List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy explained

This is a list of auxiliaries of the United States Navy. It covers the various types of ships that support the frontline combat vessels of the United States Navy.

Auxiliary ships which function as hospital ships and as oilers are to be found in their own articles: List of United States Navy hospital ships and List of United States Navy oilers. Escort carriers, amphibious warfare vessels, and some mine warfare vessels were also originally classed as auxiliaries but were later given their own hull classification symbols outside the auxiliary series (which all begin with an 'A'). Links to these and other list articles of similar ships can be found throughout this article.

Yard and district craft also function as auxiliaries but generally are smaller and less capable than their ocean-going counterparts, and so they generally remain in harbors and coastal areas. Their hull classification symbols begin with a 'Y'.

Ship status is indicated as either currently active [A], ready reserve [R], inactive [I], or precommissioning [P]. Ships in the inactive category include only ships in the inactive reserve, ships which have been disposed from US service have no listed status. Ships in the precommissioning category include ships under construction or on order.

Listed ship classes will often state 'MA type' or 'MC type'. The difference is that 'MC Type' refers to ships designed by the United States Maritime Commission aka MarCom, while 'MA Type' refers to ships designed or converted under MarCom's successor agency, the United States Maritime Administration or MarAd. They are in fact the same designs, and the year 1950 is the date at which MarAd succeeded MarCom.

Historical overview

Prior to the creation of the auxiliary hull classification system, ships that performed such tasks had no symbol or code to identify them, only informal designations such as Fleet Collier No. 1.

World War I

During World War I the Navy created the Section patrol (SP) and identification number (ID) system to register civilian vessels for naval acquisition. The ID series can be considered a forerunner of the current auxiliary hull numbering system, and some ships with ID numbers were later given 'A' hull symbols.

Also during WWI a series of mass-produced ships were designed by the Emergency Fleet Corporation, but few were completed before the end of the war and even fewer became naval auxiliaries.

Pre-World War II

Until World War II the US auxiliary fleet was notable for being composed of non-standard ships which had been purchased ad-hoc. Very few were designed specifically for their intended role.

Interesting examples from the 1920's of rare early auxiliaries deliberately designed for their roles include the destroyer tenders USS Dobbin (AD-3) and USS Whitney (AD-4), the repair ship USS Medusa (AR-1), and the submarine tender USS Holland (AS-3): these 4 ships had the same length hulls and similar superstructures, so they were likely of the same basic design.

In the late 1930's the Navy began the construction of 22 large tenders and repair ships to a new basic design: all were nearly identical in hull form, power plant, and superstructure (but the seaplane tenders had a large hangar that the others lacked):

The last of these 22 ships (the submarine tender Sperry) was scrapped in 2011.[1]

Also at this time the Navy began the construction of 4 large net layers (AN)s and 3 minelayers (CM)s to a different basic design, but changing requirements resulted in all but one minelayer being redesignated as transports (AP)s and then converted into Landing ships, vehicle (LSV)s.[2] [3]

World War II

During the naval build-up for World War II over 700 vessels of Maritime Commission (MarCom, later MarAd) standard designs were converted to US Navy auxiliaries,[4] as were a few Landing Ships Medium (LSM)s:

Post World War II

During the Cold War over 100 United States Maritime Administration (MarAd) standard designs were converted to US Navy auxiliaries:[7]

Modern auxiliaries have been designed to reduce operating costs by introducing scales of economies with larger ships and by reducing manning requirements (a trend begun in 1949 with the introduction of manning non-commissioned ships with civilian crews under the Military Sealift Command and its predecessors - such ships carry the 'T-' prefix on their hull symbols and the USNS prefix rather than USS; ships with MV or SS prefixes are under long-term charter with the Navy rather than under Navy ownership).

Crane ships (AB)

Colliers (AC)

Auxiliary crane ships (T-ACS)

unknown class: MA type C6-S-MA1qd

Gopher State-class

MA type C5-S-73b

unknown class: MA type C6-S-1aq

unknown class: MA type C6-S-MA60d

Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV)

The Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV) were designated as Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG) until 20 August 1942 and then were redesignated Escort aircraft carriers (CVE) on 15 July 1943.

See main article: List of United States Navy escort aircraft carriers.

Destroyer tenders (AD)

Dobbin-class

Unknown classes

Altair-class

Dixie-class

Cascade-class

Hamul-class: MC type C3

Klondike-class: MC type C3

Shenandoah-class

MC type C3

Alcor-class

Samuel Gompers-class

Yellowstone-class

Ammunition ships (AE)

Lassen-class: MC types C2, C2-T, C2-N

Unknown class: MC type C1-A

Mount Hood-class: MC type C2-S-AJ1

Fomalhaut-class: MC type C1-A

Suribachi-class

Nitro-class

Andromeda-class: MA type C2-S-B1

Kilauea-class

Auxiliary floating drydock

Large auxiliary repair docks (ABSD)

Reclassified as Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDB) in August 1946.

Large auxiliary floating dry docks (AFDB)

Small auxiliary floating dry docks (AFDL)

Medium auxiliary floating dry docks (AFDM)

All AFDMs were classified as YFDs until 1945.

Auxiliary repair docks (ARD)

Medium auxiliary repair docks (ARDM)

Yard floating drydocks (YFD)

All YFDs were reclassified as AFDMs in 1945.

Provisions store ships (AF, T-AF)

Hyades-class: MC type C2-S-E1

Adria-class

MC type R1-M-AV3

Alstede-class

MC type R2-S-BV1 or C2-S-B1

Unknown class: MC type C2-S-B1

Grommet Reefer-class: MA type C1-M-AV1

Denebola-class: MA type VC2-S-AP2

Rigel-class: MA type R3-S-4A

Combat stores ships (AFS, T-AFS)

Mars-class

Sirius-class

Miscellaneous ships (AG, T-AG)

For similar lists of 'miscellaneous' ships see:

List of unclassified miscellaneous vessels of the United States Navy (IX)and

Icebreakers (AGB)

Deep submergence support ship (T-AGDS)

Hydrofoil research ship (AGEH)

Environmental research ships (AGER)

Signals intelligence collection vessels.

Banner-class

Command ships (AGF)

Missile range instrumentation ships (T-AGM)

Major communications relay ships (AGMR)

Oceanographic research ships (T-AGOR)

Robert D. Conrad-class

Eltanin-class: MC type C1-ME2-13a

Melville-class

Hayes-class

Diver-class

Gyre-class

Thomas G. Thompson-class

Kilo Moana-class

Neil Armstrong-class

Ocean surveillance ships (T-AGOS)

Underwater acoustics collection vessels.

Stalwart-class

Victorious-class

Impeccable-class

Motor torpedo boat tenders (AGP)

Radar picket ships (AGR)

Guardian-class

MC type Z-EC2-S-C5

All Guardian-class ships were originally classed as YAGR but were then reclassed as AGR in 1958.

Surveying ships (AGS)

YMS-135-subclass

Artemis-class: MC type S4–SE2–BE1

Auk-class

Bowditch-class: MA type VC2-S-AP3

Other classes

Silas Bent-class

Other classes

Pathfinder-class

Coastal survey ships (AGSC)

Submarine and special warfare support vessel (T-AGSE)

Black Powder-class

Auxiliary submarines (AGSS)

See main article: List of submarines of the United States Navy.

Albacore class

Dolphin class

Technical research ships (AGTR)

Signals intelligence collection vessels.Oxford-class

MA type Z–EC2–S–C5

Belmont-class: MA type VC2-S-AP3

Dry cargo ships (AK, T-AK)

Attack cargo ships (AKA)

Cargo ship dock (T-AKD)

The Point Barrow was similar in design to the amphibious warfare Landing Ships Dock (LSD)s, but with a hull strengthened for sailing in Arctic ice.

Advanced auxiliary dry cargo ships (T-AKE)

Advanced Auxiliary Dry Cargo Ships (T-AKE) are designed to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products via underway replenishment; they effectively combine the missions of Ammunition Ships (AE) and Combat Stores Ships (AFS, T-AFS) along with a limited refueling capability.

Lewis and Clark-class

Small cargo ships (AKL)

Net cargo ships (AKN)

Indus class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Other classes

Vehicle cargo ships (T-AKR)

Cape-I-class: MA Type C7-S-95

Cape-T-class

Algol-class

Shughart-Class

Gordon-Class

Bob Hope-class

Watson-class

Other classes

General stores issue ships (AKS)

Castor and Unknown classes: all MC type C2

Acubens-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

LST-542 class

Belle Isle-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

LST-542 class

Antares-class: MA type VC2-S-AP3

Technical stores issue ships (AKST)

Appeared in a Ship Characteristics Board project list under projects SCB 81 and SCB 108, not assigned to any ship[37]

Aircraft transports (AKV, T-AKV)

LT. James E. Robinson class: MA type VC2-S-AP1

Other classes

MA type T3

MA type S4-S2-BB3

Commencement Bay class

MA types C3-S-A1 and C3-S-A2

Auxiliary minesweepers

Ocean Minesweepers (AMS)

Net laying ships (AN)

All of the following ships were originally classed as Yard Net Tenders, see for the original hull numbers.

Aloe-class

Ailanthus-class

Cohoes-class

Net layer (ANL)

Gasoline tankers (AOG, T-AOG)

All AOG tankers were MarCom (MC) T1 tankers, with the exception of these former commercial ships: the Halawa-class, AOG-13, AOG-14, AOG-16 and AOG-47.

Patapsco-class

MC type T1-MT-M1

Halawa-class

Mettawee-class

MC type T1-M-A2

Klickitat-class: MC type T1-M-BT1

Other / unknown classes

Oiler submarines (AOSS)

See main article: List of submarines of the United States Navy.

Transports (AP, T-AP)

Attack transports (APA)

Self-propelled barracks ships (APB)

Benewah-class

All ships of this class were based on LST hulls, but less than half were converted from actual LSTs.

Other class

Coastal transports (APC)

Small coastal transports (APc)

APc-1-class small coastal transports

Barracks craft (APL)

APL-2-class

APL-17-class

APL-41-class

APL-53 class

Other classes

APL-61-class

APL-65 class

APL-67-class

Mechanized artillery transports (APM)

APM was the original hull designation of what became the Landing Ship, Dock (LSD).

Convoy rescue craft (APR)

APR was the original hull symbol intended for the patrol craft escorts that were converted to rescue crews from ships attacked in convoys, but they were instead redesignated as PCERs.[46]

Transport submarines (APS, APSS)

See main article: List of submarines of the United States Navy.

Transport and aircraft ferries (APV)

Repair ships (AR)

Vulcan-class

Delta-class: MC type C3

Altair-class

Amphion-class

Xanthus-class

MC type EC2-S-C1

Klondike-class: MC type C3

Shenandoah-class: MA type C3

Battle damage repair ships (ARB)

Base repair ship (ARb)

Cable repair ships (ARC)

Aeolus-class: MA type S4–SE2–BE1

Neptune-class: MA type S3-S2-BP1

Zeus-class

Two other Navy vessels performed cable support operations without the ARC hull classification: USS Nashawena (AG-142 / YAG-35) and Kailua (IX-71).

Internal combustion engine repair ships (ARG)

Aroostook-class

Luzon-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Basilan-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Other ships

Heavy-hull repair ship (ARH)

Landing craft repair ships (ARL)

Achelous-class

Rescue and salvage ships (ARS)

Lapwing-class

Diver-class

Unknown class

Anchor-class

Rescuer-class

Ex-commercial vessels

Weight-class

Tackle-class

Bolster-class

Safeguard-class

Salvage lifting vessels (ARSD)

Salvage craft tenders (ARST)

Aircraft repair ships (ARV, ARV(E), ARV(A))

Chourre-class

MC type EC2-S-C1

Aventinus-class

Fabius-class

Helicopter aircraft repair ships (ARVH)

Submarine tenders (AS)

Ships which have functioned as submarine tenders without the AS designation include the four Arkansas-class monitors.

Fulton-class

Griffin-class: MC type C3

Ex-commercial ships

Aegir-class: MC type C3-S-A2

Uncertain class

Hunley-class

Simon Lake-class

L. Y. Spear-class

Emory S. Land-class

Submarine rescue vessels (ASR)

Lapwing-class

Chanticleer-class

Penguin-class

Pigeon-class

The Pigeon-class was designed to operate deep submergence rescue vehicles (DSRV).

Cargo transport submarines (ASSA)

See main article: List of submarines of the United States Navy.

Fleet tugs (AT)

Sonoma-class

Arapaho-class

Bagaduce-class

Cherokee-class

Abnaki-class

Sotoyomo-class

Lapwing-class

Auxiliary ocean tugs (ATA, T-ATA)

The first ten boats of the Sotoyomo-class were originally classed as Fleet Tugs (AT), as were ATA-146, ATA-166, and ATA-167.

Sotoyomo-class

ATA-214-class

Other classes

Fleet ocean tugs (ATF, T-ATF)

All tugs of the Cherokee and Abnaki classes were reclassed from Fleet Tugs (AT) on 15 May 1944.

Cherokee-class

Abnaki-class

Powhatan-class

Fleet tugs, old (ATO)

The Fleet Tug Old classification was created on 15 May 1944, several Fleet Tugs received this classification at this time without a change of hull number.

Sonoma-class

Bagaduce-class

Lapwing-class

Rescue tugs (ATR)

ATR-1 class

Sotoyomo-class

Salvage and rescue ships (ATS)

right|thumb|Graphic representation of a Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue shipEdenton-class

ATS-4 and ATS-5 skipped

Navajo-class

Seaplane tenders (AV)

Ships which have functioned as seaplane tenders without the AV designation include the USS Mississippi (BB-23) in 1914, the USS Ajax (AG-15) in 1924-1925, and the USS Christiana (IX-80 / YAG-32) in WW2.[60]

Wright-class

Jason-class

Langley-class

Curtiss-class[61]

Patoka-class

Currituck class

Tangier-class: MC type C3

Pocomoke-class

Chandeleur-class

Kenneth Whiting-class: MC type C3 [63]

unknown class

Ashland-class

Advance aviation base ships (AVB, T-AVB)

Wright-class: MA type C5-S-78

Seaplane catapult, light (AVC)

Destroyer seaplane tenders (AVD)

Clemson class[65]

Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG)

The Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG) were redesignated Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV) on 20 August 1942 and then Escort aircraft carriers (CVE) on 15 July 1943.

See main article: List of United States Navy escort aircraft carriers.

Guided missile ships (AVM)

Small seaplane tenders (AVP)

Lapwing-class[65]

Clemson-class

Barnegat-class

Aviation stores issue ships (AVS)

Grumium-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Gwinnett-class: MC type C1-M-AV1

Other

Aircraft transports (AVT)

All of these aircraft carriers received this classification while in reserve in 1959, 1960, and 1961, and none ever operated as Aircraft Transports after receiving it.

Auxiliary aircraft landing training ships (AVT)

Distilling ships (AW)

Stag-class: MC type Z-ET1-S-C3

Pasig-class: MC type T2-SE-A2

Lighter-than-air aircraft tender (AZ)

Miscellaneous classifications (IX)

See main article: List of unclassified miscellaneous vessels of the United States Navy.

Yard and district craft (Y)

See main article: List of yard and district craft of the United States Navy.

Pre-1920 craft

World War I (ID) series

Civilian cargo ships, tankers, transports, etc., were registered during World War I for potential use and given "ID" identification numbers in the "ID/SP" numbering series.

See also

References

Sources

External links

Museum ships

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy - National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory For the month ending September 30, 2011 . 2012-01-04 . 2013-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130224014952/http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/i110930.pdf .
  2. These ships were USS Monitor (AN-1), USS Montauk (AN-2), USS Osage (AN-3), USS Saugus (AN-4), USS Terror (CM-5), USS Catskill (CM-6), and USS Ozark (CM-7); only Terror was not converted to an LSV
  3. Friedman, 2002, pp 178-182
  4. MarCom ships converted to escort carriers, oilers, and amphibious warfare ships are not included in these counts, even if they had 'A' hull symbols. If a ship had multiple 'A' symbols, it is counted only under the last assigned
  5. AG-169, AG-171, AG-175 were Type C1 ships
  6. AG-172, AG-173, AG-174 were Type VC2 Victory ships
  7. Escort carriers converted to Aircraft Transports (AKV)s are counted here
  8. AGM-13 through AGM-18 were all Type C1 ships (AGM-16 converted to AGS)
  9. AGS-35, AGS-36 were Type C1 ships
  10. AG-178 was a Type C2 ship
  11. AG-153 was a Type C4 ship
  12. AGM-9, AGM-10, AGM-23 were Type C4 ships
  13. AGM-12 was a Type EC2 Liberty ship
  14. AF-58, AF-59
  15. AG-157 was an LST
  16. AGM-19, AGM-20, AGM-21 were converted T2 tankers
  17. AG-164 was a Type VC2 Victory ship; 10 more were to have been converted to depot ships for use in Vietnam, they were given hull numbers AG-179 through AG-189, but the conversions were cancelled
  18. AGM-1, AGM-3 through AGM-8, AGM-11, AGM-22 were Type VC2 Victory ships
  19. The Bowditch-class and AGS-37 were Type VC2 Victory ships
  20. E-AG-398 was an LSM
  21. Web site: Crane Ships, Heavy Lift Ships, Tanker Retired from Sealift Fleet . Navy League . 21 June 2021 . 21 June 2021.
  22. https://shipscribe.com/usnaux/AK/AK33.html "WEST ELCASCO (AK-33)"
  23. https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-039/h-039-5.html "H-039-5: The Explosion of Ammunition Ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11), 10 November 1944"
  24. USS Arequipa participated in Operation Sandstone and Operation Castle
  25. Book: Berkhouse . L. H. . Davis . S. E. . Gladeck . F.R. . Hallowell . J. H. . Jones . C. R. . Martin . E. J. . McMullan . F. W. . Osborn . M. J. . Rogers . W. E. . 1983 . Operation Sandstone: 1948 . . Washington, D. C. . 40 . August 17, 2011 . 10437826 . October 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131021192201/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a139151.pdf . live . Defense Technical Information Center.
  26. Book: Martin, Edwin J . Rowland . Richard H . Castle Series, 1954 . April 1, 1982 . . Washington DC . 831905820 . DNA 6035F . Defense Technical Information Center.
  27. Web site: Class: Unnamed (EAG 155, C4-S-1a) .
  28. Web site: Notable U.S. Navy Ships Lost Since World War II . US Naval Institute . 28 August 2012 . 13 August 2022.
  29. Type EC Liberty ship, participated in the Operation Dominic nuclear tests as USAS [Army Ship] American Mariner
  30. Web site: Ships Associated with SHAD Tests . https://web.archive.org/web/20130726035606/http://mcm.dhhq.health.mil/cb_exposures/project112_shad/shadassociatedShips.aspx . 21 September 2012 . July 26, 2013.
  31. Web site: [{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=AGS66}} USNS Maury (T-AGS 66) ]. . United States Navy . 20 February 2020 . 16 March 2023.
  32. Keel Authenticated for T-AGS 67. US Navy. 5 October 2022. 5 October 2022.
  33. News: SECNAV Del Toro Names Future Survey Ship After Titanic Discoverer Robert Ballard . December 2022 . Heather . Mongilio . USNI News . United States Naval Institute .
  34. Web site: DOT, DOD, and Maritime Industry Work to Strengthen Ready Reserve Force. maritime.dot.gov. 25 March 2022. 18 August 2023.
  35. News: Cape Cape Ray neutralizes Syrian chemical materials . August 2014 . www.msc.navy.mil . U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command. 2 March 2017.
  36. https://www.mun.ca/mha/polluxtruxtun/index.php Dead Reckoning: The Pollux-Truxton Disaster
  37. Roberts, U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers
  38. Web site: The Attack on the USNS Card. October 7, 2015.
  39. Web site: Operation WIGWAM, Report of Commander, Task Group 7.3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201122003/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA995001.pdf . live . December 1, 2021 . July 22, 1955 . December 1, 2021 . Defense Technical Information Center.
  40. Web site: Analysis of Radiation Exposure for Navy Personnel at Operation Ivy . 2023-07-09 . 2007-09-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215157/http://www.dtra.mil/documents/rd/DNATR8298.pdf .
  41. http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/20/2024.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AOG-24 Sheepscot
  42. Web site: APc-21 . 4 December 2009.
  43. Web site: Repair and Berthing Barges YR YRB YRBM YRDH YRDM YRR. Shipbuildinghistory.com. 6 July 2022.
  44. https://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160053.htm LST-53
  45. https://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_APL_60_1685.HTML Pursuivant
  46. Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 85
  47. USS Reclaimer participated in Operation Crossroads, Operation Castle, Operation Wigwam, and Operation Dominic
  48. USS Gypsy participated in Operation Castle and Operation Wigwam
  49. USS Sioux participated in Operation Crossroads, Operation Castle, and Operation Dominic
  50. USS Cree participated in Operation Wigwam and Operation Dominic
  51. USS Lipan participated in Operation Ivy and Operation Dominic
  52. USS Arikara participated in Operation Ivy and Operation Dominic
  53. USS Molala participated in Operation Castle and Operation Wigwam
  54. USS Tawakoni participated in Operation Castle and Operation Dominic
  55. http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/64/64012.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AT-12 / ATO-12 Sonoma
  56. http://usspartridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/actionreport2.pdf USS Partridge.com
  57. SECNAV Names Future Navajo-Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Billy Frank Jr.. US NAvy. 14 July 2023. 8 August 2023.
  58. SECNAV Names Future Navajo-Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship Solomon Atkinson. US Navy. 7 August 2023. 8 August 2023.
  59. Austal USA awarded contract option for a fifth Towing, Salvage and Rescue (T-ATS) Ship for the US Navy. Austal. 19 June 2023. 19 June 2023.
  60. Web site: World Aircraft Carriers List: US Seaplane Tenders: Miscellaneous .
  61. Web site: World Aircraft Carriers List: US Seaplane Tenders: Heavy Tenders .
  62. USS Curtiss participated in Operation Sandstone, Operation Greenhouse, Operation Ivy, Operation Wigwam, and Operation Redwing
  63. Web site: KENNETH WHITING AV 14 . Naval Cover Museum . 5 May 2023.
  64. Web site: Aircraft Catapult Barge (AVC) .
  65. Web site: World Aircraft Carriers List: US Seaplane Tenders: Small Tenders .
  66. USS Norton Sound participated in Operation Argus and Operation Dominic

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