U. S. Navy Auxiliary Vessel Types and Classes Since 1980

The following list shows the types and classes of U. S. Navy auxiliary vessels built or acquired since 1980. 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. New types like "Expeditionary Support Ships" have instead received recent attention. Links to class pages are provided here for the combat logistics ships (now AKE, AO, and AOE) to complete the listing on this site of these still-important ships, and it is intended to provide links to other class pages as they are produced. Links to class pages for some post-1980 ships of pre-1980 types (AFS 8-10, AK 286, ARS 50-53 and YAG 62) have also already been posted. Only five type designations in this list were in use in 1945 (AGS, AH, AK, AO, ARS, and YAG). 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 (these two ships are briefly described on the T-AKR 10 page in the 1946-1980 part). (o) = order.

Combat Logistics Ships

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

Seabasing and Expeditionary Support Ships

Types and Classes
AFSB(I): Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim)
    AFSB(I) 15 (Ponce), see LSD 15
EMS: Expeditionary Medical Ship
    EMS 1 (Bethesda) class (Austral type)
EPF: Expeditionary Fast Transports (ex JHSV: Joint High Speed Vessels)
    EPF 1 (Spearhead) class (Austral type)
ESB: Expeditionary Sea Bases (Lewis B Puller was originally MLP 3)
    ESB 3 (Lewis B Puller) class
ESD: Expeditionary Transfer Docks (ex MLP: Mobile Landing Platforms)
    ESD 1 (Montford Point) class

#s Assigned

AFSB(I) 15

EMS 1-3

EPF 1-15

ESB 3-7

ESD 1-2

Years Assigned

2012

2023

2008-2021

2009-2010

2011

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) (Link to page)
AK: Cargo Ships
    AK 286 (Vega) class (Link to page)
    AK 287-294: see AKR 287-294
AKR: Vehicle Cargo Ships
    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 286
AK 287-294

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
1981

1984-86 as AKR
1993
1993
1993-1999
1993-2000

Transports

Types and Classes
AH: Hospital Ships
AH 19 (Mercy) class
HST: High Speed Transports (ferries)
HST 1 (Guam) class (Austral type)

#s Assigned

AH 19-20

HST 1-2

Years Assigned

1983

2012

Tugs and Salvage Ships

Types and Classes
ARS: Salvage Ships
ARS 50 (Safeguard) class (Link to page)
ATS: Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships
ATS 6 (Navajo) class

#s Assigned

ARS 50-53

ATS 6-12

Years Assigned

1981-1982

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)
YAG: Miscellaneous Auxiliaries (Service Craft)
    YAG 62 (Deer Island) class (Link to page)

#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

YAG 62

Years Assigned

2007

1987, 1993-4
1997
2011(o)-2012

1980-1987
1987-1989
1990-1991

1985
1990
1987
1990-1999

2015

1981-2015

1982

Page made 5 October 2021