View source for Ship prefix

{{Short description|Type of abbreviation used to describe ships}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

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 [[warship]]s of a nation's navy, and other prefixes for auxiliaries and ships of allied services, such as [[coast guard]]s. For example, the modern navy of Japan adopts the prefix "JS" – Japanese Ship, or the US navy has adopted the USS prefix. However, not all navies use prefixes. Among the [[Blue-water navy|blue-water navies]],<ref name="Kirchberger">{{cite book|last1=Kirchberger|first1=Sarah|oclc=911616881| title=Assessing China's Naval Power: Technological Innovation, Economic Constraints, and Strategic Implications|date=2015| location=Heidelberg|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-662-47127-2|page=60}}<!--|access-date=4 December 2015--></ref> those of France, Brazil, China, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, 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.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

==Usage==
Historically, prefixes for civilian vessels often identified the vessel's mode of propulsion, such as "MV" ([[Motor ship|motor vessel]]), "SS" ([[screw steamer]];<ref name=AskMediaGroup>{{Cite web |title=What Does SS Stand for on a Ship? |website=Reference.com |date=28 March 2020 |url= https://www.reference.com/world-view/ss-stand-ship-eda36063903ca754 |access-date=18 November 2022 |quote=screw steamer. It was originally used to distinguish a screw steamer from a paddle steamer, which was called a PS}}</ref> often cited as "steam ship"), or "PS" ([[paddle steamer]]).<ref>{{Cite book |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=978-1-4456-6558-0 |last=Megoran |first=John |title=PS Kingswear Castle |date=2017}}</ref><ref name=AskMediaGroup />

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|Royal Mail ship]] or "RV" for [[research vessel]]) are also used.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

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, [[His Majesty's Australian Ship|HMAS]], [[His Majesty's Canadian Ship|HMCS]], and [[His Majesty's New Zealand Ship|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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_549|title=Executive Order 549|last=Roosevelt|first=Theodore|date=8 January 1907|publisher=President of the United States|location=Washington, DC}}</ref>{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} 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.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203114725/http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2015|title=Ship Naming|website=Naval History and Heritage Command|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-04}}</ref>

However, not all navies used prefixes; this includes the significant navies of China, France and Russia.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by letters or [[hull number]]s (pennant numbers) 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 symbol]]s, and the Royal Navy (e.g. "D35" is destroyer 35 – [[HMS Dragon (D35)|HMS ''Dragon'']]) and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use [[pennant number]]s.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_7ycOuv6a4C&pg=PA55|title=Dictionary of Nautical Acronyms and Abbreviations|last=Launer|first=Donald|date=2006|publisher=Sheridan House, Inc.|isbn=978-1-57409-239-4|page=55}}</ref>

== Generic (merchant navy) prefixes ==
{{Refimprove section|date=October 2022}}
These prefixes are generally used for [[merchant vessel]]s of any nationality unless specified.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.marineinsight.com/types-of-ships/what-are-ship-prefixes-for-naval-and-merchant-vessels/|title=What are Ship Prefixes for Navy and Merchant Vessels?|last=Dasgupta|first=Soumyajit|date=4 March 2013|work=Marine Insight|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en-US}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
! {{nbsp|2}}Prefix{{nbsp|2}}
! Meaning
|-
|AE
|[[Ammunition ship]]
|-
|AFS 
|[[Combat stores ship]]
|-
|AHT
|[[Anchor handling tug]]
|-
|AHTS
|[[Anchor handling tug supply vessel]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" />
|-
|AO
|[[United States Navy oiler]]
|-
|AOG
|[[T1 tanker|Gasoline tanker]] 
|-
|AOR
|Auxiliary [[replenishment oiler]]
|-
|AOT
|[[Transport oiler]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|ASDS
|[[Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship]]
|-
|ATB
|[[Articulated Tug Barge]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|CRV
|[[Coastal Research Vessel]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|C/F
|[[Roll-on/roll-off|Car ferry]]
|-
|CS
|[[Container ship]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" /> or <br/>[[Cable layer|Cable ship]]
|-
|DB
|[[Crane vessel|Derrick barge]]
|-
|DEPV
|[[Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robins |first1=Nick |title=The Coming of the Comet: The Rise and Fall of the Paddle Steamer |date=2012 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1473803626 |page=163}}</ref>
|-
|DLB
|[[Derrick Lay Barge]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|DCV
|[[Deepwater Construction Vessel]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|DSV
|[[Diving support vessel]] or <br/>[[deep-submergence vehicle]]
|-
|DV
|[[Dead vessel]]<ref>{{cite web |title="Dead Vessel" doctrine |url=http://admiralty.uslegal.com/jurisdiction-over-the-parties-or-property-involved/dead-vessel-doctrine/ |website=USLegal.com |publisher=US Legal, Inc. |access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref><ref name="SHIP PREFIX -- GLOSSARY – CONTINUED">{{cite web |title=Ship Prefix Glossary – continued |url=http://www.richatlanticinterserv.com/ship_update.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805062904/http://www.richatlanticinterserv.com/ship_update.html |archive-date=5 August 2012 |website=richatlanticinterserv.com |publisher=Rich Atlantic International Services |access-date=7 February 2015 }}</ref>
|-
|ERRV
|[[Emergency Response Rescue Vessel]]<ref name="SHIP PREFIX -- GLOSSARY – CONTINUED" />
|-
|EV
|[[Exploration Vessel]]
|-
|FPSO
|[[Floating production storage and offloading]] vessel<ref name="RINAacronyms1" />
|-
|FPV
|[[Free Piston Vessel]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|FPV
|[[Fishery Protection Vessel]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" />
|-
|FT
|[[Factory Ship|Factory Stern Trawler]]
|-
|FV
|[[Fishing Vessel]]
|-
|GTS
|[[Gas Turbine Ship]]
|-
|HLV
|[[Heavy lift vessel]]
|-
|HMT
|Hired military transport<ref name="HMT.MilTran2">{{cite web
   |url=https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Troopship
   |title=Troopship
   |quote=The designation HMT (Hired Military Transport) ...
   |access-date=9 March 2020
   |archive-date=7 July 2022
   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707141826/https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Troopship
   }}</ref> (not currently in use)
|-
|HMHS
|His(/Her) Majesty's Hospital Ship
|-
|HSC
|[[High Speed Craft]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" />
|-
|HSF
|[[High Speed Ferry]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|HTV
|[[Heavy-lift ship|Heavy transport vessel]]
|-
|IRV
|[[International Research Vessel]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|ITB
|[[Integrated Tug barge]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|LB
|[[Liftboat]]
|-
|LNG/C
|[[LNG carrier|Liquefied natural gas carrier]]
|-
|LPG/C
|[[LPG carrier|Liquefied petroleum gas carrier]]
|-
|MF
|[[Ferry|Motor ferry]]
|-
|MFV
|Motor fishing vessel (mainly UK Royal Naval Reserve)
|-
|MS (M/S)
|[[Motor ship]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" /> (interchangeable with MV)
|-
|MSV
|Multipurpose support/[[platform supply vessel|supply vessel]]
|-
|MSY
|[[Motorsailer|Motor Sailing Yacht]]
|-
|MT
|[[Motor Tanker]]
|-
|MTS
|Marine towage and salvage/[[tugboat]]
|-
|MV (M/V)
|[[Motor Vessel]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" /> (interchangeable with MS)
|-
|MY (M/Y)
|[[Motor Yacht]]
|-
|NB<!-- Yes, this is normally written in lower case -->
|[[Narrowboat]]
|-
|NRV
|[[Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation|NATO Research Vessel]]
|-
|NS
|[[Nuclear marine propulsion|Nuclear ship]]
|-
|OSV
|[[Offshore supply vessel]]
|-
|PS
|[[Paddle steamer]]
|-
|PSV
|[[Platform supply vessel]]
|-
|QSMV
|Quadruple [[propellor|screw]] motor vessel<ref name="RINAacronyms1" />
|-
|QTEV
|Quadruple turbo electric vessel
|-
|RMP
|Royal Mail [[Packet boat|Packet]]
|-
|RMS
|[[Royal Mail Ship]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" /> or Royal Mail Steamer
|-
|RMV
|[[RMV_Scillonian_III|Royal Mail Vessel]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" />
|-
|RNLB
|[[Royal National Lifeboat]]
|-
|RNMB
|Royal Navy Motor Boat<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/march/13/240313-harrier-in-the-gulf | title=Autonomous minehunting test team mark one year in the Gulf }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-autonomous-mine-hunting-at-the-sharp-end/ | title=Royal Navy autonomous mine hunting at the sharp end &#124; Navy Lookout | work=Navy Lookout &#124; Independent Royal Navy news and analysis | date=30 March 2023 | author1=Navylookout }}</ref>
|-
|RRS
|[[Royal Research Ship]]
|-
|RV / RSV
|[[Research vessel]]/Research Survey Vessel<ref>[https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/history/transportation/shipping/aurora-australis/ RSV ''Aurora Australis'' 1989–2020] Australian Antarctic Division, 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.</ref>
|-
|SB
|[[Sailing Barge]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|SL
|[[Steam Launch]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|SS (S/S)
|[[Screw steamer|Single-screw steamship]]<ref name="RINAacronyms1" /><br/>(also used as generic term for any steam-powered ship)
|-
|SSCV
|[[Semi-submersible#Crane vessels|Semi-submersible crane vessel]]
|-
|SSS
|[[Sea Scout|Sea Scout Ship]]
|-
|SSV
|[[Sailing School Vessel]],{{cn|date=October 2022}} or <br/>Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel<ref name="Sub/SW">{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/print.asp?command=type&action=Submarine%20and%20Special%20Warfare%20Support%20Vessel |title=Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel |publisher=Military Sealift Command |access-date=3 December 2010 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607174905/http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/print.asp?command=type&action=Submarine%20and%20Special%20Warfare%20Support%20Vessel }}</ref>
|-
|ST
|[[Tugboat|Steam tug]] or <br/>[[Fishing trawler|Steam trawler]]
|-
|STS
|[[Training ship|Sail training ship]]
|-
|STV
|[[Training ship|Sail Training Vessel]] or <br/>Steam Turbine Vessel
|-
|SV (S/V)
|[[Sailing ship|Sailing Vessel]]
|-
|SY (S/Y)
|[[sailing yacht]] or <br/>[[steam yacht]]
|-
|TB
|[[Tug boat]] 
|-
|TIV
|[[Turbine Installation Vessel]]
|-
|TEV
|[[Turbo-electric|Turbine electric vessel]]
|-
|TrSS
|Triple-screw [[steamship]] or steamer<ref name="RINAacronyms1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rina.org.uk/maritime_acronyms1.html|title=Maritime Acronyms and Abbreviations|website=Royal Institution of Naval Architects|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819043306/http://www.rina.org.uk/maritime_acronyms1.html|archive-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
|TS
|[[Training Ship]] or <br/>turbine [[steamship]] or [[turbine steam ship]]
|-
|Tr.SMV
|Triple-Screw [[Motor Vessel]]
|-
|TSMV
|Twin-Screw [[Motor Vessel]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/help.asp |title=Ships of CalMac |access-date=2 July 2016 |archive-date=28 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428011734/http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/help.asp }}</ref>
|-
|TSMS
|Twin-Screw [[Motor Ship]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acronymfinder.com/Twin-Screw-Motor-Ship-(TSMS).html |title=Acronym Finder}}</ref>
|-
|TSS
|[[Twin-screw steamer|Twin-screw steamship]] or steamer<ref name="RINAacronyms1"/>
|-
|TST
|Twin-screw tug
|-
|TT (T/T)
|"[[Ship's tender|Tender]] to" ..., the prefix is placed on the tender followed by the name of the [[mother ship]]; or [[Turbine Tanker]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|-
|TV
|[[Training vessel]]
|-
|ULCC
|[[Ultra Large Crude Carrier]]
|-
|-
|VLCC
|[[Very Large Crude Carrier]]
|-
|-
|YD
|[[Crane vessel|Yard derrick]]
|-
|YT
|[[Type V ship|Yard Tug]]
|-
|YMT
|[[Type V ship|Yard Motor Tug]]
|-
|YTB
|[[Type V ship|Yard Tug Big]]
|-
|YTL
|[[Type V ship|Yard Tug Little]]
|-
|YTM
|[[Type V ship|Yard Tug Medium]]
|-
|YW
| [[Type B ship#World War II barge types|Water barge, self-propelled]]
|-
|YWN
| [[Type B ship#World War II barge types|Water barge, non-propelled]]
|}

==National or military prefixes==
{{Refimprove section|date=October 2022}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Country !!Service !!Prefix !!Meaning
|-
|{{ALB}}
|[[Albanian Naval Force]]
|ALS
|Albanian Ship (NATO prefix)
|-
|{{ALG}}
|[[Algerian National Navy]]
|ANS
|Algerian Navy Ship
|-
|rowspan=2|{{ARG}}
|[[Argentine Navy]]
|ARA
|Navy of the Argentine Republic ''({{langx|es|Armada de la República Argentina}}'')
|-
|[[Argentine Naval Prefecture|Argentine Coast Guard]]
|GC
|Argentine Coast Guard Ship (''{{langx|es|Guardacostas}}'')
|-
|rowspan=6|{{AUS}}
|rowspan=4|[[Royal Australian Navy]]
|[[His Majesty's Australian Ship|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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/msa-brolga|title=MSA Brolga|author=Royal Australian Navy|work=navy.gov.au|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|[[Australian Customs and Border Protection Service]]
|ACV
|Australian Customs Vessel
|-
|[[Australian Border Force]]
|ABFC
|Australian Border Force Cutter
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Australia]] (pre-[[Federation of Australia|Federation]])
|rowspan=3|[[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)
|-
|{{flag|Austria-Hungary|navy}}
|[[Austro-Hungarian Navy]]
|[[Seiner Majestät Schiff|SMS]]
|Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
|-
|{{AZE}}
|[[Azerbaijani Navy]]
|ARG
|Azərbaycan Respublikasının hərbi Gəmisi (Warship of the Republic of Azerbaijan)
|-
|{{BAH}}
|[[Royal Bahamas Defence Force]]
|[[His Majesty's Ship|HMBS]]
|His Majesty's Bahamian Ship
|-
|{{BHR}}
|[[Royal Bahrain Naval Force]]
|RBNS
|Royal Bahrain Naval Ship
|-
|rowspan=2|{{BAN}}
|[[Bangladesh Coast Guard]]
|CGS
|Coast Guard Ship
|-
|[[Bangladesh Armed Forces|Bangladesh Navy]]
|BNS
|Bangladesh Navy Ship
|-
|{{BRB}}
|[[Barbados Coast Guard]]
|BCGS
|Barbados Coast Guard Ship
|-
|{{BEL}}
|[[Belgian Navy]]
|BNS
|Belgian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
|-
|{{BRA}}
|[[Brazilian Navy]]
|''(No Official Prefix)''
|Brazilian naval prefix indicates ship type.
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{Flag|British Raj}}
|[[Royal Indian Marine]] (1892–1934)
|RIMS
|Royal Indian Marine Ship
|-
|[[Royal Indian Navy]] (1934–1950)
|HMIS
|His Majesty's Indian Ship
|-
|{{BRU}}
|[[Royal Brunei Navy]]
|KDB
|''Kapal Di-Raja Brunei'' (Royal Brunei Ship)
|-
|{{BUL}}
|[[Bulgarian Navy]]
|BNG
|NATO Designation 
|-
|rowspan=8|{{CAN}}
|rowspan=2|[[Royal Canadian Navy]]<br />(formerly Canadian Forces Maritime Command)
|[[His Majesty's Canadian Ship|HMCS]]<br />NCSM
|His Majesty's Canadian Ship<br />({{langx|fr|Navire canadien de Sa Majesté}})
|-
|CFAV<br />NAFC
|Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel<br />({{langx|fr|Navire auxiliaire des Forces canadiennes}})
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Canadian Coast Guard]]
|[[Canadian Coast Guard Ship|CCGS]]<br />NGCC
|Canadian Coast Guard Ship<br />({{langx|fr|Navire de Garde côtière canadienne}})
|-
|[[Canadian Coast Guard Cutter|CCGC]]<br />CGCC
|Canadian Coast Guard Cutter<br />({{langx|fr|Cotre de Garde côtière canadienne}})<br />(no longer used)
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Fisheries and Oceans Canada|Department of Fisheries and Oceans]], [[Transport Canada|Department of Transport]], and predecessor departments
|CGS
|Canadian Government Ship<br />(no longer used)
|-
|CSS
|Canadian Survey Ship<br />(no longer used)
|-
|DGS
|Dominion Government Ship<br />(no longer used)
|-
|[[Royal Canadian Sea Cadets]]
|SCTV<br />NECM
|Sea Cadet Training Vessel<br />({{langx|fr|Navire école des cadets de la Marine}})
|-
|{{PRC}}
|[[People's Liberation Army Navy]]
|''(No Official Prefix)''
|
|-
|{{COL}}
|[[Military of Colombia|Armada Nacional]]
|ARC
|Armada de la República de Colombia (Navy of the Republic of Colombia)
|-
|{{flag|Confederate States of America|name=Confederate States|1863}}
|[[Confederate States Navy]]
|CSS
|Confederate States Ship
|-
|{{COK}}
|Cook Islands Police
|CIPPB
|Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat
|-
|rowspan=2|{{DEN}}
|rowspan=2|[[Royal Danish Navy]]
|HDMS ({{langx|da|KDM}})
|His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship (''{{langx|da|Kongelige Danske Marine}}'')
|-
|HDMY ({{langx|da|KDM}})
|[[HDMY Dannebrog (A540)|His/Her Danish Majesty's Yacht]], crewed by Royal Danish Navy
|-
|{{ECU}}
|[[Military of Ecuador|Armada Ecuatoriana]]
|BAE
|Buque de la Armada de Ecuador (Ecuadorian Navy Ship)
|-
|rowspan=2|{{EST}}
|[[Estonian Navy]]
|EML
|Eesti Mereväe Laev (Estonian Naval Vessel)
|-
|[[Estonian Navy|Estonian Coast Guard]]
|ECGS
|Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)
|-
|{{flag|Ethiopian Empire}}
|[[Imperial Ethiopian Navy]]
|HMS
|His Majesty's Ship (same as royal navy) (1955-1974)<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJBDdJpZ-_I</ref>
|-
|{{FJI}}
|[[Republic of Fiji Military Forces|Republic of Fiji Navy]]
|RFNS
|Republic of Fiji Naval Ship
|-
|{{FIN}}
|[[Finnish Navy]]
|FNS
|Finnish Navy Ship; prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|-
|{{FRA}}
|[[French Navy]]
|FS
|French Ship (NATO designation); prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|-
|rowspan=2|{{flag|German Empire}}
|rowspan=2|[[Kaiserliche Marine]]
|SMS
|Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
|-
|SMU
|Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (His Majesty's Submarine)
|-
|{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
|[[Kriegsmarine]]
|''KMS / DKM (No Official Prefix)''
|''Kriegsmarine Schiffe/Deutsche Kriegsmarine'' (Navy Ship/German Navy)
|-
|{{FRG}}
|[[Bundesmarine]]
|FGS
|[[Federal German Ship]] (NATO designation); only used for international identification and never used internally.<ref name=hessen>{{Cite web |url=https://mc.nato.int/resources/site1/general/operations/osg/fgs%20hessen%20factsheet.pdf |title=FGS Hessen factsheet |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026222530/https://mc.nato.int/resources/site1/general/operations/osg/fgs%20hessen%20factsheet.pdf }}</ref>
|-
|{{GDR}}
|[[Volksmarine]]
|
|
|-
|{{GER}}
|[[German Navy]]
|FGS
|[[Federal German Ship]] (NATO designation); only used for international identification and never used internally.<ref name=hessen />
|-
|{{flag|Kingdom of Greece}}
|[[Royal Hellenic Navy]]
|VP ({{langx|el|ΒΠ}})
|"Royal Ship" ({{langx|el|Βασιλικόν Πλοίον|translit=Vassilikón Ploíon}}); some English Language authors uses RHNS for Royal Hellenic Navy Ship or HHMS for His Hellenic Majesty's Ship.
|-
|{{GRC}}
|[[Hellenic Navy]]
|HS
|''Hellenic Ship'' (NATO designation); only used for international identification, as prefix indicates ship type internally.
|-
|{{GUY}}
|[[Navy of Guyana|Guyanese Coast Guard]]<ref name="gdfcg">{{cite web|url=http://www.gdf-gy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=86|title=About the Coast Guard|date=4 September 2008|access-date=21 March 2010|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717144803/http://www.gdf-gy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=86|archive-date=17 July 2010}}</ref>
|GDFS
|Guyanese Defence Forces Ship
|-
|{{flag|Kingdom of Hawaii}}
|[[Hawaiian Navy]]
|HHMS
|His Hawaiian Majesty's Ship; the only one being ''[[Kaimiloa]]''
|-
|{{ISL}}
|[[Icelandic Coast Guard]]
|ICGV (Icelandic: VS)
|Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:''Varðskip'')
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IND}}
|[[Indian Coast Guard]]
|ICGS
|Indian Coast Guard Ship
|-
|[[Military of India|Indian Navy]]
|INS
|Indian Naval Ship
|-
| rowspan="12" |{{IDN}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Military of Indonesia|Indonesian Navy]]
|RI
|''Republik Indonesia'' (Republic of Indonesia). Obsolete prefix used until 1960s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jalesveva Jayamahe|location=Jakarta|publisher=Djawatan Penerangan Angkatan Laut (Indonesian Navy Information Service)|year=1960|url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Jalesveva_Jayamahe_%28full_book%29.pdf|language=ID}}</ref>
|-
|KRI
|''Kapal Republik Indonesia'' (Ship of the Republic of Indonesia)
|-
|KAL
|''Kapal Angkatan Laut'' (Navy Ship). For small boats which length is less than 36 m.
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Indonesian Army]]
|ADRI
|''Angkatan Darat Republik Indonesia'' (Indonesian Army)
|-
|AD
|''Angkatan Darat'' (Army). For combat boats.
|-
|[[Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Unit]]
| rowspan="2" |KN
| rowspan="2" |''Kapal Negara'' (State Ship)
|-
|[[Indonesian Maritime Security Agency]]
|-
|[[Indonesian National Police|Indonesian Water and Aviation Police Corps]]
|KP
|''Kapal Polisi'' (Police Ship)
|-
|[[Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance]]
|KP
|''Kapal Pengawas'' (Overseer Ship)
|-
|[[National Search and Rescue Agency]]
|KN SAR
|''Kapal Negara'' (State Ship) Search and Rescue
|-
|[[Directorate General of Customs and Excise]]
|BC
|''Bea Cukai'' (Customs–Excise)
|-
|[[Ministry of Transportation (Indonesia)|Directorate of Sea Traffic]]
|KM
|''Kapal Motor'' (Motor Vessel)
|-
|{{flag|Imperial Iran}}
|[[Imperial Iranian Navy]]
|IIS<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Moore|editor-first=John|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80|year=1979|publisher=Jane's Yearbooks|location=London|isbn=0-354-00587-1|page=253}}</ref>
|Imperial Iranian Ship ({{langx|fa|ناو شاهنشاهی ایران}})
|-
|{{IRN}}
|[[Islamic Republic of Iran Navy]]
|IRIS<ref>{{cite web|first=Mrityunjoy|last=Mazumdar|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/iranian-navy-upgrades-alborz-frigate-with-new-combat-systems|title=Iranian navy upgrades Alborz frigate with new combat systems|date=8 January 2020|access-date=1 August 2020|work=Janes.com}}</ref>
|Islamic Republic of Iran ship ({{langx|fa|ناو جمهوری اسلامی ایران}}) 
|-
|rowspan=2|{{IRL}}
|[[Irish Naval Service]]
|LÉ
|''Long Éireannach'' (Irish ship)
|-
|[[Commissioners of Irish Lights]]
|ILV
|Irish Lights Vessel ([[Lighthouse tender]])
|-
|{{ISR}}
|[[Israeli Sea Corps]]
|IS
|Israeli Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam – Sea Corps Ship)
|-
|rowspan=2| {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
|rowspan=2|[[Regia Marina]]
|RN
|''Regia Nave'' – Royal Ship
|-
|R.Smg.
|''Regio Sommergibile'' – Royal Submarine
|-
|{{ITA}}
|[[Marina Militare]]
|ITS
|Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes
|-
|{{JAM}}
|[[Jamaica Defence Force]]
|[[His Majesty's Ship|HMJS]]
|His Majesty's Jamaican Ship
|-
|{{flag|Empire of Japan}}
|[[Imperial Japanese Navy]]
|HIJMS (obsolete) <br /> IJN (unofficial)
|His Imperial Japanese Majesty Ship (used externally, between the [[Meiji era|Meiji Era]] and the [[Washington Naval Treaty]]. Though abandoned later on, Japanese vessels were still referred as such during World War II. The unofficial name IJN stands for "[[Imperial Japanese Navy]]" is frequently used in various sources and media.
|-
|{{JPN}}
|[[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]]
|JDS or JS
|Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship
|-
|{{KEN}}
|[[Military of Kenya|Kenyan Navy]]
|KNS
|Kenyan Naval Ship
|-
|{{KIR}}
|[[Law enforcement in Kiribati|Kiribati Police Force]]
|RKS
|Republic of Kiribati Ship
|-
|{{PRK}}
|[[Korean People's Navy]]
|''(No Official Prefix)''
|Does not use any prefixes at all, either for international identification or for ship type indication.
|-
|{{KUW}}
|[[Kuwait Naval Force]]
|KNS
|Kuwait Navy Ship
|-
|{{flag|Korean Empire}}
|[[Imperial Korean Navy]]
|KIS
|Korean Imperial Ship
|-
|{{KOR}}
|[[Republic of Korea Navy]]
|ROKS
|Republic of Korea Ship
|-
|{{LVA}}
|[[Latvian Navy]]
|LVNS
|Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
|-
|rowspan="2"|{{LTU}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Lithuanian Navy]]
|LKL
|''Lietuvos Karinis Laivas'' (Lithuanian Military Ship)
|-
|LNS
|Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{MYS}}
| rowspan="2" |[[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
|-
|{{MHL}}
|[[Law enforcement in the Marshall Islands|Marshall Islands Police]]
|RMIS
|Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship
|-
|{{FSM}}
|[[Law enforcement in the Federated States of Micronesia|FSM National Police]]
|FSM
|Federated States of Micronesia
|-
|{{MEX}}
|[[Mexican Navy|Armada de México]]
|ARM
|''Armada de la República Mexicana'' (Navy of the Republic of Mexico)
|-
|{{MMR}}
|[[Myanmar Navy]]
|UMS
|Union of Myanmar Ship (''{{langx|my|Myanmar Sit Yay Yin}}'')
|-
|{{NAM}}
|[[Namibian Navy]]
|NS
|Namibian Ship
|-
|{{NLD}}
|[[Royal Netherlands Navy]]
|HNLMS ({{langx|nl|Zr.Ms./Hr.Ms.}})
|His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship ({{langx|nl|[[Hr.Ms.|Zijner/Harer Majesteits]]}})
|-
|{{NZL}}
|[[Military of New Zealand|Royal New Zealand Navy]]
|[[His Majesty's New Zealand Ship|HMNZS]]
|His Majesty's New Zealand Ship
|-
|{{NGA}}
|[[Nigerian Navy]]
|NNS
|Nigerian Naval Ship
|-
|rowspan=4|{{NOR}}
|rowspan=2|[[Royal Norwegian Navy]]
|HNoMS ({{langx|no|KNM}})
|His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (''{{langx|no|Kongelige Norske Marine}}''), in use since 1946.
|-
|HNoMY ({{langx|no|KS}})
|His Norwegian Majesty's Yacht (''{{langx|no|Kongenskipet}}''). The only vessel with the prefix, {{ship|HNoMY|Norge||6}}, is owned by the [[Monarchy of Norway|King]] but crewed by his Navy since 1948.
|-
|[[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]]
|KSJ
|King's Sloop {{langx|no|Kongesjaluppen}} Used on two small motorised pleasure vessels named {{ship|KSJ|Stjernen|I|2}} & {{ship||Stjernen|II}} owned by the [[Monarchy of Norway|King]] from 1899-1940 and 1945-present.
|-
|[[Norwegian Coast Guard]]
|NoCGV ({{langx|no|KV}})
|Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel (''{{langx|no|Kystvakten}}'')
|-
|{{OMN}}
|[[Royal Navy of Oman]]
|SNV
|Sultanate Naval Vessel
|-
|rowspan=2|{{PAK}}
|[[Pakistan Navy]]
|PNS
|Pakistan Naval Ship
|-
|[[Pakistan Maritime Security Agency]]
|PMSS
|Pakistan Maritime Security Ship
|-
|{{PLW}}
|[[Law enforcement in Palau|Palau Police]]
|PSS
|Palau State Ship
|-
|{{PNG}}
|[[Papua New Guinea Defence Force]]
|HMPNGS
|His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship
|-
|{{PAR}}
|[[Paraguayan Navy]]
|ARP
|Armada de la República del Paraguay (Navy of the Republic of Paraguay)
|-
|rowspan=2|{{PER}}
|rowspan=2|[[Peruvian Navy]]
|BAP
|Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: ''Buque Armada Peruana''), Since 1921
|-
|BIC
|Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: ''Buque de Investigación Científica'')
|-
|rowspan=2|{{PHL}}
|rowspan=2|[[Philippine Navy]], [[Philippine Coast Guard]], [[Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources]]
|BRP
|''Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas''; in use since 1 July 1980 <br /> (Ship of the Republic of the Philippines)
|-
|RPS
|Republic of the Philippines Ship (Obsolete); before 1 July 1980
|-
|{{POL}}
|[[Polish Navy]]
|[[Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej|ORP]]
|''Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''<br /> (Warship of the Republic of Poland)
|-
|rowspan=3|{{POR}}
|rowspan=3|[[Portuguese Navy|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)
|-
|{{flag|Prussia}}
|[[Prussian Navy]]
|SMS
|''Seiner Majestät Schiff'' (His Majesty's Ship)
|-
|{{flag|Kingdom of Romania}}
|[[Royal Romanian Navy]]
|NMS
|Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship)
|-
|rowspan=2|{{ROM}}
|rowspan=2|[[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
|-
|{{flag|Russian Empire}}
|[[Imperial Russian Navy]]
|''(No Official Prefix)''
|Some authors use "HIRMS" for "His Imperial Russian Majesty's Ship" to identify them.
|-
|{{RUS}}
|[[Russian Navy]]
|RFS
|Russian Federation Ship (NATO designation; prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally. 
|-
|{{SAU}}
|[[Royal Saudi Navy|Saudi Navy]]
|[[His Majesty's Ship|HMS]]
|His Majesty's Ship (Same as the [[Royal Navy]])
|-
|{{SGP}}
|[[Republic of Singapore Navy]]
|RSS
|Republic of Singapore Ship
|-
|{{SVN}}
|[[Slovenian Navy]]
|SNS
|Slovenian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
|-
|{{SOL}}
|[[Law enforcement in the Solomon Islands|Royal Solomon Islands Police]]
|RSIPV
|Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel
|-
|rowspan=2|{{RSA}}
|rowspan=2|[[South African Navy]]
|SAS
|South African Ship/Suid-Afrikaanse Skip (previously HMSAS – His/Her Majesty's South African Ship)
|-
|SATS
|South African Training Ship
|-
|{{USSR}}
|[[Soviet Navy]]
|''(No Official Prefix)''
|Some authors use "USSRS" for "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Ship" ({{langx|ru|Корабль Союза Советских Социалистических Республик}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://myplace.frontier.com/~wellsbrothers/Battleships/SovietBBtable.html|title=Russian and Soviet Navy Battleships|work=frontier.com|access-date=23 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
|{{ESP}}
|[[Armada Española]]
|ESPS Buque de la A
|Spanish Navy Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally. ESPN or SPS are no longer used)
|-
|rowspan=2| {{LKA}}
|[[Sri Lankan Navy]]
|SLNS
|Sri Lanka Naval Ship
|-
|[[Sri Lanka Coast Guard]]
|SLCG
|Sri Lanka Coast Guard
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SWE}}
|[[Swedish Navy]]
|HMS (English: HSwMS)
|''Hans/Hennes Majestäts Skepp'' (His/Her Majesty's Ship)<br />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'')
|-
|{{ROC-TW}}
|[[Republic of China Navy]]
|ROCS
|Republic of China Ship; CNS for "Chinese Navy Ship" was used before 1949
|-
|{{THA}}
|[[Royal Thai Navy]]
|HTMS
|His Thai Majesty's Ship
|-
|{{TLS}}
|[[Timor Leste Defense Force]]
|NRTL
|''Navio da República de Timor Leste'' (Ship of the Timor Leste Republic)
|-
|{{TON}}
|[[Tonga Defence Services]]
|VOEA
|''Vaka O Ene Afio'' (His Majesty's Vessel)
|-
|{{TUR}}
|[[Turkish Navy]]
|TCG
|Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: ''Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi.'')
|-
|{{TUV}}
|[[Law enforcement in Tuvalu|Tuvalu Police Force]]
|HMTSS
|His/Her Majesty's Tuvalu Surveillance Ship<ref>{{citation|title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World|year=2002|publisher=Naval Institute Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ow-AQAAIAAJ|page=848|isbn=978-1-55750-242-1 }}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook|year=2002|publisher=Perth Corporation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OI-AQAAIAAJ|page=1754|isbn=978-1-892998-06-4 }}</ref>
|-
|{{TTO}}
|[[Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force]]
|TTS
|Trinidad and Tobago Ship
|-
| rowspan="29" |{{UK}}
|Ships carrying mail
|[[Royal Mail Ship|RMS]]
|[[Royal Mail]] Steamer/Ship
|-
|Cable ship
|CS
|His Majesty's Telegraph Vessel
|-
|Motor Ship
|MS
|[[Motor Ship]]. Cruise ships such as the [[MS Queen Elizabeth]], which do not carry [[Royal Mail|post]]
|-
|Fishery protection vessels
|FPV
|[[Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency|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|Royal Maritime Auxiliary <br /> Service]] ships
|RMAS
|Royal Maritime Auxiliary Ship (now obsolete)
|-
|[[Royal Naval Auxiliary Service]]
|XSV
|Auxiliary Service Vessel (now obsolete)
|-
|rowspan=11|[[Royal Navy]]
|HM Sloop
|His Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete)
|-
|[[His Majesty's Ship|HMS]]
|His Majesty's Ship/Submarine
|-
|[[His Majesty's Ship|HMSm]]
|His Majesty's Submarine (not currently in use) <!-- see, e.g., http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Submarines/Fleet-Submarines/Astute-Class/HMS-Astute for the Royal Navy referring to one of its submarines as just HMS -->
|-
|HMT
|Hired Military Transport<ref name="HMT.MilTran1">{{cite web
|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/dunera/index.html
|title=1941 Dunera Boys Hay Internment Camp Collection |publisher=NSW Migration Heritage Centre
|access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=HMT.MilTran2/> (not currently in use)<br />His Majesty's Transport/Troopship/Trawler/Tug<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glossary |last1=Clark |first1=D |last2=Others |website=211squadron.org |date=31 July 2017 |access-date=10 January 2021 |url= http://www.211squadron.org/glossary.html}}</ref>
|-
|[[His Majesty's Armed Vessel|HMAV]]
|His Majesty's Armed Vessel<ref name="list">{{cite web|url=http://www.pilotesbsl.qc.ca/en/ship/acronyms.php|title=List of Acronyms Preceding the Name of a Ship|date=22 March 2010|access-date=22 March 2010|archive-date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201722/http://www.pilotesbsl.qc.ca/en/ship/acronyms.php}}</ref> (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 (warship)|Monitor]] (not currently in use)
|-
|HMSML
|His Majesty's [[HMSML Gleaner (H86)|Survey Motor Launch]]
|-
|[[His Britannic Majesty's Ship|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]])
|-
|rowspan=2|[[British Army]]
|HMAV
|His/Her Majesty's Army Vessel<ref>Habesch, The Army's Navy, p. 154</ref>
|-[[British Armed Forces|British Army]]
|RCLV
|[[Royal Logistic Corps|Royal Corps of Logistics]] Vessel (not currently in use)
|-
|Government research ships
|RRS
|[[Royal Research Ship]]
|-
|[[HM Revenue and Customs]]/[[Border Force]]
|HMCC, HMC
|[[HMRC 42&nbsp;m Customs Cutter|His Majesty's Customs Cutter]] shortened to [[HMRC 42&nbsp;m Customs Cutter|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)
|-
|rowspan=26|{{USA}}
|[[United States Air Force]]
|USAF, USAFS
|[[List of ships of the United States Air Force|United States Air Force ship]] (not currently in use)
|-
|rowspan=2|[[United States Army]] (modern)
|USAS
|United States Army Ship (modern)
|-
|USAV
|United States Army Vessel (modern)
|-
|rowspan=7|[[United States Army]] (historical)
|-
|USAT
|United States Army Transport (large Army owned [[bareboat charter|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; e.g. [[SS Empire Bittern|''Artemis'']] 1917—1919)
|-
|USAMP
|[[Mine planter|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: [[:File:US Army LT-454.jpg|tugs]], [[:File:Army Cargo Vessel FP-344.jpg|FS]], Q, P etc. (not currently in use)
|-
|USAHS
|United States Army Hospital Ship (not currently in use)
|-
|rowspan=4|[[United States Navy]]
|USF
|United States Frigate (obsolete)
|-
|USFS
|United States Flagship (obsolete)
|-
|[[United States Ship|USS]]
|[[United States Ship]] – Commissioned warships only.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}}
|-
|USNV
|United States Naval Vessel (Small utility vessels, not MSC, operated by local commands)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.neco.navy.mil/synopsis/detail.aspx?id=365391 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025800/https://www.neco.navy.mil/synopsis/detail.aspx?id=365391 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=Dry Dock and overhaul of USNV Battle Point YTT-10 |last=Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) |date=25 July 2012 |publisher=Navy Electronic Business Opportunities |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
||U.S. Navy [[Military Sealift Command]] (MSC)
|USNS
|[[United States Naval Ship]] (USN-owned, civilian crews)
|-
|rowspan=2|[[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 Fish Commission|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)
|-
|{{URY}}
|[[Military of Uruguay|Uruguayan Navy]]
|ROU
|''República Oriental del Uruguay''
|-
|{{UKR}}
|[[Armed Forces of Ukraine|Ukrainian Navy]]
|UNS
|''Ukrainian Navy Ship''
|-
|{{VAN}}
|[[Law enforcement in Vanuatu|Vanuatu Police Force]]
|RVS
|Republic of Vanuatu Ship
|-
|rowspan=3|{{VEN}}
|rowspan=3|[[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''
|-
|{{VNM}}
|[[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 majority of the [[List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Navy|Vietnamese fleet]] is not named literally and only has uniform non-prefixed [[Hull number|hull numbers]], the VPNS prefix is sometimes used with the ship's hull number (for example, [[ROKS Yeosu|VPNS 20]])<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minh Anh |first=Ngọc Hưng |title=This is how troops take aerial photographs of warships in formation at LIMA 2023 |url=https://en.qdnd.vn/photos/this-is-how-troops-take-aerial-photography-of-warships-in-formation-at-lima-2023-552870 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=[[People's Army Newspaper]] |language=en}}</ref> to make it look cosmetically more synchronous and consistent with other navies' prefixed [[Ship identifier|ship names]] in international activities.
|-
|{{flag|South Vietnam}}
|[[Republic of Vietnam Navy]]
|RVNS
|Republic of Vietnam Navy Ship or Republic of Viet-Nam Ship (obsolete)
|-
|{{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}
|[[Royal Yugoslav Navy]]
|KB
|{{langx|sr|Краљевски брод|translit=Kraljevski brod}} (English: Royal Ship)
|-
|rowspan=12|{{flag|Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}<br />{{flag|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}<br />{{flag|Serbia and Montenegro}}
|rowspan=12|''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 ===
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.<ref>Circulaire Zeemacht 1569cc (1988).</ref> Since [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|King Willem-Alexander]] succeeded [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|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.<ref>{{cite web |title= What are Ship Prefixes for Naval and Merchant Vessels?
|last = Dasgupta
|first = Soumyajit
|url =http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/marine-news/headline/what-are-ship-prefixes-for-naval-and-merchant-vessels/
|access-date=25 August 2014}}</ref>

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.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} 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.{{sfn|United States Coast Guard Historian's Office}} 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.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} 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.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} Prior to commissioning, ships may be described as a [[pre-commissioning unit]] or PCU; for example, [[USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)|USS ''Gerald R. Ford'']] was described as the "pre-commissioning unit (PCU) ''Gerald R. Ford''" prior to her commissioning in 2017.<ref name="NNS PCU CVN-78">{{cite press release |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=74667 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110141438/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=74667 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2013 |agency=Navy News Service |title=PCU Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Welcomes 60 New Crew Members |id=NNS130606-12 |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} [[Military Sealift Command]] (MSC) civilian crewed ships "in service" are given the prefix United States Naval Ship (USNS).{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}}

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)|USS ''Constellation'']] (CV-64) was retired in 2003, she became referred to as ex-''Constellation''.

== In science fiction ==
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".<ref>Star Trek episode "Space Seed", Season 1 Ep 22, scene with McCoy and Khan in sickbay (1967-02-16).</ref> In the alternate "[[Mirror Universe]]", the Terran Empire use an "ISS" prefix instead. Other races use different prefixes for their ships:
** [[Klingon]]s 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|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 (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]] sometimes uses the prefix ISD for [[Imperial Star Destroyer]].
* ''[[Babylon 5]]'' – The [[Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)|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 Navy Ship) for some military ships. The Empire uses "INV" (Imperial Navy Vessel). The Alliance lacks a prefix, owing to its decentralized nature.
* ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' – Vessels in the [[Union of Allied Planets]] fleet are given the prefix "IAV", for Interstellar Alliance Vessel.
* ''[[Wing Commander (franchise)|Wing Commander]]'' – The [[Terran Confederation (Wing Commander)|Terran Confederation]] uses TCS (Terran Confederation Ship) for its vessels.
* ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]'' – [[United Nations Space Command]] spacecraft use the prefix "UNSC". Several other prefixes are also in use, including "ONI" for ships of the UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence and "URF" for ships of the United Rebel Front. 
* ''[[Mass Effect (series)|Mass Effect]]'' – features several prefixes, primarily "SSV" for "Systems Alliance space vehicle"<ref>In-Game Codex, entry for SSV ''Normandy''.</ref> 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 (series)|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 predecessor, 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 (series)|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 (franchise)|Alien]]'' – A number of commercial vessels use the prefix "USCSS" for "United States Commercial Spaceship" including the Nostromo, Prometheus, and Covenant. United States Colonial Marines warships such as Sulaco use the existing prefix USS.
* ''[[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 (novel series)|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 (1998 video game)|Unreal]]'').
* ''[[Return to Na Pali|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]]'' - Various 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."
*''[[Helldivers 2]]'' - "SES" is used for "Super Earth Ship".

== References ==
{{reflist|22em}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin}}

* {{cite web
 |title        = Ship naming in the United States Navy
 |date         = 6 January 2015
 |department   = Naval History and Heritage Command
 |publisher    = [[United States Navy]]
 |url          = http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html
 |access-date  = 7 April 2015  |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150617070146/http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html
 |archive-date = 17 June 2015
 |ref          = {{sfnref|Naval History And Heritage Command}}
}}

* {{cite web
 |title        = Frequently Asked Questions
 |date         = 5 January 2015
 |series       = Coast Guard History
 |department   = USCG Historian's Office
 |publisher    = [[United States Coast Guard]]
 |url          = http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/when.asp
 |access-date  = 7 April 2015  |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20170517094004/https://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/when.asp
 |archive-date = 17 May 2017
 |ref          = {{sfnref|United States Coast Guard Historian's Office}}
}}

{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ship prefixes}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150620072159/http://seawaves.com/port-visits-2/prefixes/ Warship National Prefixes]

[[Category:Ship prefixes| ]]