List of ship classes of World War II explained

The List of ship classes of World War II is an alphabetical list of all ship classes that served in World War II. Only actual classes are included as opposed to unique ships (which are still included if they were the only one of a class to be built, for example, was the first of the four planned Admiral-class battlecruisers, but the other three were cancelled).[1] [2] [3] [4]

The list of ships of World War II contains major military vessels of the war, arranged alphabetically and by type. The list includes armed vessels that served during the war and in the immediate aftermath, inclusive of localized ongoing combat operations, garrison surrenders, post-surrender occupation, colony re-occupation, troop and prisoner repatriation, to the end of 1945. For smaller vessels, see also List of World War II ships of less than 1000 tons. Some uncompleted Axis ships are included, out of historic interest. Ships are designated to the country under which they operated for the longest period of the World War II, regardless of where they were built or previous service history.

Ship classes of World War II

List of ship classes of World War II
ClassTypeCountryLaunch Year(s)Displacement (tons)Number built (wartime/total)
Torpedo boat/gunboat19142663
Type 1934Destroyer19353,1564
Type 1934ADestroyer1935–19373,11012
Type 1936Destroyer1937–19383,4156
Type 1936A MobDestroyer1941–19423,4157
Type 1936A NarvikDestroyer1939–19403,6058
Type 1936BDestroyer1942–19443,4153
Destroyer1929–19301,35011
ASubmarine19142683
(Manxman)Minelayer1940–19442,6506
Submarine194169713
Destroyer1943–19461,3406
Heavy cruiser1937–193914,0003
Admiralty (a.k.a. Scott)Destroyer flotilla leader1918–19191,610–1,8106 / 8
Submarine193669717
Submarine19152375
AetosDestroyer19111,0504
Light cruiser1941–19446,6504
Minesweeper1937176
Destroyer1930–19312,4416
Armed merchant cruiser19417,3893
Destroyer1931–19321,6804
Destroyer1941–19442,70012
Large cruiser1943–195034,2532
Destroyer1943–19441,3006
Minesweeper1942–1944864–1,047109
Destroyer1943–19442,20058
Amiral MurgescuMinelayer1939–19441,0682
(a.k.a. A or Acheron)Submarine1944–19451,6202 / 18
Battleship191329,345 (WW2 after modification)2
Attack cargo ship1943–19456,76130
Heavy cruiser192671002
(a.k.a. Vifor)Scout cruiser1917–19181,5942
Submarine19369852
Light cruiser1934–19365,2504
Submarine19368102
Submarine193266710
Cruiser18989,7002
Destroyer1936–19371,96110
Light cruiser1941–19466,0008
AvengerEscort carrier1940–19418,3003
BDestroyer19301,3609
Destroyer19431,2539
BSubmarine1923–19293656
Destroyer1936–19371,6468
Scout cruiser19103,1002
Submarine1943–19462,429120
Submarine19281,4844
Heavy cruiser1942–195114,47214
Submarine19309374
Armed merchant cruiser19375,3512
Minesweeper1940–1944600128
Seaplane tender1941–19432,60035
Corvette1940–19421,02560
Destroyer1943–19452,315–2,57426
Destroyer1938–19391,63710
Destroyer1939–19411,62030
Destroyer19391,2103
Minesweeper1938–194060745
Battleship194050,3002
Sloop1939–19451,25037
Escort carrier1941–194416,89011 (+34 to UK as Attacker and Ruler)
(a.k.a. Attacker)Escort carrier1941–194316,8909
(a.k.a. Ruler)Escort carrier1942–194416,89025
Destroyer1924–19251,29812
Submarine19319822
Battleship191322,2003
Submarine1938–19391,0165
Destroyer1941–19431,83964
Light cruiser1936–19389,7679
Destroyer escort1943–19441,740102 (+46 to UK as Captain)
Buckley (Charles Lawrence)High speed transport1943–19441,7406 (+37 converted from commissioned Buckleys)
CSubmarine3693
CDestroyer1931–19321,3975
(1943)Destroyer1943–19461,74032
(Caledon)Light cruiser1916–19174,1803 / 4
(Carlisle)Light cruiser1916–19184,2005
(Caroline)Light cruiser1914–19154,1801 / 6
(Ceres)Light cruiser1917–19184,2905
Submarine19331,1002
Submarine19351,5503
Destroyer escort1943–19441,52572
Light cruiser1940–19423,6863
Frigate1942–19431,50078
Escort carrier1943–19457,80050
Corvette1943–19441,06044
(a.k.a. Jaguar)Destroyer19242,1266
Patrol boat40010
Escort carrier1940–19418,0001 (+3 to UK as Avenger)
Fleet oiler194221,0775
Light aircraft carrier1936-193711,1902
Torpedo boat19335354
Fleet oiler1939–194524,83035
Destroyer1918–19211,190156
Light cruiser1941–194611,74427
Frigate1943–19451,40021
Battleship1920–192132,6003
Light aircraft carrier1943–194413,20010
Escort carrier1944–194510,90011 / 19
(Alberto di Giussano)Light cruiser19306,4704
(Cadorna)Light cruiser1931–19325,2392
(Montecuccoli)Light cruiser19347,4042
(Duca d'Aosta)Light cruiser1934–19358,4002
(Duca degli Abruzzi)Light cruiser193611,3502
Battleship191123,6002
(Kent)Heavy cruiser1926–19279,850–10,9007
(London)Heavy cruiser1927–19289,8504
(Norfolk)Heavy cruiser1928–19299,925–9,9752
Battleship1911–191223,2002
(Ceylon)Light cruiser1941–19428,7123
(Fiji)Light cruiser1939–19418,5308
Seaplane tender1943–194414,0004
Torpedo boat1923–19249674
Seaplane tender194013,0002
DSubmarine3692
DDestroyer1931–19321,3979
Light cruiser1917–19194,8508
Destroyer19302,11619
Pre-dreadnought190612,1002
Heavy cruiser1931–193412,1003
Light cruiser1939–19415,60011
(Bellona)Light cruiser19425,9505
Destroyer tender1939–19439,4505
Destroyer1929–19342909
Destroyer1910–1913 (approx)5783
Torpedo boat1907–1908976
Light cruiser1923–19247,2503
Battleship1935–193635,5002
DuquesneHeavy cruiser1925–192612,4352
Destroyer19341,42818
Destroyer escort1943–19441,25385
Coastal battleship18994,2332
Torpedo boat1941–19441,29515
Light cruiser1919–19207,5802
Monitor19167,2002
Aircraft carrier1942–194531,30024
Destroyer escort1942–19441,36065 (+32 to UK as Captain)
Destroyer19341,42818
Light cruiser1945–194611,7442
Destroyer1934–19351,3958
Destroyer1941–19442,325175
Battleship1910–191121,8252
Corvette
    1939–1944940225
    (Modified)Corvette1939–19441,01569
    Submarine19371,3333
    Destroyer19311,8304
    Destroyer1927–19311,75020
    Heavy cruiser19257,1002
    Battleship1914–191535,3002
    GDestroyer19351,340–1,3509
    Corvette194267240
    Battleship191125,8504
    Submarine1941–19431,82577
    Destroyer1945–19512,61698
    Torpedo boat19218326
    Destroyer1939–19401,6044
    Submarine19351,0352
    GleavesDestroyer1939–19411,63066
    Aircraft carrier191626,5002
    Destroyer1936–19381,5904
    Destroyer19362,1442
    Destroyer1928–19302,4366
    HDestroyer1936–19391,340–1,35015
    Ha-101Transport submarine1944–194550110
    Ha-201Submarine194544010
    Minesweeper1938–19391,33021
    Destroyer tender19408,560–18,9002
    Destroyer1932–19341,4906
    Submarine1938–19404074
    Heavy cruiser1917–19219,8605
    Aircraft carrier194124,1402
    Destroyer escort1939–19431,000–1,17086
    Ocean liner1940–194217,0003
    Destroyer1936–19411,39011
    Submarine19451,290-15033
    Submarine1943-19453,512-4,3901-2
    Submarine aircraft carrier19446,5603
    Aircraft carrier1939–194023,0006
    Aircraft carrier193923,0002
    Aircraft carrier1942–194311,0009
    Battleship1942–195053,0004
    Battleship1916–191731,7622
    Naval trawler1940–1944554145
    Isles Naval trawler194055420
    Isles Naval trawler194055412
    Isles Naval trawler1939–194054520
    Armoured cruiser18989,7502
    Destroyer1938–19391,6909
    Light cruiser1920–19216,6702
    Destroyer escort1943–19461,35083
    Destroyer1938–19391,6908
    Destroyer1938–19412,03319
    Seaplane tender1936–19406,8634
    Destroyer1922–19251,4009
    Seaplane tender1934–19418,6003
    Light cruiser1939–19406,2803
    Fleet oiler1941–194221,077–21,75011
    Seaplane tender1943–194412,6004
    Battleship1939–194042,9235
    Heavy cruiser1938–19407,8902
    (Project 26-bis)Heavy cruiser1938–19448,1772
    (Project 26-bis2)Heavy cruiser1938–19448,4002
    Destroyer1931–19321,3894
    Battleship1912–191331,7204
    Armed merchant cruiser19348,6132
    KönigsbergLight cruiser1927–19286,6503
    Minesweeper1941–1946186
    Light cruiser1919–19205,0195
    Torpedo boat1914–19152703
    LDestroyer1939–19411,9208
    LSubmarine1916–19191,091–1,16827
    Destroyer1926–19291,35614
    Light cruiser1933–19367,6006
    Torpedo boat19178408
    Destroyer (or light cruiser)1933–19342,5706
    Destroyer1938–19471,77211
    Light cruiser1931–19347,2705
    (Amphion)Light cruiser1931–19346,8303
    Light cruiser1929–19346,515–6,9802
    Destroyer19242,0033
    Aircraft carrier192537,0002
    Battleship1937–194045,2363
    Submarine1939–19401,1662
    Escort carrier193913,5001 (+1 to UK as HMS Archer)
    MDestroyer1941–19421,9208
    MACMerchant aircraft carrier (para-military)1942–19457,950–9,13310
    MAC (Rapana)Merchant aircraft carrier1942–19458,0109
    Submarine1940–19418252
    Destroyer19342,0254
    Destroyer1935–19361,48818
    Submarine19298804
    Submarine19391,06011
    (also M)Destroyer1940–19411,5003
    Submarine19401,1956
    Destroyer escort19441,26218
    Submarine19351,5701
    Destroyer1919–19221,34513
    Light cruiser1943–19458,8006
    Destroyer1915–19161,8112
    Battleship190513,0002
    Destroyer (or light cruiser)1936–19372,8842
    Heavy cruiser1934–19368,5004
    Destroyer1918–192377021
    Destroyer1917–19188354
    Destroyer1925–19271,31512
    Heavy cruiser1927–192810,0004
    Destroyer1940–19411,6908
    Light cruiser1920–19215,0886
    Battleship1919–192039,1302
    Torpedo boat19437822
    Submarine1928–19303,9002
    Destroyer1929–19312,38012
    Battleship192541,2502
    Battleship191429,0002
    Battleship191733,0003
    (ex-Astoria)Heavy cruiser1933–193610,1367
    Battleship191227,0002
    Battleship194047,4002
    Heavy cruiser1929–19309,0066
    Destroyer1939–19421,6108
    OdinSubmarine1926–19291,922–2,06012
    Destroyer19396323
    Light cruiser1920–19247,05010
    Submarine19408564
    Submarine19381,1002
    Torpedo boat1935–19378408
    Destroyer1939–19421,6108
    Torpedo boat19211,0334
    Submarine19292,0706
    Torpedo boat19388404
    Battleship191533,0002
    Heavy cruiser19299,1002
    Submarine193669710
    PichinchaCoast guard vessel1203
    Torpedo boat19157707
    Submarine19308804
    Destroyer19372,3204
    PorpoiseSubmarine1935–19371,31010
    Destroyer1936–19371,8348
    Heavy cruiser1931–193210,2582
    ProussaTorpedo boat1915–19162662
    Destroyer1941–19421,7058
    Battleship1913–191533,790 (as built)5
    RDestroyer1941–19421,7058
    RSubmarine1918–191957027
    (Admiralty)Destroyer1916–1917940–1,0521 / 62
    Submarine19302,0006
    Destroyer1928–19291,4002
    Battlecruiser191632,0002
    Battleship1914–191628,0005
    Battleship1939–194047,5482
    (RAN Group I)Frigate1943–19451,4208
    (RAN Group II)Frigate1944–19451,5374
    (RCN Group)Frigate1941–19441,44570
    (RN Group I)Frigate1941–19441,37023
    (RN Group II)Frigate1941–19441,40044
    Ro-100Submarine1941–194378218
    Destroyer minelayer19442,20012
    Destroyer escort1943-19441,43022 (-1 conversion)
    Rudderow High speed transport1943-19441,40050 (+1 conversion)
    SSubmarine1931–194595063
    SSubmarine1918–192590048
    SDestroyer1942–19431,7108
    (Admiralty)Destroyer1917–19181,09211 / 55
    (Thornycroft)Destroyer1917–19181,0925
    (Yarrow)Destroyer1917–19181,0927
    Submarine1937–19381,4306
    Escort carrier193911,4004
    Submarine1938–19391,45010
    Destroyer1926–19271,1374
    Battleship193638,7002
    Destroyer19271,4802
    Light cruiser1923–19255,1133
    Destroyer19281,0906
    Destroyer1935–19371,68510
    Aircraft carrier1938-194132,1002
    Destroyer1938–19391,76412
    Submarine193467812
    Torpedo boat19178454
    Destroyer1936–19385973
    Minesweeper2706
    Destroyer1937–19421,62019
    Destroyer1937–19382,0475
    Battleship1941–194244,5194
    Torpedo boat1936–193864030
    Submarine19309334
    Light cruiser193910,0002
    Heavy cruiser1927–19309,9404
    Destroyer1942–19431,7108
    T2Auxiliary oil tanker1939–194521,100–22,445533
    Destroyer1919–19221,28914
    Frigate1943–19451,40096
    Escort carrier1939–194020,0003
    Heavy cruiser1930–19319,8504
    Submarine1939–19411,47512
    Submarine1944–19511,82631
    Battleship191933,0002
    ThornycroftDestroyer flotilla leader1918–19191,4803 / 5
    Heavy cruiser1937–193811,2152
    Coastal defence ship1897–18983,8522
    Destroyer1917–19191,020–1,19050
    (Southampton)Light cruiser19369,1005
    (Gloucester)Light cruiser19379,4003
    (Edinburgh)Light cruiser193810,4002
    Torpedo boat1935–19372629
    High endurance cutter1936–19372,7007
    Heavy cruiser1926–193210,511–10,8903
    Destroyer1937–19461,854–1,92727
    Light cruiser1937–19393,4502
    Torpedo boat1919–19212203
    Destroyer1927–19281,0908
    Type 23Torpedo boat19269236
    Type 24Torpedo boat1926–19279236
    Type 35Torpedo boat1937–193984412
    Type 37Torpedo boat1938–19408889
    Type 39Torpedo boat1940–19441,75415
    Type 40Torpedo boat19442,5667 (4 launched, but not completed)
    Type 41Torpedo boat19442,15514 (3 launched, but not completed)
    Type C1 shipAuxiliary cargo ship1942–19456,240–8,015408
    Type C2 shipAuxiliary cargo ship1944–194513,910173
    Type C3 shipAuxiliary cargo ship1940–194712,000465
    Type C4 shipAuxiliary cargo ship1940–194711,757–12,42075
    Type ISubmarine19368922
    Type IISubmarine1939–194030050
    Type VIISubmarine1935–1944626–1,084743
    Type IXSubmarine1937–19441,032–1,616193
    Type XSubmarine1941–19431,763–2,1778
    Type XIVSubmarine1940–19431,688–1,93210
    Type XVIISubmarine1942–1945277–4157
    Type XXISubmarine1944–19451,621–1,819118
    Type XXIIISubmarine1944–1945234–25861
    Destroyer1942–19431,777–1,8088
    Aircraft carrier1943–194422,5343
    VDestroyer1942–19431,777–1,8088
    V (Admiralty)Destroyer1917–19181,10017 / 23
    V (Admiralty leader)Destroyer flotilla leader19171,2073 / 5
    V (Thornycroft)Destroyer1917–19181,1202
    V7River gunboat19432
    Coastal defence ship1931–19323,9002
    Destroyer1927–19281,3164
    Destroyer1926–19271,3164
    Vasilefs GeorgiosDestroyer19381,3502
    Destroyer1931–19322,4416
    VedeniaMotor torpedo boat1943–1944306
    Heavy cruiser1928–19296,8002
    WDestroyer1943–19441,7108
    W (Admiralty)Destroyer1917–19181,100–1,14032 / 33
    W (Thornycroft)Destroyer1917–19181,120–1,1404
    Destroyer1922–19239006
    Destroyer1928–19291,5402
    Destroyer1917–19191,09033
    Battleship191127,0002
    Submarine1943–19453014
    Submarine1943–19453312
    XTTraining submarine1943–1945306
    Battleship194073,0002
    YMS-1-class minesweeperMinesweeper1942270481
    Heavy cruiser1928–19298,3002
    Aircraft carrier1936–194023,0003
    Destroyer1941–19442,07719
    ZDestroyer1943–19441,7108
    Submarine1929–19551,2503
    Heavy cruiser1930–193111,6804
    Light aircraft carrier1936-194211,4432

    Single-ship "classes"

    List of single-ship classes of World War II
    ClassTypeCountryLaunch YearDisplacement (tons)
    AkagiAircraft carrier192536,500
    AlgérieHeavy cruiser193210,000
    Submarine19274,161
    Aircraft carrier193722,000
    Aircraft carrierN/A23,500
    BéarnAircraft carrier192022,146
    Seaplane carrier19273,445
    Submarine19301,556
    Graf ZeppelinAircraft carrierN/A33,550
    HiryūAircraft carrier193717,300
    HoodBattlecruiser191845,470
    Aircraft carrier19217,470
    KagaAircraft carrier192138,200
    Seaplane tender193911,317
    Light cruiser19428,164
    Aircraft carrier193317,577
    Light aircraft carrier194216,700
    Light aircraft carrier19318,000
    Submarine1932953
    ShimakazeDestroyer19422,570
    Aircraft carrier194465,800
    SōryūAircraft carrier193516,200
    SurcoufCruiser submarine19293,250-4,304
    TaihōAircraft carrier194330,250
    Aircraft carrier193919,000
    Heavy cruiser193510,589
    Light cruiser19232,890

    See also

    References

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Hulls Listed by Name . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070630220303/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/quick/INDEX.HTM . 2007-06-30.
    2. Web site: Royal Navy operations in the Second World War . . 2016-03-29.
    3. Web site: US Navy Inactive Classification Symbols . Naval Vessel Register . NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office . 21 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120118095120/http://www.nvr.navy.mil/oldclass.htm . 18 January 2012.
    4. Web site: Index . Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.