SHIP PENNANT DESIGNATIONS OF GRAYS HARBOR
All ships registered in the Kingdom and Commonwealth, since 1885, share a designation system of letters and numbers for pennant and hull based on ship type. Prior to the Fleet Reorganization of 1885, ships carried a random 3 digit number for use, a number which could change many times throughout the life of the ship. Since 1885 all ships within each classification have been numbered sequentially based on the authorization date of the vessel, the availability of numbers, or entrance to the Royal Navy (if purchased after completion).
A –AUXILLERY (Naval Auxiliaries 1885- 1907; RFA from 1907)
B – BATTLESHIP
C – CRUISER (Protected & Armoured Cruisers 1885-1925; All Cruisers after 1925)
D – DESTROYER
E – 3rd Rate CRUISERS (1885-1925)
E – FLEET ESCORT (1925-57)
F – FRIGATE (Since 1933)
G – GUNBOAT (Obsolete, merged with P & V classifications in 1962)
H – HOSPITAL SHIPS (1885-1907, RFA after 1907)
H –MERCHANT NAVY VESSELS (Since 1933. The Merchant Navy also adds a 2nd letter for internal class designations- see below)
I – BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES VESSELS (The BoL also adds a 2nd letter for internal class designations- see below)
J – CIVILIAN NON-COMMERCIAL & PRIVATE MOTOR YACHTS (Since 1933. Vessels over 20 tons only are required to register.)
K – COAST GUARD VESSELS (The Coast Guard also adds a 2nd letter for internal class designations- see below)
L – AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE SHIPS
M – MINE WARFARE (sweeper/hunter)
N – BATTLECRUISER
O – OCEANOGRAPHIC BUREAU VESSELS (The OB also adds a 2nd letter for internal class designations- see below)
P – MOTOR PATROL BOATS (IPV)
Q – INTELLIGENCE
R – SCOUT CRUISER (1885-1925, Cruisers reassigned to the C designation, Aircraft Carriers retained the R)
R – AIRCRAFT CARRIER (Since 1925)
S – SUBMARINE
T – TORPEDO BOAT (1885-1921)
T - TRAINING VESSELS (Split from A classification in 1921. All training vessels were transferred to the RFA in 1963.)
U – MINE WARFARE (layer)
V – CORVETTE (OPV)
W – NAVAL WEATHER SHIP (1885-1950)
X – MOBILE PICKET PLATFORM
Y – HARBOUR CRAFT & MISCELLANEOUS
Z – NAVAL AIRSHIPS
ROYAL FLEET AUXILLERY
RFA ships share the letter designation A, and are differentiated by a numbering series starting with 0000 and going up to 9999. Each ship type is assigned a specific block of numbers. Unlike the navy, ships are not numbered sequentially, numbers being assigned as available, with most being reused after ships are retired.
0001 - 0099 – ROYAL YACHT
0100 - 0199 – HOSPITAL SHIP
0300 - 0399 TRAINING SHIP
1000 – 1099 TENDER, DESTROYER
1100 – 1199 TENDER, MOTOR PATROL BOAT
1200 – 1299 TENDER, SUBMARINE
1300 - 1349 TENDER, AIRSHIP (obsolete - 1948)
1350 – 1399 TENDER, SEAPLANE (Obsolete - 1967)
1400 – 1499 DECK SHIP
2000 – 2299 TRANSPORT. TROOP
2300 – 2399 TRANSPORT, RO-RO, EQUIPMENT
2400 – 2499 TRANSPORT SHIP, FLO/FLO
2500 – 2799 TRANSPORT, GENERAL/DRY CARGO
2800 – 2899 TRANSPORT, CONTAINER SHIP
2900 – 2999 TRANSPORT, AIRCRAFT
3000 – 3199 LANDING STORES SHIP
3200 – 3399 COMBAT STORES SHIP
3400 – 3499 AMMUNITION STORES SHIP
3500 - 3799 COLLIER (Obsolete - 1952)
3500 – 3699 DOCK/LASH SHIP (Since 1960)
3800 – 3999 FLEET OILER
4000 – 4299 FORWARD REPAIR SHIP
4300 – 4399 SALVAGE VESSEL
4400 – 4499 AIRCRAFT REPAIR SHIP, FORWARD
4500 - 4599 AVIATION LOGISTICS SHIP
5000 - 5299 HARBOUR TUG
5300 – 5499 FLEET TUG
5500 – 5549 CRANE SHIP
5550 – 5559 RECEIVING/ACCOMODATIONS SHIP
5600 – 5899 HARBOUR LIGHTER
5900 – 5999 FLOATING DRYDOCK
6000 – 6099 ICEBREAKER
7000 - 7200 FAST COMBAT SUPPORT SHIP
9000 – 9999 MISCELLANEOUS CLASSIFICATION
ROYAL OCEANOGRAPHIC BUREAU
Vessels are numbered sequentially within their classification based upon the commissioning date.
OF – FISHERIES VESSEL
OR – OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH VESSEL
OS – SURVEY VESSEL
OW – WEATHER SHIP
BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES
Numbers are assigned at random within each classification. The number can be from 2 to 6 digits, depending on the class.
IB – BUOY TENDER, OCEAN-GOING
IC – BUOY TENDER, COASTAL
IL – LIGHTSHIP
IR – BUOY TENDER, INLAND
COAST GUARD
Numbers are assigned at random within each classification. The number can be from 2 to 6 digits, depending on the class.
KC – PILOT BOAT
KD - SMALL CRAFT, MISCELLANEOUS
KF – HARBOR TUG
KH – HIGH ENDURANCE CUTTER
KK – REPAIR & TENDER
KM – MEDIUM ENDURANCE CUTTER
KP – PATROL & CUSTOMS
KS – SEARCH & RESCUE
KT – TRAINING SHIP
MERCHANT NAVY
The letter designation + a 7 digit number serve as the official registration number of each ship, and stays with the vessel until retired.
HA – LESS THAN 500 TONS GROSS
HB – 501 TO 4999 TONS GROSS
HC – 5000 TO 11999 TONS GROSS
HD – 12000 AND OVER TONS GROSS
HT – MERCHANT NAVY ACADEMY VESSELS
(note: As with anything I do, this is subject to future modification)
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