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Ship prefix

{{Short description|Type of abbreviation used to describe ships}}

{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship that has historically served numerous purposes, such as identifying the vessel's mode of propulsion, purpose, or ownership/nationality. In the modern environment, prefixes are cited inconsistently in civilian service, whereas in government service a vessel's prefix is seldom omitted due to government regulations dictating that a certain prefix be used. 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. For example, the modern navy of Japan adopts the prefix "JS" – Japanese Ship, or the US navy has adopted the USS prefix. However, not all navies use prefixes. Among the blue-water navies,{{cite book|last1=Kirchberger|first1=Sarah|oclc=911616881| title=Assessing China's Naval Power: Technological Innovation, Economic Constraints, and Strategic Implications|date=2015| location=Heidelberg|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-662-47127-2|page=60}} those of France, Brazil, China, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, and Spain do not use ship prefixes. NATO designations such as FS (French Ship), FGS (Federal German Ship), and SPS (Spanish Ship) can be used if needed.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Usage

Historically, prefixes for civilian vessels often identified the vessel's mode of propulsion, such as "MV" (motor vessel), "SS" (screw steamer;{{Cite web |title=What Does SS Stand for on a Ship? |website=Reference.com |date=28 March 2020 |url= https://www.reference.com/world-view/ss-stand-ship-eda36063903ca754 |access-date=18 November 2022 |quote=screw steamer. It was originally used to distinguish a screw steamer from a paddle steamer, which was called a PS}} often cited as "steam ship"), or "PS" (paddle steamer).{{Cite book |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=978-1-4456-6558-0 |last=Megoran |first=John |title=PS Kingswear Castle |date=2017}}

These days, general civilian prefixes are used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. In terms of abbreviations that may reflect a vessel's purpose or function, technology has introduced a broad variety of differently named vessels onto the world's oceans, such as "LPGC" (liquified petroleum gas carrier), or "TB" (tug-boat), or "DB" (derrick barge). In many cases though, these abbreviations are used for purely formal, legal identification and are not used colloquially or in the daily working environment. Prefixes indicating a vessel's purpose (e.g., "RMS" for a Royal Mail ship or "RV" for research vessel) are also used.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Prefixes used for naval ships primarily reflect ownership, but may also indicate a vessel's type or purpose as a sub-set. Historically, the most significant navy was Britain's Royal Navy, which has usually used the prefix "HMS", standing for "His/Her Majesty's Ship". The Royal Navy also adopted nomenclature that reflected a vessel's type or purpose, e.g. HM Sloop. Commonwealth navies adopted a variation, with, for example, HMAS, HMCS, and HMNZS pertaining to Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, respectively.

In the early days of the United States Navy, abbreviations often included the type of vessel, for instance "USF" (United States Frigate), but this method was abandoned by President Theodore Roosevelt's Executive Order No. 549 of 1907, which made "United States Ship" (USS) the standard signifier for USN ships on active commissioned service.{{Cite book|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_549|title=Executive Order 549|last=Roosevelt|first=Theodore|date=8 January 1907|publisher=President of the United States|location=Washington, DC}}{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} United States Navy prefixes officially only apply while a ship is in active commission, with only the name used before or after a period of commission and for all vessels "in service" rather than commissioned status.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203114725/http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2015|title=Ship Naming|website=Naval History and Heritage Command|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-04}}

However, not all navies used prefixes; this includes the significant navies of China, France and Russia.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by letters or hull numbers (pennant numbers){{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Pennant_number|title=Pennant number|access-date=9 March 2020|archive-date=20 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420125645/https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Pennant_number}} or a combination of such. These identification codes were, and still are, 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 (e.g. 'D35' is destroyer 35 – HMS Dragon) and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_7ycOuv6a4C&pg=PA55|title=Dictionary of Nautical Acronyms and Abbreviations|last=Launer|first=Donald|date=2006|publisher=Sheridan House, Inc.|isbn=978-1-57409-239-4|page=55}}

Generic (merchant navy) prefixes

{{Refimprove section|date=October 2022}}

These prefixes are generally used for merchant vessels of any nationality unless specified.{{Cite news|url=https://www.marineinsight.com/types-of-ships/what-are-ship-prefixes-for-naval-and-merchant-vessels/|title=What are Ship Prefixes for Navy and Merchant Vessels?|last=Dasgupta|first=Soumyajit|date=4 March 2013|work=Marine Insight|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en-US}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
{{nbsp|2}}Prefix{{nbsp|2}}

! Meaning

AE

|Ammunition ship

AFS

|Combat stores ship

AHT

|Anchor handling tug

AHTS

|Anchor handling tug supply vessel

AO

|United States Navy oiler

AOG

|Gasoline tanker

AOR

|Auxiliary replenishment oiler

AOT

|Transport oiler{{cn|date=October 2022}}

ASDS

|Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship

ATB

|Articulated Tug Barge{{cn|date=October 2022}}

CRV

|Coastal Research Vessel{{cn|date=October 2022}}

C/F

|Car ferry

CS

|Container ship or
Cable ship

DB

|Derrick barge

DEPV

|Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel{{cn|date=October 2022}}

DLB

|Derrick Lay Barge{{cn|date=October 2022}}

DCV

|Deepwater Construction Vessel{{cn|date=October 2022}}

DSV

|Diving support vessel or
deep-submergence vehicle

DV

|Dead vessel{{cite web |title="Dead Vessel" doctrine |url=http://admiralty.uslegal.com/jurisdiction-over-the-parties-or-property-involved/dead-vessel-doctrine/ |website=USLegal.com |publisher=US Legal, Inc. |access-date=7 February 2015}}{{cite web |title=Ship Prefix Glossary – continued |url=http://www.richatlanticinterserv.com/ship_update.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805062904/http://www.richatlanticinterserv.com/ship_update.html |archive-date=5 August 2012 |website=richatlanticinterserv.com |publisher=Rich Atlantic International Services |access-date=7 February 2015 }}

ERRV

|Emergency Response Rescue Vessel

EV

|Exploration Vessel

FPSO

|Floating production storage and offloading vessel

FPV

|Free Piston Vessel{{cn|date=October 2022}}

FPV

|Fishery Protection Vessel

FT

|Factory Stern Trawler

FV

|Fishing Vessel

GTS

|Gas Turbine Ship

HLV

|Heavy lift vessel

HMT

|Hired military transport{{cite web

|url=https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Troopship

|title=Troopship

|quote=The designation HMT (Hired Military Transport) ...

|access-date=9 March 2020

|archive-date=7 July 2022

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707141826/https://www.encyclopediabritannia.org/index.php/Troopship

}} (not currently in use)

HMHS

|His(/Her) Majesty's Hospital Ship

HSC

|High Speed Craft

HSF

|High Speed Ferry{{cn|date=October 2022}}

HTV

|Heavy transport vessel

IRV

|International Research Vessel{{cn|date=October 2022}}

ITB

|Integrated Tug barge{{cn|date=October 2022}}

LB

|Liftboat

LNG/C

|Liquefied natural gas carrier

LPG/C

|Liquefied petroleum gas carrier

MF

|Motor ferry

MFV

|Motor fishing vessel (mainly UK Royal Naval Reserve)

MS (M/S)

|Motor ship (interchangeable with MV)

MSV

|Multipurpose support/supply vessel

MSY

|Motor Sailing Yacht

MT

|Motor Tanker

MTS

|Marine towage and salvage/tugboat

MV (M/V)

|Motor Vessel (interchangeable with MS)

MY (M/Y)

|Motor Yacht

NB

|Narrowboat

NRV

|NATO Research Vessel

NS

|Nuclear ship

OSV

|Offshore supply vessel

PS

|Paddle steamer

PSV

|Platform supply vessel

QSMV

|Quadruple screw motor vessel

QTEV

|Quadruple turbo electric vessel

RMP

|Royal Mail Packet

RMS

|Royal Mail Ship or Royal Mail Steamer

RMV

|Royal Mail Vessel

RNLB

|Royal National Lifeboat

RNMB

|Royal Navy Motor Boat {{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/march/13/240313-harrier-in-the-gulf | title=Autonomous minehunting test team mark one year in the Gulf }}{{cite web | url=https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-autonomous-mine-hunting-at-the-sharp-end/ | title=Royal Navy autonomous mine hunting at the sharp end | Navy Lookout | work=Navy Lookout | Independent Royal Navy news and analysis | date=30 March 2023 | author1=Navylookout }}

RRS

|Royal Research Ship

RV / RSV

|Research vessel/Research Survey Vessel[https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/history/transportation/shipping/aurora-australis/ RSV Aurora Australis 1989–2020] Australian Antarctic Division, 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.

SB

|Sailing Barge{{cn|date=October 2022}}

SL

|Steam Launch{{cn|date=October 2022}}

SS (S/S)

|Single-screw steamship
(also used as generic term for any steam-powered ship)

SSCV

|Semi-submersible crane vessel

SSS

|Sea Scout Ship

SSV

|Sailing School Vessel,{{cn|date=October 2022}} or
Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel{{cite web |url=http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/print.asp?command=type&action=Submarine%20and%20Special%20Warfare%20Support%20Vessel |title=Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel |publisher=Military Sealift Command |access-date=3 December 2010 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607174905/http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/print.asp?command=type&action=Submarine%20and%20Special%20Warfare%20Support%20Vessel }}

ST

|Steam tug or
Steam trawler

STS

|Sail training ship

STV

|Sail Training Vessel or
Steam Turbine Vessel

SV (S/V)

|Sailing Vessel

SY (S/Y)

|sailing yacht or
steam yacht

TB

|Tug boat

TIV

|Turbine Installation Vessel

TEV

|Turbine electric vessel

TrSS

|Triple-screw steamship or steamer{{cite web|url=http://www.rina.org.uk/maritime_acronyms1.html|title=Maritime Acronyms and Abbreviations|website=Royal Institution of Naval Architects|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819043306/http://www.rina.org.uk/maritime_acronyms1.html|archive-date=19 August 2016}}

TS

|Training Ship or
turbine steamship or turbine steam ship

Tr.SMV

|Triple-Screw Motor Vessel

TSMV

|Twin-Screw Motor Vessel{{cite web |url=http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/help.asp |title=Ships of CalMac |access-date=2 July 2016 |archive-date=28 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428011734/http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/help.asp }}

TSMS

|Twin-Screw Motor Ship{{cite web |url=https://www.acronymfinder.com/Twin-Screw-Motor-Ship-(TSMS).html |title=Acronym Finder}}

TSS

|Twin-screw steamship or steamer

TST

|Twin-screw tug

TT (T/T)

|"Tender to" ..., the prefix is placed on the tender followed by the name of the mother ship; or Turbine Tanker{{cn|date=October 2022}}

TV

|Training vessel

ULCC

|Ultra Large Crude Carrier

VLCC

|Very Large Crude Carrier

YD

|Yard derrick

YT

|Yard Tug

YMT

|Yard Motor Tug

YTB

|Yard Tug Big

YTL

|Yard Tug Little

YTM

|Yard Tug Medium

YW

| Water barge, self-propelled

YWN

| Water barge, non-propelled

YOS

|Concrete vessel

National or military prefixes

{{Refimprove section|date=October 2022}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
CountryServicePrefixMeaning
{{ALB}}

|Albanian Naval Force

|ALS

|Albanian Ship (NATO prefix)

{{ALG}}

|Algerian National Navy

|ANS

|Algerian Navy Ship

rowspan=2|{{ARG}}

|Argentine Navy

|ARA

|Navy of the Argentine Republic ({{langx|es|Armada de la República Argentina}})

Argentine Coast Guard

|GC

|Argentine Coast Guard Ship ({{langx|es|Guardacostas}})

rowspan=6|{{AUS}}

|rowspan=4|Royal Australian Navy

|HMAS

|His Majesty's Australian Ship/Submarine/Station

NUSHIP

|New Ship/Submarine (Yet to be commissioned)

ADV

|Australian Defence Vessel (non-commissioned naval-operated ships)

MSA

|Minesweeper Auxiliary{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/msa-brolga|title=MSA Brolga|author=Royal Australian Navy|work=navy.gov.au|access-date=23 September 2015}}

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

|ACV

|Australian Customs Vessel

Australian Border Force

|ABFC

|Australian Border Force Cutter

rowspan=3|Australia (pre-Federation)

|rowspan=3|Colonial navies of Australia

|HMCS

|His Majesty's Colonial Ship

HMQS

|His Majesty's Queensland Ship (Queensland Maritime Defence Force)

HMVS

|His Majesty's Victorian Ship (Victorian Naval Forces)

{{flag|Austria-Hungary|navy}}

|Austro-Hungarian Navy

|SMS

|Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)

{{AZE}}

|Azerbaijani Navy

|ARG

|Azərbaycan Respublikasının hərbi Gəmisi (Warship of the Republic of Azerbaijan)

{{BAH}}

|Royal Bahamas Defence Force

|HMBS

|His Majesty's Bahamian Ship

{{BHR}}

|Royal Bahrain Naval Force

|RBNS

|Royal Bahrain Naval Ship

rowspan=2|{{BAN}}

|Bangladesh Coast Guard

|CGS

|Coast Guard Ship

Bangladesh Navy

|BNS

|Bangladesh Navy Ship

{{BRB}}

|Barbados Coast Guard

|BCGS

|Barbados Coast Guard Ship

{{BEL}}

|Belgian Navy

|BNS

|Belgian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)

{{BRA}}

|Brazilian Navy

|(No Official Prefix)

|Brazilian naval prefix indicates ship type.

rowspan="2"|{{Flag|British Raj}}

|Royal Indian Marine (1892–1934)

|RIMS

|Royal Indian Marine Ship

Royal Indian Navy (1934–1950)

|HMIS

|His Majesty's Indian Ship

{{BRU}}

|Royal Brunei Navy

|KDB

|Kapal Di-Raja Brunei (Royal Brunei Ship)

{{BUL}}

|Bulgarian Navy

|BNG

|NATO Designation

rowspan=8|{{CAN}}

|rowspan=2|Royal Canadian Navy
(formerly Canadian Forces Maritime Command)

|HMCS
NCSM

|His Majesty's Canadian Ship
({{langx|fr|Navire canadien de Sa Majesté}})

CFAV
NAFC

|Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel
({{langx|fr|Navire auxiliaire des Forces canadiennes}})

rowspan=2|Canadian Coast Guard

|CCGS
NGCC

|Canadian Coast Guard Ship
({{langx|fr|Navire de Garde côtière canadienne}})

CCGC
CGCC

|Canadian Coast Guard Cutter
({{langx|fr|Cotre de Garde côtière canadienne}})
(no longer used)

rowspan=3|Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Transport, and predecessor departments

|CGS

|Canadian Government Ship
(no longer used)

CSS

|Canadian Survey Ship
(no longer used)

DGS

|Dominion Government Ship
(no longer used)

Royal Canadian Sea Cadets

|SCTV
NECM

|Sea Cadet Training Vessel
({{langx|fr|Navire école des cadets de la Marine}})

{{PRC}}

|People's Liberation Army Navy

|(No Official Prefix)

|

{{COL}}

|Armada Nacional

|ARC

|Armada de la República de Colombia (Navy of the Republic of Colombia)

{{flag|Confederate States of America|name=Confederate States|1863}}

|Confederate States Navy

|CSS

|Confederate States Ship

{{COK}}

|Cook Islands Police

|CIPPB

|Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat

rowspan=2|{{DEN}}

|rowspan=2|Royal Danish Navy

|HDMS ({{langx|da|KDM}})

|His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship ({{langx|da|Kongelige Danske Marine}})

HDMY ({{langx|da|KDM}})

|His/Her Danish Majesty's Yacht, crewed by Royal Danish Navy

{{ECU}}

|Armada Ecuatoriana

|BAE

|Buque de la Armada de Ecuador (Ecuadorian Navy Ship)

rowspan=2|{{EST}}

|Estonian Navy

|ENS (Estonian: EML)

|Estonian Naval Ship (NATO designation)

Estonian Coast Guard

|ECGS

|Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)

{{FJI}}

|Republic of Fiji Navy

|RFNS

|Republic of Fiji Naval Ship

{{FIN}}

|Finnish Navy

|FNS

|Finnish Navy Ship; Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.

{{FRA}}

|French Navy

|FS

|French Ship (NATO designation); Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.

rowspan=2|{{flag|German Empire}}

|rowspan=2|Kaiserliche Marine

|SMS

|Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)

SMU

|Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (His Majesty's Submarine)

{{flag|Nazi Germany}}

|Kriegsmarine

|KMS / DKM (No Official Prefix)

|Kriegsmarine Schiffe/Deutsche Kriegsmarine (Navy Ship/German Navy)

{{FRG}}

|Bundesmarine

|FGS

|Federal German Ship (NATO designation); Only used for international identification and never used internally.{{Cite web |url=https://mc.nato.int/resources/site1/general/operations/osg/fgs%20hessen%20factsheet.pdf |title=FGS Hessen factsheet |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026222530/https://mc.nato.int/resources/site1/general/operations/osg/fgs%20hessen%20factsheet.pdf }}

{{GDR}}

|Volksmarine

|

|

{{GER}}

|German Navy

|FGS

|Federal German Ship (NATO designation); Only used for international identification and never used internally.

{{flag|Kingdom of Greece}}

|Royal Hellenic Navy

|VP ({{langx|el|ΒΠ}})

|"Royal Ship" ({{langx|el|Βασιλικόν Πλοίον|translit=Vassilikón Ploíon}}); Some English Language authors uses RHNS for Royal Hellenic Navy Ship or HHMS for His Hellenic Majesty's Ship.

{{GRC}}

|Hellenic Navy

|HS

|Hellenic Ship (NATO designation); Only used for international identification, as prefix indicates ship type internally.

{{GUY}}

|Guyanese Coast Guard{{cite web|url=http://www.gdf-gy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=86|title=About the Coast Guard|date=4 September 2008|access-date=21 March 2010|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717144803/http://www.gdf-gy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=86|archive-date=17 July 2010}}

|GDFS

|Guyanese Defence Forces Ship

{{flag|Kingdom of Hawaii}}

|Hawaiian Navy

|HHMS

|His Hawaiian Majesty's Ship; the only one being Kaimiloa

{{ISL}}

|Icelandic Coast Guard

|ICGV (Icelandic: VS)

|Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:Varðskip)

rowspan=2|{{IND}}

|Indian Coast Guard

|ICGS

|Indian Coast Guard Ship

Indian Navy

|INS

|Indian Naval Ship

rowspan="12" |{{IDN}}

| rowspan="3" |Indonesian Navy

|RI

|Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia). Obsolete prefix used until 1960s.{{cite book|title=Jalesveva Jayamahe|location=Jakarta|publisher=Djawatan Penerangan Angkatan Laut (Indonesian Navy Information Service)|year=1960|url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Jalesveva_Jayamahe_%28full_book%29.pdf|language=ID}}

KRI

|Kapal Republik Indonesia (Ship of the Republic of Indonesia)

KAL

|Kapal Angkatan Laut (Navy Ship). For small boats which length is less than 36 m.

rowspan="2" |Indonesian Army

|ADRI

|Angkatan Darat Republik Indonesia (Indonesian Army)

AD

|Angkatan Darat (Army). For combat boats.

Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard Unit

| rowspan="2" |KN

| rowspan="2" |Kapal Negara (State Ship)

Indonesian Maritime Security Agency
Indonesian Water and Aviation Police Corps

|KP

|Kapal Polisi (Police Ship)

Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance

|KP

|Kapal Pengawas (Overseer Ship)

National Search and Rescue Agency

|KN SAR

|Kapal Negara (State Ship) Search and Rescue

Directorate General of Customs and Excise

|BC

|Bea Cukai (Customs–Excise)

Directorate of Sea Traffic

|KM

|Kapal Motor (Motor Vessel)

{{flag|Imperial Iran}}

|Imperial Iranian Navy

|IIS{{cite book|editor-last=Moore|editor-first=John|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80|year=1979|publisher=Jane's Yearbooks|location=London|isbn=0-354-00587-1|page=253}}

|Imperial Iranian Ship ({{langx|fa|ناو شاهنشاهی ایران}})

{{IRN}}

|Islamic Republic of Iran Navy

|IRIS{{cite web|first=Mrityunjoy|last=Mazumdar|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/iranian-navy-upgrades-alborz-frigate-with-new-combat-systems|title=Iranian navy upgrades Alborz frigate with new combat systems|date=8 January 2020|access-date=1 August 2020|work=Janes.com}}

|Islamic Republic of Iran ship ({{langx|fa|ناو جمهوری اسلامی ایران}})

rowspan=2|{{IRL}}

|Irish Naval Service

|LÉ

|Long Éireannach (Irish ship)

Commissioners of Irish Lights

|ILV

|Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)

{{ISR}}

|Israeli Sea Corps

|INS

|Israeli Naval Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam – Sea Corps Ship)

rowspan=2| {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}

|rowspan=2|Regia Marina

|RN

|Regia Nave – Royal Ship

R.Smg.

|Regio Sommergibile – Royal Submarine

{{ITA}}

|Marina Militare

|ITS

|Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes

{{JAM}}

|Jamaica Defence Force

|HMJS

|His Majesty's Jamaican Ship

{{flag|Empire of Japan}}

|Imperial Japanese Navy

|HIJMS (obsolete) / IJN (unofficial)

|His Imperial Japanese Majesty Ship (Used externally, between the Meiji Era and the Washington Naval Treaty. Though abandoned later on, Japanese vessels were still referred as such during World War II. The unofficial name IJN stands for "Imperial Japanese Navy" is frequently used in various sources and media.

{{JPN}}

|Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

|JDS or JS

|Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship

{{KEN}}

|Kenyan Navy

|KNS

|Kenyan Naval Ship

{{KIR}}

|Kiribati Police Force

|RKS

|Republic of Kiribati Ship

{{PRK}}

|Korean People's Navy

|(No Official Prefix)

|Does not use any prefixes at all, either for international identification or for ship type indication.

{{KUW}}

|Kuwait Naval Force

|KNS

|Kuwait Navy Ship

{{flag|Korean Empire}}

|Imperial Korean Navy

|KIS

|Korean Imperial Ship

{{KOR}}

|Republic of Korea Navy

|ROKS

|Republic of Korea Ship

{{LVA}}

|Latvian Navy

|LVNS

|Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)

rowspan="2"|{{LTU}}

|rowspan="2"|Lithuanian Navy

|LKL

|Lietuvos Karinis Laivas (Lithuanian Military Ship)

LNS

|Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)

rowspan="3" |{{MYS}}

| rowspan="2" |Royal Malaysian Navy

|KD

|Kapal Di-Raja – His Majesty's Ship, literal: Royal Ship.

KLD

|Kapal Layar Di-Raja - His Majesty's Sailing Ship, literal: Royal Sailing Ship. (Used by KLD Tunas Samudera)

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

|KM

|Kapal Maritim – Maritime Ship

{{MHL}}

|Marshall Islands Police

|RMIS

|Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship

{{FSM}}

|FSM National Police

|FSM

|Federated States of Micronesia

{{MEX}}

|Armada de México

|ARM

|Armada de la República Mexicana (Navy of the Republic of Mexico)

{{MMR}}

|Myanmar Navy

|UMS

|Union of Myanmar Ship ({{langx|my|Myanmar Sit Yay Yin}})

{{NAM}}

|Namibian Navy

|NS

|Namibian Ship

{{NLD}}

|Royal Netherlands Navy

|HNLMS ({{langx|nl|Zr.Ms./Hr.Ms.}})

|His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship ({{langx|nl|Zijner/Harer Majesteits}})

{{NZL}}

|Royal New Zealand Navy

|HMNZS

|His Majesty's New Zealand Ship

{{NGA}}

|Nigerian Navy

|NNS

|Nigerian Naval Ship

rowspan=4|{{NOR}}

|rowspan=2|Royal Norwegian Navy

|HNoMS ({{langx|no|KNM}})

|His Norwegian Majesty's Ship ({{langx|no|Kongelige Norske Marine}}), in use since 1946.

HNoMY ({{langx|no|KS}})

|His Norwegian Majesty's Yacht ({{langx|no|Kongenskipet}}). The only vessel with the prefix, {{ship|HNoMY|Norge

6}}, is owned by the King but crewed by his Navy since 1948.
King of Norway

|KSJ

|King's Sloop {{langx|no|Kongesjaluppen}} Used on two small motorised pleasure vessels named {{ship|KSJ|Stjernen|I|2}} & {{ship

Stjernen|II}} owned by the King from 1899-1940 and 1945-present.
Norwegian Coast Guard

|NoCGV ({{langx|no|KV}})

|Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel ({{langx|no|Kystvakten}})

{{OMN}}

|Royal Navy of Oman

|SNV

|Sultanate Naval Vessel

rowspan=2|{{PAK}}

|Pakistan Navy

|PNS

|Pakistan Naval Ship

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency

|PMSS

|Pakistan Maritime Security Ship

{{PLW}}

|Palau Police

|PSS

|Palau State Ship

{{PNG}}

|Papua New Guinea Defence Force

|HMPNGS

|His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship

{{PAR}}

|Paraguayan Navy

|ARP

|Armada de la República del Paraguay (Navy of the Republic of Paraguay)

rowspan=2|{{PER}}

|rowspan=2|Peruvian Navy

|BAP

|Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana), Since 1921

BIC

|Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: Buque de Investigación Científica)

rowspan=2|{{PHL}}

|rowspan=2|Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

|BRP

|Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas; in use since 1 July 1980
(Ship of the Republic of the Philippines)

RPS

|Republic of the Philippines Ship (Obsolete); before 1 July 1980

{{POL}}

|Polish Navy

|ORP

|Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
(Warship of the Republic of Poland)

rowspan=3|{{POR}}

|rowspan=3|Marinha Portuguesa

|NRP

|Navio da República Portuguesa (Ship of the Portuguese Republic)

PNS

|Portuguese Navy Ship (NATO designation); Never used internally.

UAM

|Unidade Auxiliar da Marinha – Navy Auxiliary Unit (used by non-military ships of Portuguese Navy)

{{flag|Prussia}}

|Prussian Navy

|SMS

|Seiner Majestät Schiff (His Majesty's Ship)

{{flag|Kingdom of Romania}}

|Royal Romanian Navy

|NMS

|Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship)

rowspan=2|{{ROM}}

|rowspan=2|Romanian Navy

|ROS

|Romanian Ship (NATO designation); Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.

SMR

|Serviciul Maritim Român (Romanian Maritime Service); used by transport ships

{{flag|Russian Empire}}

|Imperial Russian Navy

|(No Official Prefix)

|Some authors use "HIRMS" for "His Imperial Russian Majesty's Ship" to identify them.

{{RUS}}

|Russian Navy

|RFS

|Russian Federation Ship (NATO designation; Prefixes are for international identification only and never used internally.

{{SAU}}

|Saudi Navy

|HMS

|His Majesty's Ship (Same as the Royal Navy)

{{SGP}}

|Republic of Singapore Navy

|RSS

|Republic of Singapore Ship

{{SVN}}

|Slovenian Navy

|SNS

|Slovenian Naval Ship (NATO prefix)

{{SOL}}

|Royal Solomon Islands Police

|RSIPV

|Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel

rowspan=2|{{RSA}}

|rowspan=2|South African Navy

|SAS

|South African Ship/Suid-Afrikaanse Skip (previously HMSAS – His/Her Majesty's South African Ship)

SATS

|South African Training Ship

{{USSR}}

|Soviet Navy

|(No Official Prefix)

|Some authors use "USSRS" for "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Ship" ({{langx|ru|Корабль Союза Советских Социалистических Республик}}).{{cite web|url=http://myplace.frontier.com/~wellsbrothers/Battleships/SovietBBtable.html|title=Russian and Soviet Navy Battleships|work=frontier.com|access-date=23 September 2015}}

{{ESP}}

|Armada Española

|ESPS Buque de la A

|Spanish Navy Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally. ESPN or SPS are no longer used)

rowspan=2| {{LKA}}

|Sri Lankan Navy

|SLNS

|Sri Lanka Naval Ship

Sri Lanka Coast Guard

|SLCG

|Sri Lanka Coast Guard

rowspan=2|{{SWE}}

|Swedish Navy

|HMS (English: HSwMS)

|Hans/Hennes Majestäts Skepp (His/Her Majesty's Ship)
HSwMS (His/Her Swedish Majesty's Ship) is used in English to avoid confusion with Royal Navy ships

Swedish Coast Guard

|KBV

|Swedish Coast Guard Vessel (Swedish: Kustbevakningen)

{{ROC-TW}}

|Republic of China Navy

|ROCS

|Republic of China Ship; CNS for "Chinese Navy Ship" was used before 1949

{{THA}}

|Royal Thai Navy

|HTMS

|His Thai Majesty's Ship

{{TLS}}

|Timor Leste Defense Force

|NRTL

|Navio da República de Timor Leste (Ship of the Timor Leste Republic)

{{TON}}

|Tonga Defence Services

|VOEA

|Vaka O Ene Afio (His Majesty's Vessel)

{{TUR}}

|Turkish Navy

|TCG

|Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi.)

{{TUV}}

|Tuvalu Police Force

|HMTSS

|His/Her Majesty's Tuvalu Surveillance Ship{{citation|title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World|year=2002|publisher=Naval Institute Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ow-AQAAIAAJ|page=848|isbn=978-1-55750-242-1 }}{{citation|title=Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook|year=2002|publisher=Perth Corporation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OI-AQAAIAAJ|page=1754|isbn=978-1-892998-06-4 }}

{{TTO}}

|Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force

|TTS

|Trinidad and Tobago Ship

rowspan="29" |{{UK}}

|Ships carrying mail

|RMS

|Royal Mail Steamer/Ship

Cable ship

|HMTV

|His Majesty's Telegraph Vessel

Motor Ship

|MS

|Motor Ship. Cruise ships such as the MS Queen Elizabeth, which do not carry post

Fishery protection vessels

|FPV

|Fisheries Protection Vessel

Royal Air Force

|HMAFV

|His Majesty's Air Force Vessel (not currently in use)

Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships

|RFA

|Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Royal Maritime Auxiliary
Service ships

|RMAS

|Royal Maritime Auxiliary Ship (now obsolete)

Royal Naval Auxiliary Service

|XSV

|Auxiliary Service Vessel (now obsolete)

rowspan=11|Royal Navy

|HM Sloop

|His Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete)

HMS

|His Majesty's Ship/Submarine

HMSm

|His Majesty's Submarine (not currently in use)

HMT

|Hired Military Transport{{cite web

|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/dunera/index.html

|title=1941 Dunera Boys Hay Internment Camp Collection |publisher=NSW Migration Heritage Centre

|access-date=8 March 2020}} (not currently in use)
His Majesty's Transport/Troopship/Trawler/Tug{{Cite web |title=Glossary |last1=Clark |first1=D |last2=Others |website=211squadron.org |date=31 July 2017 |access-date=10 January 2021 |url= http://www.211squadron.org/glossary.html}}

HMAV

|His Majesty's Armed Vessel{{cite web|url=http://www.pilotesbsl.qc.ca/en/ship/acronyms.php|title=List of Acronyms Preceding the Name of a Ship|date=22 March 2010|access-date=22 March 2010|archive-date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201722/http://www.pilotesbsl.qc.ca/en/ship/acronyms.php}} (not currently in use)

HMY

|His Majesty's Yacht (not currently in use)

HMMGB

|His Majesty's Motor Gun Boat (not currently in use)

HMM

|His Majesty's Monitor (not currently in use)

HMSML

|His Majesty's Survey Motor Launch

HBMS

|His Britannic Majesty's Ship (archaic)

HM

|His Majesty's, then used with the type of ship in military use (e.g. "HM Trawler" or "HM Rescue Tug")

Hospital Ships

|HMHS

|His Majesty's Hospital Ship

Joint Services Sail Training Yachts (JSASTC)

|HMSTC

|His/Her Majesty's Sail Training Craft

Trinity House

|THV

|Trinity House Vessel (Lighthouse and Buoy Tender)

Northern Lighthouse Board

|NLV

|Northern Lighthouse Vessel (Lighthouse tender)

Commissioners of Irish Lights

|ILV

|Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)

rowspan=2|British Army

|HMAV

|His/Her Majesty's Army VesselHabesch, The Army's Navy, p. 154

British Army

|RCLV

|Royal Corps of Logistics Vessel (not currently in use)

Government research ships

|RRS

|Royal Research Ship

HM Revenue and Customs/Border Force

|HMCC, HMC

|His Majesty's Customs Cutter shortened to His Majesty's Cutter after being transferred to Border Force

HM Customs and Excise (replaced by HMRC, above)

|HMRC

|His Majesty's Revenue Cutter (not used since 18 April 2005). Also His Majesty's Revenue Cruiser (as per HMRC Vigilant 1947. Not used since ca. 1960)

rowspan=26|{{USA}}

|United States Air Force

|USAF, USAFS

|United States Air Force ship (not currently in use)

rowspan=2|United States Army (modern)

|USAS

|United States Army Ship (modern)

USAV

|United States Army Vessel (modern)

rowspan=7|United States Army (historical)
USAT

|United States Army Transport (large Army owned bareboat chartered troop or cargo transports, not in use after 1950)

USACT

|United States Army Chartered Transport (usage WW I only for time or voyage chartered ships; eg: Artemis 1917—1919)

USAMP

|U.S. Army Mine Planter (not currently in use)

USAJMP

|U.S. Army Junior Mine Planter (not currently in use)

U.S. Army

|Vessels not otherwise designated: tugs, FS, Q, P etc. (not currently in use)

USAHS

|United States Army Hospital Ship (not currently in use)

rowspan=4|United States Navy

|USF

|United States Frigate (obsolete)

USFS

|United States Flagship (obsolete)

USS

|United States Ship – Commissioned warships only.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}}

USNV

|United States Naval Vessel (Small utility vessels, not MSC, operated by local commands){{cite web |url=https://www.neco.navy.mil/synopsis/detail.aspx?id=365391 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025800/https://www.neco.navy.mil/synopsis/detail.aspx?id=365391 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=Dry Dock and overhaul of USNV Battle Point YTT-10 |last=Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) |date=25 July 2012 |publisher=Navy Electronic Business Opportunities |access-date=7 April 2015}}

|U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC)

|USNS

|United States Naval Ship (USN-owned, civilian crews)

rowspan=2|United States Coast Guard

|USCGC

|United States Coast Guard Cutter

USCGD

|United States Coast Guard Destroyer (not currently in use)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|NOAAS

|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ship

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey

|USC&GS

|United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (obsolete); occasionally a second "S" for "survey ship" was used

United States Environmental Protection Agency

|US EPA

|United States Environmental Protection Agency; no "S" for "ship" is used

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries

|USFC

|United States Fish Commission (obsolete); commonly used informal name for the Commission; no "S" for "ship" was used

United States Bureau of Fisheries

|USFS

|United States Fisheries Service (obsolete); alternative informal name for the Bureau; no "S" for "ship" was used

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

|US FWS

|United States Fish and Wildlife Service; no "S" for "ship" used

United States Lighthouse Service

|USLHT

|United States Lighthouse Tender (obsolete)

United States Public Health Service

|USPHS

|United States Public Health Service; no "S" for "ship" used

United States Revenue-Marine (1790–1894) and United States Revenue Cutter Service (1894-1915)

|USRC

|United States Revenue Cutter (obsolete)

{{URY}}

|Uruguayan Navy

|ROU

|República Oriental del Uruguay

{{UKR}}

|Ukrainian Navy

|UNS

|Ukrainian Navy Ship

{{VAN}}

|Vanuatu Police Force

|RVS

|Republic of Vanuatu Ship

rowspan=3|{{VEN}}

|rowspan=3|Venezuelan Navy

|FNV

|Fuerzas Navales de Venezuela Not in use since 1949

ARV

|Armada República de Venezuela Not in use 1999

ARBV

|Armada República Bolivariana de Venezuela

{{VNM}}

|Vietnam People's Navy

|VPNS

|Vietnam People's Navy Ship. The Vietnam People's Navy does not internally and formally use this designation despite its unofficial but frequent usage by foreign media at international events. Since a major portion of the Vietnamese fleet is not named literally and only has standardized non-prefixed hull numbers, the VPNS prefix is sometimes used with the ship's hull number (for example, VPNS 20){{Cite web |last=Minh Anh |first=Ngọc Hưng |title=This is how troops take aerial photographs of warships in formation at LIMA 2023 |url=https://en.qdnd.vn/photos/this-is-how-troops-take-aerial-photography-of-warships-in-formation-at-lima-2023-552870 |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=People's Army Newspaper |language=en}} to make it look cosmetically more synchronous and consistent with other navies' prefixed ship names in international activities.

{{flag|South Vietnam}}

|Republic of Vietnam Navy

|RVNS

|Republic of Vietnam Navy Ship or Republic of Viet-Nam Ship (obsolete)

{{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}

|Royal Yugoslav Navy

|KB

|{{langx|sr|Краљевски брод|translit=Kraljevski brod}} (English: Royal Ship)

rowspan=12|{{flag|Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}
{{flag|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia}}
{{flag|Serbia and Montenegro}}

|rowspan=12|Jugoslovenska Ratna Mornarica JRM (English: Yugoslavia war navy) Yugoslav Navy 1969–1992

Ratna Mornarica Vojske Jugoslavije RМVЈ (English: War navy of Yugoslavia Armed Forces) 1992–2003

|RTOP

|Raketna Topovnjača or Ракетна Топовњача (English: Rocket gunship), named by Yugoslavia peoples heroes

RČ

|Raketni Čamac or Ракетни Чамац (English: Rocket boat), 1969–1992, named by Yugoslavia peoples heroes

VPBR

|Veliki Patrolni Brod or Велики Патролни Брод (English: Big patrol ship), 1969–1992, named by Yugoslavia coastal towns

TČ

|Torpedni Čamac or Торпедни Чамац (English: Torpedo boat), 1969–1992

PČ

|Patrolni Čamac or Патролни Чамац (English: Patrol boat), 1969–1992, named by mountains

PO

|Pomoćni Oružar or Помоћни Оружар (English: Auxiliary аrmourer), 1969–1992

RML

|Rečni minolovac or Речни миноловац (English: River minesweepers), 1969–1992, named by places of WWII battles

RPB

|Rečni patrolni brod or Речни патролни брод (English: River patrol boat), 1969–1992

P

|Podmornica or Подморница (English: Submarine), 1969–1992, named by rivers or human qualities

RЕ

|Razarač Eskortni or Разарач Ескортни (English: Escort destroyer), 1969–1992

PT

|Pomoćni transportni or Помоћни транспортни (English: Auxiliary transport), 1969–1992

DČ

|Desantni čamci or Десантни чамци (English: Landing craft), 1969–1992

= Prefix conventions =

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 in 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.Circulaire Zeemacht 1569cc (1988). Since King Willem-Alexander succeeded Queen Beatrix on 30 April 2013, "Hr.Ms." is replaced by "Zr.Ms.".

In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.{{cite web |title= What are Ship Prefixes for Naval and Merchant Vessels?

|last = Dasgupta

|first = Soumyajit

|url =http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/marine-news/headline/what-are-ship-prefixes-for-naval-and-merchant-vessels/

|access-date=25 August 2014}}

In the United States, all prefixes other than "USS", "USNS", "USNV", and "USRC" were made obsolete in 1901, when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive order fixing American naval nomenclature.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the United States Lifesaving Service to become the United States Coast Guard in 1915.{{sfn|United States Coast Guard Historian's Office}} USLHT also was replaced by USCGC when the United States Lighthouse Service became a part of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. USC&GS was replaced by NOAAS when the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey merged with other U.S. Government scientific agencies to form the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1970. USFC was replaced by USFS when the United States Commission on Fish and Fisheries was reorganized as the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries in 1903, and USFS in turn was replaced in 1940 by US FWS when the Bureau of Fisheries merged with the United States Department of the Interior's Division of Biological Survey to form the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service (which in 1956 was reorganized as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service). Seagoing ships Fish and Wildlife Service ships with the prefix US FWS that were transferred to NOAA when NOAA was created in 1970 switched to the NOAAS prefix.

A United States Navy ship that is not in active commission does not hold the title of United States Ship with simply the name without prefix used before and after commissioned service.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} Vessels, such as yard and harbor craft that are not commissioned and "in service" are officially referred to by name or hull number without prefix.{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} Prior to commissioning, ships may be described as a pre-commissioning unit or PCU; for example, USS Gerald R. Ford was described as the "pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford" prior to her commissioning in 2017.{{cite press release |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=74667 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110141438/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=74667 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2013 |agency=Navy News Service |title=PCU Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Welcomes 60 New Crew Members |id=NNS130606-12 |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=24 July 2016}}{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}} Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian crewed ships "in service" are given the prefix United States Naval Ship (USNS).{{sfn|Naval History And Heritage Command}}

When it is stricken from the fleet list, a ship typically has the prefix "ex-" added to its name, to distinguish it from any active ships bearing the same name. For example, after USS Constellation (CV-64) was retired in 2003, she became referred to as ex-Constellation.

In science fiction

Fictional equivalents of tri-letter prefixes frequently appear in English-language science fiction works, applied to seafaring and spaceborne ships alike.

  • Star Trek – the United Federation of Planets uses the prefix "USS" for its starships. Dialogue in earlier episodes of the series indicated that it referred to "United Space Ship".Star Trek episode "Space Seed", Season 1 Ep 22, scene with McCoy and Khan in sickbay (1967-02-16). In the alternate "Mirror Universe", the Terran Empire use an "ISS" prefix instead. Other races use different prefixes for their ships:
  • Klingons use IKS (Imperial Klingon Ship) or IKC (Imperial Klingon Cruiser).
  • Romulan vessels typically receive the prefix IRW (Imperial Romulan Warbird), or RIS where some speculate that it means "Romulan Imperial Ship", and ChR. (ChR is from novelist Diane Duane's imagining of the Star Trek Universe, in which the Romulans refer to their home planet as "Ch'Rihan". Though Duane's version has a loyal following among many fans, it is not considered official Star Trek canon; similarly, the Ferengi designation of FMS, and the Cardassian CDS, are also not canon.)
  • Star Wars – The Galactic Empire sometimes uses the prefix ISD for Imperial Star Destroyer.
  • Babylon 5 – The Earth Alliance uses the prefix "EAS" for "Earth Alliance Ship". Some fan material also uses it for "Earth Alliance Station".
  • Elite: Dangerous – The Federation uses the prefix "FNS" (Federal Naval Ship) for some military ships. The Empire uses "INV" (Imperial Naval Vessel). The alliance uses "ADF" (Alliance Defense Force).
  • Firefly – Vessels in the Union of Allied Planets fleet are given the prefix "IAV", for Interstellar Alliance Vessel.
  • Wing Commander – The Terran Confederation uses TCS (Terran Confederation Ship) for its vessels.
  • Halo – United Nations Space Command spacecraft use the prefix "UNSC". The Covenant use three letter designations for ship class such as CAS or CSO
  • Mass Effect – features several prefixes, primarily "SSV" for "Systems Alliance space vehicle"In-Game Codex, entry for SSV Normandy. and "MSV" for "Merchant Space Vehicle", used on numerous human commercial ships, as well as "PFS" for a Turian Hierarchy naval craft, and a freighter AML Demeter of unknown affiliation.
  • Dead Space – "USG", standing for "United Spacefaring Guild", which oversees civilian spacecraft operation, including the planet-cracker class leader USG Ishimura of the Concordance Extraction Corporation; "USM" for the Earth Defense Force of EarthGov; and "CMS" for its predecessor, the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces.
  • StarCraft: Brood War – The United Earth Directorate uses DSS (presumably for Directorate Space Ship, e. g. DSS Aleksander); the Terran Confederacy used CSF (Confederate Space Fleet, e. g. CSF Ragnorak) for their battlecruisers.
  • Killzone – The Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) uses "ISC", for Interplanetary Strategic Cruiser.
  • The Moon is a Harsh Mistress – The Federated Nations use "FNS", presumably meaning "Federated Nations Ship".
  • Alien – The ships use prefix "USCSS" for "United States Cargo SpaceShip" on the Nostromo, Prometheus, and Covenant.
  • The Lost Fleet – The Alliance use the prefix "ASN" for "Allied Systems Navy" (or possibly "Alliance of Systems Navy"), the Syndicate Worlds do not use prefixes.
  • CoDominium – CoDominium vessels use the prefix "CDS" for CoDominium Ship.
  • "Honorverse" – The Manticoran kingdom uses "HMS" as a prefix, the Graysons use "GNS"(Grayson Navy Ship), and the Havenite ships use "PNS" (People's Navy Ship) and later "RHNS" (Republic of Haven Navy Ship), being reflections of actual ship prefixing traditions, and mirroring the Napoleonic wars. The Solarian League uses "SLNS" (Solarian League Navy Ship) and the Andermani Empire uses "IANS" for Imperial Andermani Navy Ship.
  • The Culture – Ships are identified by a three-letter prefix denoting class (such as GSV for "General Systems Vehicle" or ROU for "Rapid Offensive Unit"), followed by their personal name.
  • The Expanse – Ships of the United Nations Navy use the prefix "UNN," while ships of the Martian Congressional Republic Navy are prefixed with "MCRN". The Nauvoo, a generation ship commissioned by the Church of Latter Day Saints was prefixed with "LDSS" for "Latter Day Saints' Ship", and later changed to "OPAS" and re-christened as the "OPAS Behemoth" representing the Outer Planets Alliance.
  • Unreal Tournament – Ships mentioned there have prefixes such as ITV ("Interstellar Transport Vessel", the first non-tutorial match in the tournament happens on board of ITV Oblivion) and ISV ("Interstellar Science Vessel", ship's name being ISV-Kran from Unreal).
  • Unreal: Return to Na Pali – ISV (ISV-Kran) and UMS ("Unified Military Services", a prefix for warships).
  • The Orville—The Planetary Union uses the prefix "USS", presumably for "Union Space Ship" (in homage to Star Trek).
  • Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon - The Terran Empire uses the prefix RLS, which stands for Royal Light Ship; this is also a direct homage to Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the original Treasure Island. The Procyon Expanse uses the prefix PSR, which stands for Procyon Star Runner.
  • Destroyermen - the Grand Alliance uses the "USS" prefix, since all Allied warships are run by the Americaan (sic) Clan. The Alliance's only airship is given the prefix "UHAS" (United Homes Air Ship). The Empire of New Britain Isles uses "HIMS" (His/Her Imperial Majesty's Ship). The Republic of Real People uses "RRPS" (Republic of Real People Ship). The New United States uses "NUSS" (New United States Ship). Neither the Holy Dominion nor the League of Tripoli use prefixes, although the KMS Hessen is mentioned once, it is not clear if the prefix is internally used or not.
  • Titanfall - The Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation, the main antagonists of the series, use the "IMS" prefix. The origin of this prefix is unknown.
  • FreeSpace - Various ship prefixes are used depending on the species, faction allegiance, and class of the vehicle. Prominent examples include: "GT" and "GV" for "Galactic Terran" and "Galactic Vasudan" respectively, "NT" for "Neo-Terran," "PV" for "Parliamentary Vasudan," and just "S" for "Shivan." These are then further supplemented with a type of ship identifier following the species and faction prefixes, such as "B" for "Bomber," "C" for "Cruiser," "Cv" for "Corvette," "D" for "Destroyer," and "F" for "Fighter," among many examples. As such, "PVD" would indicate a "Parliamentary Vasudan Destroyer," "NTF" would indicate a "Neo-Terran Fighter," "GTC" would indicate a "Galactic Terran Cruiser", "GVCv" would indicate a "Galactic Vasudan Corvette," and "SB" would indicate a "Shivan Bomber."
  • "Helldivers 2" - "SES" is used for "Super Earth Ship"

References

{{reflist|22em}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite web

|title = Ship naming in the United States Navy

|date = 6 January 2015

|department = Naval History and Heritage Command

|publisher = United States Navy

|url = http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html

|access-date = 7 April 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150617070146/http://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/ship-naming.html

|archive-date = 17 June 2015

|ref = {{sfnref|Naval History And Heritage Command}}

}}

  • {{cite web

|title = Frequently Asked Questions

|date = 5 January 2015

|series = Coast Guard History

|department = USCG Historian's Office

|publisher = United States Coast Guard

|url = http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/when.asp

|access-date = 7 April 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170517094004/https://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/when.asp

|archive-date = 17 May 2017

|ref = {{sfnref|United States Coast Guard Historian's Office}}

}}

{{refend}}

External links

{{Commons category|Ship prefixes}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20150620072159/http://seawaves.com/port-visits-2/prefixes/ Warship National Prefixes]