SHIP TYPES - Typical specifications early in WW2.
| Des-Type | Tons | Length | Armament | Notes |
|---|
| BB - Battleship | 32,000 | 624 | 12 14" |
| CV - Carrier | 15-33,000 | 739-910' | 80+ a/c | Flight deck length |
| CVE- Carrier, Escort | 23,000 | 553' | 34 a/c | 4 tanker conversions in 1942 |
| CVE- Carrier, Escort | 7,800 | 495' | 21 a/c | 10 merchant conversions 1942-43 |
| CA - Heavy Cruiser | 9,950 | 588 | 9- 8" |
| CL - Light Cruiser | 9,700 | 600 | 15 6" |
| CLaa - Anti-Air Cruiser | 6,000 | 541 | 16 5" |
| DD - Destroyer | 1,620 | 348 | 4- 5" | 8 torpedo tubes |
| SS - Submarine | 1,475 | 299 | 1- 3" | 10 torpedo tubes |
| PG - Patrol Gunboat | 2,000 | 328 | 3- 4" | Corvettes |
| PR - River Gunboat | 450 | 200 | 2- 3" | China and Philippines |
| SC - Sub Chaser | 90 | 110 | 1- 3" |
| PT - Motor Torpedo Boat | 38 | 80 | 1- 20mm, 2-.50, | 2-4 torpedoes |
Contrast with typical 1945 ship types.
Auxiliary Ships
Many warship types and most auxiliary type have three letters
indicating a specialized version of the basic type.
xxA- Attack or armed version of an auxiliary type
AP - Auxiliary, Personnel -- troop transport
APA - Auxiliary, Personnel, Attack -- invasion troop ship. "Away all boats"
| AD - Destroyer tender | AO - Oiler | LCx - Landing Craft |
| AE - Ammunition, explosives ship | AP - Personnel or troop transport . | LSx - Landing Ship |
| AF - Provisions ship | ARx - Repair ships | LVx - Landing Vehicle |
| AG - Miscellaneous auxiliary ships . | AS - Submarine Tenders | WPx - Coast Guard Cutters |
| AH - Hospital ship | ATx - Tugboats |
| AK - Cargo ship | AV - Seaplane Tender |
| AM - Mine sweepers | "V" is Navy speak for aircraft |
An individual ship or group of ships can be reclassified
when converted for special duty. Many destroyer and escort
types become a different type with a "D" suffix and with
"fast" added to the type name. Example:
An AP is the troopship designation, but when actually
a converted destroyer, it becomes APD, a fast troop transport
as used for landing raiding parties.
Designations change from time to time. Early WW2
designation and typical specifications are used here.
Ships tended to get bigger and better armed as the war progressed.
Many changes took place after the war.
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Or on to: Types late in the war.
Last updated on May 17, 2001.
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