U. S. Navy Auxiliary Vessel Ship Types, 1946-1980


Link to quick links to all ship types in alphabetical order.


Amphibious Assault Ships (Auxiliary Types)

Tenders and Repair Ships

Cargo Ships

Transports

Tankers

Tugs and Salvage Ships

Special Function Auxiliaries

Minelayers

Resources

Notes for this section



Amphibious Assault Ships (Auxiliary Types)


Links to Data Pages
AGC: Amphibious Force Flagships (to LCC 1968)
AKA: Attack Cargo Ships (to LKA 1968)
APA: Attack Transports (to LPA 1968)
 		#s Assigned
19-20
112-117
248-249
 		Years Assigned
1964-1966
1956-1966
1956-1959

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Tenders and Repair Ships


Links to Data Pages
AD: Destroyer Tenders
AGP: Patrol Craft Tenders
AR: Repair Ships
ARB: Battle Damage Repair Ships
ARVH: Aircraft Repair Ship (Helicopter)
AS: Submarine Tenders
AV: Seaplane Tenders
AVB: Advance Aviation Base Ships
 		#s Assigned
37-44
As LST
22-23, 28
13
1
31-41
21
1-2
 		Years Assigned
1963-1979
1970-1972
1960-1971
1952
1965
1959-1977
1959
1957-1961

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Cargo Ships


Links to Data Pages
AE: Ammunition Ships
AF: Provision Storeships (later Store Ships)
AFS: Combat Store Ships
AK: Cargo Ships
AKD: Cargo Ship, Dock
AKL: Light Cargo Ships
AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ships (ex LSV, Vehicle Cargo Ships, 1969)
AKS: General Stores Issue Ships (later Stores Issue Ships)
AKV: Cargo Ship and Aircraft Ferry
 		#s Assigned
21-35
48-64
1-7
237-285
1
1-45, 398
7-11
21-33
3-7
 		Years Assigned
1954-1968
1946-1961
1961-19xx
1950-19xx
1955
1947-1966
1955-1980
1951-1959
1950

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Transports


Links to Data Pages
AP: Transports
APB: Self-Propelled Barracks Ships
APC: Small Coastal Transports
APL: Barracks Ships (later Craft) (Non-Self Propelled)
 		#s Assigned
178-202
51
116-119
59
 		Years Assigned
1950-1952
1951
1950
1954

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Tankers


Links to Data Pages
AO: Oilers
--
AOT ex T-AO: Transport oilers
--
AOE: Fast Combat Support Ships
AOG: Gasoline Tankers
AOR: Replenishment Oilers
 		#s Assigned
110, 143-148,
177-180, 186
111-142, 149-176, 181-185
1-5
76-82
1-7
 		Years Assigned
1946-1978
--
1947-1976
--
1960-1967
1948-1955
1965-1972

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Tugs and Salvage Ships


Links to Data Pages
ASR: Submarine Rescue Vessels (later Ships)
ATA: Auxiliary Ocean Tugs
ATF: Fleet Ocean Tugs
ATS: Salvage and Rescue Ships
 		#s Assigned
21-22
239-245
166-172
1-5
 		Years Assigned
1967
1950-1958
1975-1978
1966-1972

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Special Function Auxiliaries


Links to Data Pages
ADG: Degaussing Vessels (later Ships) (from YDG 1955)
AG: Miscellaneous Auxiliaries
--
AGB: Ice Breakers (AG until 1949)
AGDS: Auxiliary Deep Submergence Support Ships
AGER: Environmental Research Ships
AGF: Miscellaneous Command Ships
AGM: Missile Range Instrumentation Ships
AGMR: Major Communications Relay Ships
AGOR: Oceanographic Research Ships
AGR: Radar Picket Ships (ex YAGR)
AGS: Surveying Ships
AGSC: Coastal Surveying Ships
AGTR: Technical Research Ships
AN: Net Laying Ships
ARC: Cable Repairing Ships
AVM: Guided Missile Ship
IX: Unclassified Miscellaneous
--
YAG: Miscellaneous Auxiliaries (Service Craft)
YAGR: Ocean Radar Station Ships (to AGR 1958)
 		#s Assigned
383
128-193,
520-521
3-6
1-2
1-3
1, 3, 11
1-22
1-2
1-22
1-16
15-38, 50
15
1-5
93-104
1-7
1
234-35, 300-11, 501-09
35-61, 87
1-16
 		Years Assigned
1957
1946-1976
--
1950-1952
1973-1974
1967
1965-1980
1960-1971
1963-1965
1958-1972
1958
1946-1977
1959
1960-1963
1951-1959
1950-1979
1951
1947-1979
--
1947-19xx
1954-1958

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Minelayers


Links to Data Pages
ACM: Auxiliary Mine Layers (to MMA Feb 1955)
MM: Minelayers, Fleet (from CM Feb 1955, to MMF Oct 1955,
    see CM-5)
MMA: Minelayers, Auxiliary (from ACM Feb 1955)
MMC: Minelayers, Coastal (offshore and conversions)
MMF: Minelayers, Fleet (from MM Oct 1955)
 		#s Assigned
11-16
5

11-16
1-16
5
 		Years Assigned
1949-1951
1955

1955
1958-1961
1955

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Resources

Notes on Sources

Appendix 3: The Establishment of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS/MSC)

Link to U.S. Navy Ship Design Project Numbers, 1946-1979

Link to U. S. Navy Auxiliary Vessel Ship Types and Classes Since 1980


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Notes for this section


This list does not cover most types consisting entirely of conversions from major combatants, including the AVT type (twelve obsolete fleet and light aircraft carriers in reserve redesignated Auxiliary Aircraft Transports in 1959-61 to get them off the list of combatants), all auxiliary submarine types, and experimental combatant types classed as auxiliaries (AGER/AGDE/AGFF and AGEH). For these and for individual conversions of major combatants listed on the type pages see Bauer and Roberts, Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990, Major Combatants or other standard references. This list also does not include types or ships for which no hull numbers were formally assigned. It does include conversions from minor combatants (patrol, mine, and landing craft) and service craft to all auxiliary types except IX since no volume of the Register exists covering these.

Armaments are as actually installed, not as authorized (some authorized guns were not mounted). All guns are in single mountings unless marked "T" (twin) or "Q" (quadruple), although a "S" (single) is sometimes optionally added for clarity. Note that for multiple mounts (T, Q) the quantity shown refers to mounts, not to guns. 8-20mmT thus indicates 16-20mm barrels on 8 twin mounts, 4-40mmQ indicates 16-40mm barrels on 4 quadruple mounts.

Abbreviations for fates include Canc (cancelled), Lost, MA (To MARAD custody, also misc. transfers), MA/S (Title to MARAD from Navy and simultaneously sold by MA), MA/T (Permanent title transfer from Navy to MARAD, ship retained and sold later), Navy sale, RTO (returned to owner, mainly for chartered ships), Target, Trf (transferred).

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This entire site, including all its pages, is copyright © Stephen S. Roberts, 2001-2022 or later as indicated.

Page made 9 July 2021