
Bulgaria | Bulgarian Navy | BNG  | NATO Designation
Canada | Royal Canadian Navy
(formerly Canadian Forces Maritime Command)  | HMCS
NCSM  | His Majesty's Canadian Ship
(French: Navire canadien de Sa Majesté)
CFAV
NAFC  | Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel
(French: Navire auxiliaire des Forces canadiennes)
Canadian Coast Guard | CCGS
NGCC  | Canadian Coast Guard Ship
(French: Navire de Garde côtière canadienne)
CCGC
CGCC  | Canadian Coast Guard Cutter
(French: Cotre de Garde côtière canadienne)
(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 | SCTV
NECM  | Sea Cadet Training Vessel
(French: Navire école des cadets de la Marine)
People's Republic of China | People's Liberation Army Navy | (No Official Prefix) |
Colombia | Armada Nacional | ARC  | Armada de la República de Colombia (Navy of the Republic of 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)
HDMY (Danish: KDM)  | His/Her Danish Majesty's Yacht, crewed by Royal Danish Navy
Ecuador | Armada Ecuatoriana | BAE  | Buque de la Armada de Ecuador (Ecuadorian Navy 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 for international identification only and never used internally.
France | French Navy | FS  | French Ship (NATO designation); Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
German Empire | Kaiserliche Marine | SMS  | Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
SMU  | Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (His Majesty's Submarine)
Nazi Germany | Kriegsmarine | KMS / DKM (No Official Prefix) |
West Germany | Bundesmarine | FGS  | Federal German Ship (NATO designation); Only used for international identification and never used internally.[19]
East Germany | Volksmarine |  |
Germany | German Navy | FGS  | Federal German Ship (NATO designation); Only used for international identification and never used internally.[19]
Kingdom of Greece | Royal Hellenic Navy | VP (Greek: ΒΠ)  | "Royal Ship" (Greek: Βασιλικόν Πλοίον, romanized: Vassilikón Ploíon); Some English Language authors uses RHNS for Royal Hellenic Navy Ship or HHMS for His Hellenic Majesty's Ship.
Greece | Hellenic Navy | HS  | Hellenic Ship (NATO designation); Only used for international identification, as prefix indicates ship type internally.
Guyana | Guyanese Coast Guard[20] | 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 Coast Guard | ICGS  | Indian Coast Guard Ship
Indian Navy | INS  | Indian Naval Ship
Indonesia | Indonesian Navy | RI  | Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia). Obsolete prefix used until 1960s.[21]
KRI  | Kapal Republik Indonesia (Ship of The Republic of Indonesia)
KAL  | Kapal Angkatan Laut (Navy Ship). For smaller boats which have a length less than 36m, and made from fiberglass.
Republic of Indonesia | KL  | Kapal Layar (Sailing Ship)
Republic of Indonesia | KM  | Kapal Motor (Motor Ship)
Republic of Indonesia | KN  | Kapal Negara (State Ship)
Imperial Iran | Imperial Iranian Navy | IIS[22] | Imperial Iranian Ship (Persian: ناو شاهنشاهی ایران)
Iran | Islamic Republic of Iran Navy | IRIS[23] | Islamic Republic of Iran ship (Persian: ناو جمهوری اسلامی ایران)
Ireland | Irish Naval Service | LÉ | Long Éireannach (Irish ship)
Commissioners of Irish Lights | ILV  | Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)
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 | Regia Marina | RN  | Regia Nave – Royal Ship
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 Majesty's Jamaican Ship
Empire of Japan | Imperial Japanese Navy | HIJMS (obsolete)  | His Imperial Japanese Majesty Ship (Used externally, between the Meiji Era and the Washington Naval Treaty. Though abandoned later on, Japanese vessels were still referred as such during World War II.
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 | (No Official Prefix) | Does not use any prefixes at all, either for international identification or for ship type indication.
Kuwait | Kuwait Naval Force | KNS  | Kuwait Navy Ship
Korean Empire | Imperial Korean Navy | KIS  | Korean Imperial Ship
South Korea | Republic of Korea Navy | ROKS  | Republic of Korea Ship
Latvia | Latvian Navy | LVNS  | Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
Lithuania | Lithuanian Navy | LKL  | Lietuvos Karinis Laivas (Lithuanian Military Ship)
LNS  | Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)
Malaysia | Royal Malaysian Navy | KD  | Kapal Di-Raja – His Majesty's Ship, literal: Royal Ship.
KLD  | Kapal Layar Di-Raja \- His Majesty's Sailing Ship, literal: Royal Sailing Ship. (Used by KLD Tunas Samudera)
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 | Myanmar Navy | UMS  | Union of Myanmar Ship (Burmese: Myanmar Sit Yay Yin)
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)
New Zealand | Royal New Zealand Navy | HMNZS | His Majesty's New Zealand Ship
Nigeria | Nigerian Navy | NNS  | Nigerian Naval Ship
Norway | Royal Norwegian Navy | HNoMS (Norwegian: KNM)  | His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (Norwegian: Kongelige Norske Marine), in use since 1946.
HNoMY (Norwegian: KS)  | His Norwegian Majesty's Yacht (Norwegian: Kongenskipet). The only vessel with the prefix, HNoMY Norge, is owned by the King but crewed by his Navy since 1948.
King of Norway | KSJ  | King's Sloop Norwegian: Kongesjaluppen Used on two small motorised pleasure vessels named Stjernen & Stjernen (II) owned by the King from 1899-1940 and 1945-present.
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  | Pakistan Naval Ship
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency | PMSS  | Pakistan Maritime Security 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
Paraguay | Paraguayan Navy | ARP  | Armada de la República del Paraguay (Navy of the Republic of Paraguay)
Peru | Peruvian Navy | BAP  | Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana), Since 1921
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 | Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
(Warship of the Republic of Poland)
Portugal | Marinha Portuguesa | NRP  | Navio da República Portuguesa (Ship of the Portuguese Republic)
PNS  | Portuguese Navy Ship (NATO designation); Never used internally.
UAM  | Unidade Auxiliar da Marinha – Navy Auxiliary Unit (used by non-military ships of Portuguese Navy)
Prussia | Prussian Navy | SMS  | Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
Kingdom of Romania | Royal Romanian Navy | NMS  | Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship)
Romania | Romanian Navy | ROS  | Romanian Ship (NATO designation); Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
SMR  | Serviciul Maritim Român (Romanian Maritime Service); used by transport ships
Russian Empire | Imperial Russian Navy | (No Official Prefix) | Some authors use "HIRMS" for "His Imperial Russian Majesty's Ship" to identify them.
Russia | Russian Navy | RFS  | Russian Federation Ship (NATO designation; Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
Saudi Arabia | Saudi Navy | HMS | His Majesty's Ship (Same as the Royal Navy)
Singapore | Republic of Singapore Navy | RSS  | Republic of Singapore Ship
Slovenia | Slovenian Navy | SNS  | Slovenian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
Solomon Islands | Royal Solomon Islands Police | RSIPV  | Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel
South Africa | South African Navy | SAS  | South African Ship/Suid-Afrikaanse Skip (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" for "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Ship" (Russian: Корабль Союза Советских Социалистических Республик).[24]
Spain | Armada Española | ESPS Buque de la A  | Spanish Navy Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally. ESPN or SPS are no longer used)
Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan Navy | SLNS  | Sri Lanka Naval Ship
Sri Lanka Coast Guard | SLCG  | Sri Lanka Coast Guard
Sweden | Swedish Navy | HMS (English: HSwMS)  | Hans/Hennes Majestäts Skepp (His/Her Majesty's Ship)
HSwMS (His/Her Swedish Majesty's Ship) is used in English to avoid confusion with Royal Navy ships
Swedish Coast Guard | KBV  | Swedish Coast Guard Vessel (Swedish: Kustbevakningen)
Republic of China (Taiwan) | Republic of China Navy | ROCS  | Republic of China Ship; CNS for "Chinese Navy Ship" was used before 1949
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 Tuvalu Surveillance Ship[25][26]
Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force | TTS  | Trinidad and Tobago Ship
United Kingdom | Ships carrying mail  | RMS | Royal Mail Steamer/Ship
Cable ship  | HMTV  | His Majesty's Telegraph Vessel
Motor Ship  | MS  | Motor Ship. Cruise ships such as the MS Queen Elizabeth, which do not carry post
Fishery protection vessels  | FPV  | Fisheries Protection Vessel
Royal Air Force | HMAFV  | His 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 Ship (now obsolete)
Royal Naval Auxiliary Service | XSV  | Auxiliary Service Vessel (now obsolete)
Royal Navy | HM Sloop  | His Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete)
HMS | His Majesty's Ship/Submarine
HMSm | His Majesty's Submarine (not currently in use)
HMT  | Hired Military Transport[27][13] (not currently in use)
His Majesty's Transport/Troopship/Trawler/Tug[28]
HMAV | His Majesty's Armed Vessel[29] (not currently in use)
HMY  | His Majesty's Yacht (not currently in use)
HMMGB  | His Majesty's Motor Gun Boat (not currently in use)
HMM  | His Majesty's Monitor (not currently in use)
HMSML  | His Majesty's Survey Motor Launch
HBMS | His Britannic Majesty's Ship (archaic)
HM  | His Majesty's, then used with the type of ship in military use (e.g. "HM Trawler" or "HM Rescue Tug")
Hospital Ships  | HMHS  | His Majesty's Hospital Ship
Joint Services Sail Training Yachts (JSASTC)  | 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  | His/Her Majesty's Army Vessel[30]
RCLV  | Royal Corps of Logistics Vessel (not currently in use)
Government research ships  | RRS  | Royal Research Ship
HM Revenue and Customs/Border Force | HMCC, HMC  | His Majesty's Customs Cutter shortened to His Majesty's Cutter after being transferred to Border Force
HM Customs and Excise (replaced by HMRC, above)  | HMRC  | His Majesty's Revenue Cutter (not used since 18 April 2005). Also His Majesty's Revenue Cruiser (as per HMRC Vigilant 1947. Not used since ca. 1960)
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 Army owned bareboat chartered troop or cargo transports, not in use after 1950)
USACT  | United States Army Chartered Transport (usage WW I only for time or voyage chartered ships; eg: Artemis 1917—1919)
USAMP  | U.S. Army Mine Planter (not currently in use)
USAJMP  | U.S. Army Junior 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 warships only.[5]
USNV  | United States Naval Vessel (Small utility vessels, not MSC, operated by local commands)[31]
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 Environmental Protection Agency | US EPA  | United States Environmental Protection Agency; no "S" for "ship" is 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 Bureau of Fisheries | USFS  | United States Fisheries Service (obsolete); alternative informal name for the Bureau; no "S" for "ship" was used
United States Fish and Wildlife Service | US FWS  | United States Fish and Wildlife Service; no "S" for "ship" used
United States Lighthouse Service | USLHT  | United States Lighthouse Tender (obsolete)
United States Public Health Service | USPHS  | United States Public Health Service; no "S" for "ship" used
United States Revenue-Marine (1790–1894) and United States Revenue Cutter Service (1894-1915)  | USRC  | United States Revenue Cutter (obsolete)
Uruguay | Uruguayan Navy | ROU  | República 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 República de Venezuela Not in use 1999
ARBV  | Armada República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Vietnam | Vietnam People's Navy | VPNS  | Vietnam People's Navy Ship. The Vietnam People's Navy does not internally and formally use this designation despite its unofficial but frequent usage by foreign media at international events. Since a major portion of the Vietnamese fleet is not named literally and only has standardized non-prefixed hull numbers, the VPNS prefix is sometimes used with the ship's hull number (for example, VPNS 20)[32] to make it look cosmetically more synchronous and consistent with other navies' prefixed ship names in international activities.
South Vietnam | Republic of Vietnam Navy | RVNS  | Republic of Vietnam Navy Ship or Republic of Viet-Nam Ship (obsolete)
Kingdom of Yugoslavia | Royal Yugoslav Navy | KB  | Serbian: Краљевски брод, romanized: Kraljevski brod (English: Royal Ship)
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Serbia and Montenegro | 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

### Prefix conventions[edit]

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.[33] 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.[34]

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.[5] 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.[35] 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 (NOAA) in 1970. USFC was replaced by USFS when the United States Commission on Fish and Fisheries was reorganized as the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries in 1903, and USFS in turn was replaced in 1940 by US FWS when the Bureau of Fisheries merged with the United States Department of the Interior's Division of Biological Survey to form the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service (which in 1956 was reorganized as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service). Seagoing ships Fish and Wildlife Service ships with the prefix US FWS that were transferred to NOAA when NOAA was created in 1970 switched to the NOAAS prefix.

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.[5] Vessels, such as yard and harbor craft that are not commissioned and "in service" are officially referred to by name or hull number without prefix.[5] Prior to commissioning, ships may be described as a pre-commissioning unit or PCU; for example, USS Gerald R. Ford was described as the "pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford" prior to her commissioning in 2017.[36] [5] Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian crewed ships "in service" are given the prefix United States Naval Ship (USNS).[5]

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.

## In science fiction[edit]

Fictional equivalents of tri-letter prefixes frequently appear in English-language science fiction works, applied to seafaring and spaceborne ships alike.

* Star Trek – the United Federation of Planets uses the prefix "USS" for its starships. Dialogue in earlier episodes of the series indicated that it referred to "United Space Ship".[37] In the alternate "Mirror Universe", the Terran Empire use an "ISS" prefix instead. Other races use different prefixes for their ships:
* Klingons use IKS (Imperial Klingon Ship) or IKC (Imperial Klingon Cruiser).
* Romulan vessels typically receive the prefix IRW (Imperial Romulan Warbird), or RIS where some speculate that it means "Romulan Imperial Ship", and ChR. (ChR is from novelist Diane Duane's imagining of the Star Trek Universe, in which the Romulans refer to their home planet as "Ch'Rihan". Though Duane's version has a loyal following among many fans, it is not considered official Star Trek canon; similarly, the Ferengi designation of FMS, and the Cardassian CDS, are also not canon.)
* Star Wars – The Galactic Empire sometimes uses the prefix ISD for Imperial Star Destroyer.
* Babylon 5 – The Earth Alliance uses the prefix "EAS" for "Earth Alliance Ship". Some fan material also uses it for "Earth Alliance Station".
* Elite: Dangerous – The Federation uses the prefix "FNS" (Federal Naval Ship) for some military ships. The Empire uses "INV" (Imperial Naval Vessel). The alliance uses "ADF" (Alliance Defense Force).
* Firefly – Vessels in the Union of Allied Planets fleet are given the prefix "IAV", for Interstellar Alliance Vessel.
* Wing Commander – The Terran Confederation uses TCS (Terran Confederation Ship) for its vessels.
* Halo – United Nations Space Command spacecraft use the prefix "UNSC". The Covenant use three letter designations for ship class such as CAS or CSO
* Mass Effect – features several prefixes, primarily "SSV" for "Systems Alliance space vehicle"[38] and "MSV" for "Merchant Space Vehicle", used on numerous human commercial ships, as well as "PFS" for a Turian Hierarchy naval craft, and a freighter AML Demeter of unknown affiliation.
* Dead Space – "USG", standing for "United Spacefaring Guild", which oversees civilian spacecraft operation, including the planet-cracker class leader USG Ishimura of the Concordance Extraction Corporation; "USM" for the Earth Defense Force of EarthGov; and "CMS" for its former opponents, the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces.
* StarCraft: Brood War – The United Earth Directorate uses DSS (presumably for Directorate Space Ship, e. g. DSS Aleksander); the Terran Confederacy used CSF (Confederate Space Fleet, e. g. CSF Ragnorak) for their battlecruisers.
* Killzone – The Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) uses "ISC", for Interplanetary Strategic Cruiser.
* The Moon is a Harsh Mistress – The Federated Nations use "FNS", presumably meaning "Federated Nations Ship".
* Alien – The ships use prefix "USCSS" for "United States Cargo SpaceShip" on the Nostromo, Prometheus, and Covenant.
* The Lost Fleet – The Alliance use the prefix "ASN" for "Allied Systems Navy" (or possibly "Alliance of Systems Navy"), the Syndicate Worlds do not use prefixes.
* CoDominium – CoDominium vessels use the prefix "CDS" for CoDominium Ship.
* "Honorverse" – The Manticoran kingdom uses "HMS" as a prefix, the Graysons use "GNS"(Grayson Navy Ship), and the Havenite ships use "PNS" (People's Navy Ship) and later "RHNS" (Republic of Haven Navy Ship), being reflections of actual ship prefixing traditions, and mirroring the Napoleonic wars. The Solarian League uses "SLNS" (Solarian League Navy Ship) and the Andermani Empire uses "IANS" for Imperial Andermani Navy Ship.
* The Culture – Ships are identified by a three-letter prefix denoting class (such as GSV for "General Systems Vehicle" or ROU for "Rapid Offensive Unit"), followed by their personal name.
* The Expanse – Ships of the United Nations Navy use the prefix "UNN," while ships of the Martian Congressional Republic Navy are prefixed with "MCRN". The Nauvoo, a generation ship commissioned by the Church of Latter Day Saints was prefixed with "LDSS" for "Latter Day Saints' Ship", and later changed to "OPAS" and re-christened as the "OPAS Behemoth" representing the Outer Planets Alliance.
* Unreal Tournament – Ships mentioned there have prefixes such as ITV ("Interstellar Transport Vessel", the first non-tutorial match in the tournament happens on board of ITV Oblivion) and ISV ("Interstellar Science Vessel", ship's name being ISV-Kran from Unreal).
* Unreal: Return to Na Pali – ISV (ISV-Kran) and UMS ("Unified Military Services", a prefix for warships).
* The Orville—The Planetary Union uses the prefix "USS", presumably for "Union Space Ship" (in homage to Star Trek).
* Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon \- The Terran Empire uses the prefix RLS, which stands for Royal Light Ship; this is also a direct homage to Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the original Treasure Island. The Procyon Expanse uses the prefix PSR, which stands for Procyon Star Runner.
* Destroyermen \- the Grand Alliance uses the "USS" prefix, since all Allied warships are run by the Americaan (sic) Clan. The Alliance's only airship is given the prefix "UHAS" (United Homes Air Ship). The Empire of New Britain Isles uses "HIMS" (His/Her Imperial Majesty's Ship). The Republic of Real People uses "RRPS" (Republic of Real People Ship). The New United States uses "NUSS" (New United States Ship). Neither the Holy Dominion nor the League of Tripoli use prefixes, although the KMS Hessen is mentioned once, it is not clear if the prefix is internally used or not.
* Titanfall \- The Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation, the main antagonists of the series, use the "IMS" prefix. The origin of this prefix is unknown.
* FreeSpace \- A variety of ship prefixes are used depending on the species, faction allegiance, and class of the vehicle. Prominent examples include: "GT" and "GV" for "Galactic Terran" and "Galactic Vasudan" respectively, "NT" for "Neo-Terran," "PV" for "Parliamentary Vasudan," and just "S" for "Shivan." These are then further supplemented with a type of ship identifier following the species and faction prefixes, such as "B" for "Bomber," "C" for "Cruiser," "Cv" for "Corvette," "D" for "Destroyer," and "F" for "Fighter," among many examples. As such, "PVD" would indicate a "Parliamentary Vasudan Destroyer," "NTF" would indicate a "Neo-Terran Fighter," "GTC" would indicate a "Galactic Terran Cruiser", "GVCv" would indicate a "Galactic Vasudan Corvette," and "SB" would indicate a "Shivan Bomber."

## References[edit]

1. ^ Kirchberger, Sarah (2015). Assessing China's Naval Power: Technological Innovation, Economic Constraints, and Strategic Implications. Heidelberg: Springer. p. 60\. ISBN 9783662471272. OCLC 911616881.
2. ^ a b "What Does SS Stand for on a Ship?". Reference.com. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2022. "screw steamer. It was originally used to distinguish a screw steamer from a paddle steamer, which was called a PS"
3. ^ Megoran, John (2017). PS Kingswear Castle. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4456-6558-0.
4. ^ Roosevelt, Theodore (8 January 1907). Executive Order 549. Washington, DC: President of the United States.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Naval History And Heritage Command.
6. ^ "Ship Naming". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
7. ^ "Pennant number". Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
8. ^ Launer, Donald (2006). Dictionary of Nautical Acronyms and Abbreviations. Sheridan House, Inc. p. 55\. ISBN 978-1-57409-239-4.
9. ^ Dasgupta, Soumyajit (4 March 2013). "What are Ship Prefixes for Navy and Merchant Vessels?". Marine Insight. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Maritime Acronyms and Abbreviations". Royal Institution of Naval Architects. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016.
11. ^ ""Dead Vessel" doctrine". USLegal.com. US Legal, Inc. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
12. ^ a b "Ship Prefix Glossary – continued". richatlanticinterserv.com. Rich Atlantic International Services. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
13. ^ a b "Troopship". Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2020. "The designation HMT (Hired Military Transport) ..."
14. ^ RSV Aurora Australis 1989–2020 Australian Antarctic Division, 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
15. ^ "Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel". Military Sealift Command. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
16. ^ "Ships of CalMac". Archived from the original on 28 April 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
17. ^ "Acronym Finder".
18. ^ Royal Australian Navy. "MSA Brolga". navy.gov.au. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
19. ^ a b "FGS Hessen factsheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
20. ^ "About the Coast Guard". 4 September 2008. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
21. ^ Jalesveva Jayamahe (PDF) (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Djawatan Penerangan Angkatan Laut (Indonesian Navy Information Service). 1960.
22. ^ Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 253\. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
23. ^ Mazumdar, Mrityunjoy (8 January 2020). "Iranian navy upgrades Alborz frigate with new combat systems". Janes.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
24. ^ "Russian and Soviet Navy Battleships". frontier.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
25. ^ The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, Naval Institute Press, 2002, p. 848, ISBN 9781557502421
26. ^ Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook, Perth Corporation, 2002, p. 1754, ISBN 9781892998064
27. ^ "1941 Dunera Boys Hay Internment Camp Collection". NSW Migration Heritage Centre. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
28. ^ Clark, D; Others (31 July 2017). "Glossary". 211squadron.org. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
29. ^ "List of Acronyms Preceding the Name of a Ship". 22 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
30. ^ Habesch, The Army's Navy, p. 154
31. ^ Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) (25 July 2012). "Dry Dock and overhaul of USNV Battle Point YTT-10". Navy Electronic Business Opportunities. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
32. ^ Minh Anh, Ngọc Hưng. "This is how troops take aerial photographs of warships in formation at LIMA 2023". People's Army Newspaper. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
33. ^ Circulaire Zeemacht 1569cc (1988).
34. ^ Dasgupta, Soumyajit. "What are Ship Prefixes for Naval and Merchant Vessels?". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
35. ^ United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
36. ^ "PCU Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Welcomes 60 New Crew Members" (Press release). Navy News Service. 6 June 2013. NNS130606-12. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
37. ^ Star Trek episode "Space Seed", Season 1 Ep 22, scene with McCoy and Khan in sickbay (1967-02-16).
38. ^ In-Game Codex, entry for SSV Normandy.

## Sources[edit]

* "Ship naming in the United States Navy". Naval History and Heritage Command. United States Navy. 6 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

* "Frequently Asked Questions". USCG Historian's Office. Coast Guard History. United States Coast Guard. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ship prefixes.

* Warship National Prefixes