Ship prefix: Difference between revisions

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However, not all navies used prefixes; this includes the significant navies of China, France and Russia.{{cn|date=October 2022}}
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)<ref name="Pnum.Brit">{{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Pennant_number|title=Pennant number|access-date=9 March 2020|archive-date=20 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420125645/https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Pennant_number}}</ref> 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}}
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>
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>
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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>
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" style="font-size:95%;"
{|class="wikitable sortable"  
|-
|-
! {{nbsp|2}}Prefix{{nbsp|2}}
! {{nbsp|2}}Prefix{{nbsp|2}}
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|-
|-
|DEPV
|DEPV
|[[Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel]]{{cn|date=October 2022}}
|[[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
|DLB
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|-
|-
|RNMB
|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>
|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
|RRS
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|YWN
|YWN
| [[Type B ship#World War II barge types|Water barge, non-propelled]]
| [[Type B ship#World War II barge types|Water barge, non-propelled]]
|-
|YOS
|[[Type B ship|Concrete vessel]]
|}
|}


==National or military prefixes==
==National or military prefixes==
{{Refimprove section|date=October 2022}}
{{Refimprove section|date=October 2022}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Country !!Service !!Prefix !!Meaning
!Country !!Service !!Prefix !!Meaning
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|rowspan=2|{{EST}}
|rowspan=2|{{EST}}
|[[Estonian Navy]]
|[[Estonian Navy]]
|ENS (Estonian: EML)
|EML
|Estonian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
|Eesti Mereväe Laev (Estonian Naval Vessel)
|-
|-
|[[Estonian Navy|Estonian Coast Guard]]
|[[Estonian Navy|Estonian Coast Guard]]
|ECGS
|ECGS
|Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)
|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}}
|{{FJI}}
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|[[Finnish Navy]]
|[[Finnish Navy]]
|FNS
|FNS
|Finnish Navy Ship; Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|Finnish Navy Ship; prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|-
|-
|{{FRA}}
|{{FRA}}
|[[French Navy]]
|[[French Navy]]
|FS
|FS
|French Ship (NATO designation); Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|French Ship (NATO designation); prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|{{flag|German Empire}}
|rowspan=2|{{flag|German Empire}}
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|[[Bundesmarine]]
|[[Bundesmarine]]
|FGS
|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>
|[[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}}
|{{GDR}}
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|[[German Navy]]
|[[German Navy]]
|FGS
|FGS
|[[Federal German Ship]] (NATO designation); Only used for international identification and never used internally.<ref name=hessen />
|[[Federal German Ship]] (NATO designation); only used for international identification and never used internally.<ref name=hessen />
|-
|-
|{{flag|Kingdom of Greece}}
|{{flag|Kingdom of Greece}}
|[[Royal Hellenic Navy]]
|[[Royal Hellenic Navy]]
|VP ({{langx|el|ΒΠ}})
|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.
|"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}}
|{{GRC}}
|[[Hellenic Navy]]
|[[Hellenic Navy]]
|HS
|HS
|''Hellenic Ship'' (NATO designation); Only used for international identification, as prefix indicates ship type internally.
|''Hellenic Ship'' (NATO designation); only used for international identification, as prefix indicates ship type internally.
|-
|-
|{{GUY}}
|{{GUY}}
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|rowspan=2|{{IRL}}
|rowspan=2|{{IRL}}
|[[Irish Naval Service]]
|[[Irish Naval Service]]
|[[LÉ]]
|LÉ
|''Long Éireannach'' (Irish ship)
|''Long Éireannach'' (Irish ship)
|-
|-
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|{{ISR}}
|{{ISR}}
|[[Israeli Sea Corps]]
|[[Israeli Sea Corps]]
|INS
|IS
|Israeli Naval Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam – Sea Corps Ship)
|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| {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
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|{{flag|Empire of Japan}}
|{{flag|Empire of Japan}}
|[[Imperial Japanese Navy]]
|[[Imperial Japanese Navy]]
|HIJMS (obsolete) / IJN (unofficial)
|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.
|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}}
|{{JPN}}
|[[Japan Self-Defense Forces|Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]]
|[[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]]
|JDS or JS
|JDS or JS
|Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship
|Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship
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|{{NZL}}
|{{NZL}}
|[[Military of New Zealand|Royal New Zealand Navy]]
|[[Military of New Zealand|Royal New Zealand Navy]]
|[[His Majesty's Ship|HMNZS]]
|[[His Majesty's New Zealand Ship|HMNZS]]
|His Majesty's New Zealand Ship
|His Majesty's New Zealand Ship
|-
|-
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|-
|-
|PNS
|PNS
|Portuguese Navy Ship ([[NATO]] designation); Never used internally.
|Portuguese Navy Ship ([[NATO]] designation); never used internally.
|-
|-
|UAM
|UAM
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|rowspan=2|[[Romanian Navy]]
|rowspan=2|[[Romanian Navy]]
|ROS
|ROS
|Romanian Ship ([[NATO]] designation); Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|Romanian Ship ([[NATO]] designation); prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
|-
|-
|SMR
|SMR
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|[[Russian Navy]]
|[[Russian Navy]]
|RFS
|RFS
|Russian Federation Ship (NATO designation; Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.  
|Russian Federation Ship (NATO designation; prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.  
|-
|-
|{{SAU}}
|{{SAU}}
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|-
|-
|Cable ship
|Cable ship
|HMTV
|CS
|His Majesty's Telegraph Vessel
|His Majesty's Telegraph Vessel
|-
|-
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|-
|-
|USACT  
|USACT  
|United States Army Chartered Transport (usage WW I only for time or voyage chartered ships; eg: [[SS Empire Bittern|''Artemis'']] 1917—1919)
|United States Army Chartered Transport (usage WW I only for time or voyage chartered ships; e.g. [[SS Empire Bittern|''Artemis'']] 1917—1919)
|-
|-
|USAMP
|USAMP
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|[[Vietnam People's Navy]]
|[[Vietnam People's Navy]]
|VPNS
|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 [[List of equipment of the Vietnam People's Navy|Vietnamese fleet]] is not named literally and only has standardized 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.
|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}}
|{{flag|South Vietnam}}
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== In science fiction ==
== In science fiction ==
Fictional equivalents of tri-letter prefixes frequently appear in English-language science fiction works, applied to seafaring and spaceborne ships alike.
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:
* ''[[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).
** [[Klingon]]s use IKS (Imperial Klingon Ship) or IKC (Imperial Klingon Cruiser).
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* ''[[Star Wars]]'' – The [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]] sometimes uses the prefix ISD for [[Imperial Star Destroyer]].
* ''[[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".
* ''[[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 Naval Ship) for some military ships. The Empire uses "INV" (Imperial Naval Vessel). The alliance uses "ADF" (Alliance Defense Force).
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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". The Covenant use three letter designations for ship class such as CAS or CSO
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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.
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* ''[[Killzone (series)|Killzone]]'' – The Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) uses "ISC", for Interplanetary Strategic Cruiser.
* ''[[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".
* ''[[The Moon is a Harsh Mistress]]'' – The Federated Nations use "FNS", presumably meaning "Federated Nations Ship".
* ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien]]'' – The ships use prefix "USCSS" for "United States Cargo SpaceShip" on the Nostromo, Prometheus, and Covenant.
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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.
* ''[[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.  
* ''[[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 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.
* ''[[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.
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*''[[Titanfall]]'' - The Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation, the main antagonists of the series, use the "IMS" prefix. The origin of this prefix is unknown.
*''[[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."
*''[[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"
*''[[Helldivers 2]]'' - "SES" is used for "Super Earth Ship".


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 22:08, 15 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use dmy dates

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, or the US navy has adopted the USS prefix. However, not all navies use prefixes. Among the blue-water navies,[1] 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Usage

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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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]Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn[5]

However, not all navies used prefixes; this includes the significant navies of China, France and Russia.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by letters or hull numbers (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 symbols, and the Royal Navy (e.g. "D35" is destroyer 35 – HMS Dragon) and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.[6]

Generic (merchant navy) prefixes

Template:Refimprove section These prefixes are generally used for merchant vessels of any nationality unless specified.[7]

Template:NbspPrefixTemplate:Nbsp Meaning
AE Ammunition ship
AFS Combat stores ship
AHT Anchor handling tug
AHTS Anchor handling tug supply vessel[8]
AO United States Navy oiler
AOG Gasoline tanker
AOR Auxiliary replenishment oiler
AOT Transport oilerScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
ASDS Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship
ATB Articulated Tug BargeScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
CRV Coastal Research VesselScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
C/F Car ferry
CS Container ship[8] or
Cable ship
DB Derrick barge
DEPV Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel[9]
DLB Derrick Lay BargeScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
DCV Deepwater Construction VesselScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
DSV Diving support vessel or
deep-submergence vehicle
DV Dead vessel[10][11]
ERRV Emergency Response Rescue Vessel[11]
EV Exploration Vessel
FPSO Floating production storage and offloading vessel[8]
FPV Free Piston VesselScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
FPV Fishery Protection Vessel[8]
FT Factory Stern Trawler
FV Fishing Vessel
GTS Gas Turbine Ship
HLV Heavy lift vessel
HMT Hired military transport[12] (not currently in use)
HMHS His(/Her) Majesty's Hospital Ship
HSC High Speed Craft[8]
HSF High Speed FerryScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
HTV Heavy transport vessel
IRV International Research VesselScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
ITB Integrated Tug bargeScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
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[8] (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[8] (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[8]
QTEV Quadruple turbo electric vessel
RMP Royal Mail Packet
RMS Royal Mail Ship[8] or Royal Mail Steamer
RMV Royal Mail Vessel[8]
RNLB Royal National Lifeboat
RNMB Royal Navy Motor Boat[13][14]
RRS Royal Research Ship
RV / RSV Research vessel/Research Survey Vessel[15]
SB Sailing BargeScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
SL Steam LaunchScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
SS (S/S) Single-screw steamship[8]
(also used as generic term for any steam-powered ship)
SSCV Semi-submersible crane vessel
SSS Sea Scout Ship
SSV Sailing School Vessel,Script error: No such module "Unsubst". or
Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel[16]
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[8]
TS Training Ship or
turbine steamship or turbine steam ship
Tr.SMV Triple-Screw Motor Vessel
TSMV Twin-Screw Motor Vessel[17]
TSMS Twin-Screw Motor Ship[18]
TSS Twin-screw steamship or steamer[8]
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 TankerScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
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

National or military prefixes

Template:Refimprove section

Country Service Prefix Meaning
Script error: No such module "flag". Albanian Naval Force ALS Albanian Ship (NATO prefix)
Script error: No such module "flag". Algerian National Navy ANS Algerian Navy Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Argentine Navy ARA Navy of the Argentine Republic (Template:Langx)
Argentine Coast Guard GC Argentine Coast Guard Ship (Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". 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[19]
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)
Template:Country data Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Navy SMS Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
Script error: No such module "flag". Azerbaijani Navy ARG Azərbaycan Respublikasının hərbi Gəmisi (Warship of the Republic of Azerbaijan)
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Bahamas Defence Force HMBS His Majesty's Bahamian Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Bahrain Naval Force RBNS Royal Bahrain Naval Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Bangladesh Coast Guard CGS Coast Guard Ship
Bangladesh Navy BNS Bangladesh Navy Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Barbados Coast Guard BCGS Barbados Coast Guard Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Belgian Navy BNS Belgian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
Script error: No such module "flag". Brazilian Navy (No Official Prefix) Brazilian naval prefix indicates ship type.
Template:Country data British Raj Royal Indian Marine (1892–1934) RIMS Royal Indian Marine Ship
Royal Indian Navy (1934–1950) HMIS His Majesty's Indian Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Brunei Navy KDB Kapal Di-Raja Brunei (Royal Brunei Ship)
Script error: No such module "flag". Bulgarian Navy BNG NATO Designation
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Canadian Navy
(formerly Canadian Forces Maritime Command) 		HMCS
NCSM 		His Majesty's Canadian Ship
(Template:Langx)
CFAV
NAFC 		Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel
(Template:Langx)
Canadian Coast Guard CCGS
NGCC 		Canadian Coast Guard Ship
(Template:Langx)
CCGC
CGCC 		Canadian Coast Guard Cutter
(Template:Langx)
(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
(Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". People's Liberation Army Navy (No Official Prefix)
Script error: No such module "flag". Armada Nacional ARC Armada de la República de Colombia (Navy of the Republic of Colombia)
Template:Country data Confederate States of America Confederate States Navy CSS Confederate States Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Cook Islands Police CIPPB Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Danish Navy HDMS (Template:Langx) His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship (Template:Langx)
HDMY (Template:Langx) His/Her Danish Majesty's Yacht, crewed by Royal Danish Navy
Script error: No such module "flag". Armada Ecuatoriana BAE Buque de la Armada de Ecuador (Ecuadorian Navy Ship)
Script error: No such module "flag". Estonian Navy EML Eesti Mereväe Laev (Estonian Naval Vessel)
Estonian Coast Guard ECGS Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)
Template:Country data Ethiopian Empire Imperial Ethiopian Navy HMS His Majesty's Ship (same as royal navy) (1955-1974)[20]
Script error: No such module "flag". Republic of Fiji Navy RFNS Republic of Fiji Naval Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Finnish Navy FNS Finnish Navy Ship; prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
Script error: No such module "flag". French Navy FS French Ship (NATO designation); prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
Template:Country data German Empire Kaiserliche Marine SMS Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
SMU Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (His Majesty's Submarine)
Template:Country data Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine KMS / DKM (No Official Prefix) Kriegsmarine Schiffe/Deutsche Kriegsmarine (Navy Ship/German Navy)
Script error: No such module "flag". Bundesmarine FGS Federal German Ship (NATO designation); only used for international identification and never used internally.[21]
Template:GDR Volksmarine
Template:GER German Navy FGS Federal German Ship (NATO designation); only used for international identification and never used internally.[21]
Template:Country data Kingdom of Greece Royal Hellenic Navy VP (Template:Langx) "Royal Ship" (Template:Langx); some English Language authors uses RHNS for Royal Hellenic Navy Ship or HHMS for His Hellenic Majesty's Ship.
Script error: No such module "flag". Hellenic Navy HS Hellenic Ship (NATO designation); only used for international identification, as prefix indicates ship type internally.
Script error: No such module "flag". Guyanese Coast Guard[22] GDFS Guyanese Defence Forces Ship
Template:Country data Kingdom of Hawaii Hawaiian Navy HHMS His Hawaiian Majesty's Ship; the only one being Kaimiloa
Script error: No such module "flag". Icelandic Coast Guard ICGV (Icelandic: VS) Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:Varðskip)
Script error: No such module "flag". Indian Coast Guard ICGS Indian Coast Guard Ship
Indian Navy INS Indian Naval Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Indonesian Navy RI Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia). Obsolete prefix used until 1960s.[23]
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.
Indonesian Army ADRI Angkatan Darat Republik Indonesia (Indonesian Army)
AD Angkatan Darat (Army). For combat boats.
Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Unit KN Kapal Negara (State Ship)
Indonesian Maritime Security Agency
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)
Directorate of Sea Traffic KM Kapal Motor (Motor Vessel)
Template:Country data Imperial Iran Imperial Iranian Navy IIS[24] Imperial Iranian Ship (Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". Islamic Republic of Iran Navy IRIS[25] Islamic Republic of Iran ship (Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". Irish Naval Service LÉ Long Éireannach (Irish ship)
Commissioners of Irish Lights ILV Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)
Script error: No such module "flag". 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)
Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy Regia Marina RN Regia Nave – Royal Ship
R.Smg. Regio Sommergibile – Royal Submarine
Script error: No such module "flag". Marina Militare ITS Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes
Script error: No such module "flag". Jamaica Defence Force HMJS His Majesty's Jamaican Ship
Template:Country data Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Navy HIJMS (obsolete)
IJN (unofficial) 		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. The unofficial name IJN stands for "Imperial Japanese Navy" is frequently used in various sources and media.
Script error: No such module "flag". Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force JDS or JS Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Kenyan Navy KNS Kenyan Naval Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Kiribati Police Force RKS Republic of Kiribati Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Korean People's Navy (No Official Prefix) Does not use any prefixes at all, either for international identification or for ship type indication.
Script error: No such module "flag". Kuwait Naval Force KNS Kuwait Navy Ship
Template:Country data Korean Empire Imperial Korean Navy KIS Korean Imperial Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Republic of Korea Navy ROKS Republic of Korea Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Latvian Navy LVNS Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
Script error: No such module "flag". Lithuanian Navy LKL Lietuvos Karinis Laivas (Lithuanian Military Ship)
LNS Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)
Script error: No such module "flag". 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
Script error: No such module "flag". Marshall Islands Police RMIS Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". FSM National Police FSM Federated States of Micronesia
Script error: No such module "flag". Armada de México ARM Armada de la República Mexicana (Navy of the Republic of Mexico)
Script error: No such module "flag". Myanmar Navy UMS Union of Myanmar Ship (Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". Namibian Navy NS Namibian Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS (Template:Langx) His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship (Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS His Majesty's New Zealand Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Nigerian Navy NNS Nigerian Naval Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Norwegian Navy HNoMS (Template:Langx) His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (Template:Langx), in use since 1946.
HNoMY (Template:Langx) His Norwegian Majesty's Yacht (Template:Langx). The only vessel with the prefix, Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., is owned by the King but crewed by his Navy since 1948.
King of Norway KSJ King's Sloop Template:Langx Used on two small motorised pleasure vessels named Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". & Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". owned by the King from 1899-1940 and 1945-present.
Norwegian Coast Guard NoCGV (Template:Langx) Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel (Template:Langx)
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Navy of Oman SNV Sultanate Naval Vessel
Script error: No such module "flag". Pakistan Navy PNS Pakistan Naval Ship
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency PMSS Pakistan Maritime Security Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Palau Police PSS Palau State Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Papua New Guinea Defence Force HMPNGS His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Paraguayan Navy ARP Armada de la República del Paraguay (Navy of the Republic of Paraguay)
Script error: No such module "flag". Peruvian Navy BAP Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana), Since 1921
BIC Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: Buque de Investigación Científica)
Script error: No such module "flag". Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 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
Script error: No such module "flag". Polish Navy ORP Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
(Warship of the Republic of Poland)
Script error: No such module "flag". 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)
Template:Country data Prussia Prussian Navy SMS Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)
Template:Country data Kingdom of Romania Royal Romanian Navy NMS Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship)
Script error: No such module "flag". 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
Template:Country data Russian Empire Imperial Russian Navy (No Official Prefix) Some authors use "HIRMS" for "His Imperial Russian Majesty's Ship" to identify them.
Script error: No such module "flag". Russian Navy RFS Russian Federation Ship (NATO designation; prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.
Script error: No such module "flag". Saudi Navy HMS His Majesty's Ship (Same as the Royal Navy)
Script error: No such module "flag". Republic of Singapore Navy RSS Republic of Singapore Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Slovenian Navy SNS Slovenian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Solomon Islands Police RSIPV Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel
Script error: No such module "flag". South African Navy SAS South African Ship/Suid-Afrikaanse Skip (previously HMSAS – His/Her Majesty's South African Ship)
SATS South African Training Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Soviet Navy (No Official Prefix) Some authors use "USSRS" for "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Ship" (Template:Langx).[26]
Script error: No such module "flag". Armada Española ESPS Buque de la A Spanish Navy Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally. ESPN or SPS are no longer used)
Script error: No such module "flag". Sri Lankan Navy SLNS Sri Lanka Naval Ship
Sri Lanka Coast Guard SLCG Sri Lanka Coast Guard
Script error: No such module "flag". 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)
Script error: No such module "flag". Republic of China Navy ROCS Republic of China Ship; CNS for "Chinese Navy Ship" was used before 1949
Script error: No such module "flag". Royal Thai Navy HTMS His Thai Majesty's Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Timor Leste Defense Force NRTL Navio da República de Timor Leste (Ship of the Timor Leste Republic)
Script error: No such module "flag". Tonga Defence Services VOEA Vaka O Ene Afio (His Majesty's Vessel)
Script error: No such module "flag". Turkish Navy TCG Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi.)
Script error: No such module "flag". Tuvalu Police Force HMTSS His/Her Majesty's Tuvalu Surveillance Ship[27][28]
Script error: No such module "flag". Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force TTS Trinidad and Tobago Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Ships carrying mail 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 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[29][12] (not currently in use)
His Majesty's Transport/Troopship/Trawler/Tug[30]
HMAV His Majesty's Armed Vessel[31] (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[32]
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)
Script error: No such module "flag". 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; e.g. 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.Template:Sfn
USNV United States Naval Vessel (Small utility vessels, not MSC, operated by local commands)[33]
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)
Script error: No such module "flag". Uruguayan Navy ROU República Oriental del Uruguay
Script error: No such module "flag". Ukrainian Navy UNS Ukrainian Navy Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". Vanuatu Police Force RVS Republic of Vanuatu Ship
Script error: No such module "flag". 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
Script error: No such module "flag". 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 Vietnamese fleet is not named literally and only has uniform non-prefixed hull numbers, the VPNS prefix is sometimes used with the ship's hull number (for example, VPNS 20)[34] to make it look cosmetically more synchronous and consistent with other navies' prefixed ship names in international activities.
Template:Country data South Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Navy RVNS Republic of Vietnam Navy Ship or Republic of Viet-Nam Ship (obsolete)
Template:Country data Kingdom of Yugoslavia Royal Yugoslav Navy KB Template:Langx (English: Royal Ship)
Template:Country data Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Template:Country data Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Template:Country data 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

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.[35] 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.[36]

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.[37]Template:Sfn Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian crewed ships "in service" are given the prefix United States Naval Ship (USNS).Template:Sfn

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

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".[38] 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 Navy Ship) for some military ships. The Empire uses "INV" (Imperial Navy Vessel). The Alliance lacks a prefix, owing to its decentralized nature.
  • 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". 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 – features several prefixes, primarily "SSV" for "Systems Alliance space vehicle"[39] 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 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 - 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

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Sources

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  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ RSV Aurora Australis 1989–2020 Australian Antarctic Division, 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJBDdJpZ-_I
  21. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Habesch, The Army's Navy, p. 154
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Circulaire Zeemacht 1569cc (1988).
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Star Trek episode "Space Seed", Season 1 Ep 22, scene with McCoy and Khan in sickbay (1967-02-16).
  39. ↑ In-Game Codex, entry for SSV Normandy.
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