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A 'ship prefix' is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship.
Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "SS" for steamship, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. Sometimes a slash is used to separate the letters, as in "M/S".
Naval prefixes came into use as abbreviations for longer titles, such as "His/Her Majesty's Ship" in the Royal Navy, abbreviated "H.M.S" and then "HMS". Earlier uses often included the type of vessel, as for instance "U.S.F." ("United States Frigate") for frigates of the United States Navy. Today the common practice is to use a single prefix for all warships of a nation's navy, and other prefixes for auxiliaries and ships of allied services, such as coast guards.
The use of ship prefixes is not universal; in particular neither the Third Reich's ''Kriegsmarine'' nor the Imperial Japanese Navy used ship prefixes. Some English-language writers use prefixes like "DKM" (for "''Deutsche Kriegsmarine''") and "HIJMS" (for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship") or "IJN" (for "Imperial Japanese Navy", a translation of 大日本帝国海軍 ''dai-nippon teikoku kaigun'') for consistency with "HMS" and "USS". Other writers follow the practice of the navy and omit any prefix.
From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by hull numbers — identification codes typically painted on the side of the ship. Each navy has its own system: the United States Navy uses hull classification symbols, and the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.
This tables lists both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.
The designations for United Kingdom ships applied at the time of the British Empire, before the establishment of separate navies for the Dominions.
In the Royal Netherlands Navy, "HNLMS" is the prefix in English, a translation of the Dutch original "Hr.Ms." or "Zr.Ms.". "Hr.Ms." should preferably not be used English-language documents; nevertheless it is often seen on the World Wide Web. Until the moment a Dutch naval ship officially enters active service in the fleet, the ship's name is used without the prefix.
In the United States Navy, all prefixes other than "USS," "USNS" and "USRC" were obsoleted in 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law a bill fixing American naval nomenclature. USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service became the United States Coast Guard in 1915.
A United States ship that has not yet been commissioned in the Navy does not hold the title of USS, it holds the title of PCU (Pre-commissioned unit).
For example, say a shipyard is building a new aircraft carrier:—the ''Flattop''.
From the date the keel is laid to the date it is commissioned, it is called the PCU ''Flattop''. Only after it enters active service in the fleet and is commissioned will it be referred to as the USS ''Flattop''. In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.
Note that while calling a US ship "the USS ''Flattop''" may make grammatical sense, the preliminary article "the" is deprecated by nearly all style guides, and the U.S. Navy. The Navy uses ship names without article, except for USS ''The Sullivans'', named for the five Sullivan brothers, all lost at sea during World War II. Its British equivalent ("the HMS ''Flattop''") is also deprecated, since "the Her Majesty's Ship" would be grammatically incorrect.
In 1939, the British Ministry of Shipping adopted a standard naming system whereby all merchant ships ordered to be built in Britain to Government account, except very small ship types, would be given the prefix 'Empire' to their name. This applied to ships acquired through purchase, requisition, or taken in prize, with some exceptions. It also applied to older ships acquired from the USA, modern ships acquired on Lease/Lend arrangements, salved and refitted ships, and captured enemy ships.
★ Warship National Prefixes
Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "SS" for steamship, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. Sometimes a slash is used to separate the letters, as in "M/S".
Naval prefixes came into use as abbreviations for longer titles, such as "His/Her Majesty's Ship" in the Royal Navy, abbreviated "H.M.S" and then "HMS". Earlier uses often included the type of vessel, as for instance "U.S.F." ("United States Frigate") for frigates of the United States Navy. Today the common practice is to use a single prefix for all warships of a nation's navy, and other prefixes for auxiliaries and ships of allied services, such as coast guards.
The use of ship prefixes is not universal; in particular neither the Third Reich's ''Kriegsmarine'' nor the Imperial Japanese Navy used ship prefixes. Some English-language writers use prefixes like "DKM" (for "''Deutsche Kriegsmarine''") and "HIJMS" (for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship") or "IJN" (for "Imperial Japanese Navy", a translation of 大日本帝国海軍 ''dai-nippon teikoku kaigun'') for consistency with "HMS" and "USS". Other writers follow the practice of the navy and omit any prefix.
From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by hull numbers — identification codes typically painted on the side of the ship. Each navy has its own system: the United States Navy uses hull classification symbols, and the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.
This tables lists both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.
| Contents |
| Generic (Merchant Navy) prefixes |
| National or military prefixes |
| Notes |
| Civilian ships naming |
| External links |
Generic (Merchant Navy) prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| AHT | Anchor Handling Tug |
| AHTS | Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel |
| DB | Derrick Barge |
| DCV | Deepwater Construction Vessel |
| DSV | Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle |
| FPV | Free Piston Vessel |
| FV | Fishing Vessel |
| GTS | Gas Turbine Ship |
| HLV | Heavy Lift Vessel |
| HSC | High Speed Craft |
| HTV | Heavy Transport Vessel |
| LB | Liftboat |
| MS | Motor Ship |
| MSY | Motor Sailing Yacht |
| MT | Motor Tanker |
| MV | Motor Vessel |
| nb | Narrowboat |
| NS | Nuclear Ship |
| OSV | Offshore Support Vessel |
| PS | Paddle Steamer |
| PSV | Platform Supply Vessel |
| RV | Research Vessel |
| RMS | Royal Mail Ship |
| SB | Sailing Barge |
| SS | Steamship |
| SSCV | Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel |
| SSV | Sailing School Vessel |
| SV | Sailing Vessel |
| TS | Turbine Steamer |
| TV | Training Vessel |
National or military prefixes
Notes
The designations for United Kingdom ships applied at the time of the British Empire, before the establishment of separate navies for the Dominions.
In the Royal Netherlands Navy, "HNLMS" is the prefix in English, a translation of the Dutch original "Hr.Ms." or "Zr.Ms.". "Hr.Ms." should preferably not be used English-language documents; nevertheless it is often seen on the World Wide Web. Until the moment a Dutch naval ship officially enters active service in the fleet, the ship's name is used without the prefix.
In the United States Navy, all prefixes other than "USS," "USNS" and "USRC" were obsoleted in 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law a bill fixing American naval nomenclature. USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service became the United States Coast Guard in 1915.
A United States ship that has not yet been commissioned in the Navy does not hold the title of USS, it holds the title of PCU (Pre-commissioned unit).
For example, say a shipyard is building a new aircraft carrier:—the ''Flattop''.
From the date the keel is laid to the date it is commissioned, it is called the PCU ''Flattop''. Only after it enters active service in the fleet and is commissioned will it be referred to as the USS ''Flattop''. In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.
Note that while calling a US ship "the USS ''Flattop''" may make grammatical sense, the preliminary article "the" is deprecated by nearly all style guides, and the U.S. Navy. The Navy uses ship names without article, except for USS ''The Sullivans'', named for the five Sullivan brothers, all lost at sea during World War II. Its British equivalent ("the HMS ''Flattop''") is also deprecated, since "the Her Majesty's Ship" would be grammatically incorrect.
Civilian ships naming
In 1939, the British Ministry of Shipping adopted a standard naming system whereby all merchant ships ordered to be built in Britain to Government account, except very small ship types, would be given the prefix 'Empire' to their name. This applied to ships acquired through purchase, requisition, or taken in prize, with some exceptions. It also applied to older ships acquired from the USA, modern ships acquired on Lease/Lend arrangements, salved and refitted ships, and captured enemy ships.
External links
★ Warship National Prefixes
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