U. S. Navy Auxiliary Vessel Types and Classes, 1980-2022

The following list shows the types and classes of U. S. Navy auxiliary vessels built or acquired between 1980 and 2022. With the exception of combat logistics ships (a relatively new MSC category for underway replenishment ships that in 2012 still included the last active AE, Flint) and some specialized types, the procurement of traditional auxiliary vessels came to a near halt in the years after 1980. Links to full pages are provided for the combat logistics ships to give a complete listing of these ships on this site, the rest of the list is limited to identifying ship classes. The final ships of four legacy types (AFS 8-10, AK 286, ARS 50-53 and YAG 62), although added in 1981-83, are included in the earlier 1946-80 portion of this supplement. Only five of the type designations in this list were in use in 1945 (AGS, AH, AK, AO, and ARS). Ships with four-digit accounting numbers instead of Navy hull numbers as designators (mostly prepositioning ships from the merchant marine) are excluded, as are AKR 112-113 which were also accounting numbers. (o) = order.

Combat Logistics Ships (links to pages provided)

Types and Classes AKE: Dry Cargo and Ammunition Ships (replaced AE and AFS)     AKE 1 (Lewis and Clark) class (Link to page) AO: Fleet Replenishment Oilers     AO 187 (Henry J Kaiser) class (Link to page)     AO 205 (John Lewis) class (Link to page) AOE: Fast Combat Support Ships     AOE 6 (Supply) class (Link to page)

#s Assigned AKE 1-14 AO 187-204 AO 205-210 AOE 6-10

Years Assigned 2000-2010 1982-1989 2016-2021(o) 1987-1993

Forward Basing/Prepositioning

Types and Classes AFSB(I): Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim)     AFSB(I) 15 (Ponce), see LSD 15 ESD: Expeditionary Transfer Docks (ex MLP: Mobile Landing Platforms)     ESD 1 (Montford Point) class ESB: Expeditionary Sea Bases (Puller was originally MLP 3)     ESB 3 (Lewis B Puller) class AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ships: see cargo ships, below

#s Assigned AFSB(I) 15 ESD 1-2 ESB 3-7

Years Assigned 2012 2009-2010 2011-2019(o)

Tenders and Repair Ships

Types and Classes ACS: Crane Ships     ACS 1 (Keystone State) class     ACS 4 (Gopher State) class     ACS 7 (Diamond State) class     ACS 9 (Green Mountain State) class (ACS 11-12 canc.) AVB: Aviation Logistics Support Ships     AVB 3 (Wright) class

#s Assigned ACS 1-3 ACS 4-6 ACS 7-8 ACS 9-12 AVB 3-4

Years Assigned 1984-1986 1987-1988 1987 1988 1986

Cargo Ships

Types and Classes AFS: Combat Store Ships     AFS 8 (Sirius) class (ex British) AK: Cargo Ships     AK 287-294: see AKR 287-294 AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ships     AKR 10 (Mercury) class     AKR 287 (Algol) class (ex AK 287-294)     AKR 295 (Shughart) class     AKR 296 (Gordon) class     AKR 300 (Bob Hope) class     AKR 310 (Watson) class Conversion of AKR 295-299 and const. of 300-09 and 310-17 auth. July 1993.

#s Assigned AFS 8-10 AK 287-294 AKR 10-11 AKR 287-294 AKR 295, 97, 99 AKR 296, 98 AKR 300-06 (-09) AKR 310-317 307-09 not built

Years Assigned 1981-83 1981 1980 1984-86 as AKR 1993 1993 1993-1999 1993-2000

Transports

Types and Classes AH: Hospital Ships     AH 19 (Mercy) class EPF: Expeditionary Fast Transports, ex JHSV: Joint High Speed Vessels     EPF 1 (Spearhead) class (Austral type) HST: High Speed Transports (ferries)     HST 1 (Guam) class (Austral type)

#s Assigned AH 19-20 EPF 1-15 HST 1-2

Years Assigned 1983 2008-2021 2012

Tugs and Salvage Ships

Types and Classes ATS: Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships     ATS 6 (Navajo) class

#s Assigned ATS 6-12

Years Assigned 2018(o)-2021

Special Function Auxiliaries

Types and Classes AGM: Missile Range Instrumentation Ships     AGM 25 (Howard O Lorenzen) AGOR: Oceanographic Research Ships     AGOR 23 (Thomas G Thompson) class     AGOR 26 (Kilo Moana)     AGOR 27 (Neil Armstrong) class AGOS: Surveillance Ships     AGOS 1 (Stalwart) class     AGOS 19 (Victorious) class     AGOS 23 (Impeccable) class (canc.) AGS: Surveying Ships (Intervening numbers were not used)     AGS 39 (Maury) class     AGS 45 (Waters)     AGS 51 (John McDonnell) class     AGS 60 (Pathfinder) class AGSE: Submarine Escort Ships (Blocking Vessels)     AGSE 1 (Black Powder) class IX: Unclassified Miscellaneous (all rated service craft since c1970)     IX 510-552 (most reclassified)

#s Assigned AGM 25 AGOR 23-26(i) AGOR 26(ii) AGOR 27-28 AGOS 1-18 AGOS 19-22 AGOS 23-24 AGS 39-40 AGS 45 AGS 51-52 AGS 60-67 AGSE 1-4 IX 510-552

Years Assigned 2007 1987, 1993-4 1997 2011(o)-2012 1980-1987 1987-1989 1990-1991 1985 1990 1987 1990-1999 2015 1981-2015

Page made 5 October 2021