List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

This is a list of auxiliaries of the United States Navy. It covers the various types of ships that support the frontline combat vessels of the United States Navy.

USS Shasta (AE-33, left), USS Kiska (AE-35, right), USS Flint (AE-32, rear) in 2005
Ships of the
United States Navy
Ships in current service
Ships grouped alphabetically
Ships grouped by type

Ship status is indicated as either currently active [A] (including ready reserve), inactive [I], or precommissioning [P]. Ships in the inactive category include only ships in the inactive reserve, ships which have been disposed from US service have no listed status. Ships in the precommissioning category include ships under construction or on order.

Crane Ships (AB)Edit

Colliers (AC)Edit

Auxiliary Minelayers (ACM)Edit

Auxiliary Crane Ships (T-ACS)Edit

Gopher State-class

Other classes

Auxiliary Aircraft Carriers (ACV)Edit

The Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV) were redesignated Escort aircraft carriers (CVE).

Destroyer Tenders (AD)Edit

Altair-class

Dixie-class

Cascade-class

Hamul-class

Klondike-class

Shenandoah-class

Alcor-class

Samuel Gompers-class

Yellowstone-class

Degaussing Ships (ADG)Edit

Ammunition Ships (AE)Edit

Lassen-class

Mount Hood-class

Fomalhaut-class

Suribachi-class

Nitro-class

Andromeda-class

Kilauea-class

Auxiliary floating drydockEdit

Large Auxiliary Repair Docks (ABSD)Edit

Reclassified as Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDB) in August 1946.

Large Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDB)Edit

Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDL)Edit

Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks (AFDM)Edit

All AFDMs were classified as YFDs until 1945.

Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARD)Edit

Medium Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARDM)Edit

Yard Floating Drydocks (YFD)Edit

All YFDs were reclassified as AFDMs in 1945.

Provisions Store Ships (AF, T-AF)Edit

Combat Stores Ships (AFS, T-AFS)Edit

Mars-class combat stores ships

Sirius-class combat stores ships

Miscellaneous Ships (AG, T-AG)Edit

For similar lists of 'miscellaneous' ships see

List of unclassified miscellaneous vessels of the United States Navy (IX)

and

List of yard and district craft of the United States Navy § District Auxiliary, Miscellaneous (YAG)

Icebreakers (AGB)Edit

Amphibious Force Command Ships (AGC)Edit

Deep Submergence Support Ship (T-AGDS)Edit

Hydrofoil Research Ship (AGEH)Edit

Environmental Research Ships (AGER)Edit

Signals intelligence collection vessels.

Banner-class

Command Ships (AGF)Edit

Missile Range Instrumentation Ships (T-AGM)Edit

Major Communications Relay Ships (AGMR)Edit

Oceanographic Research Ships (T-AGOR)Edit

Robert D. Conrad-class

Eltanin-class

Melville-class

Hayes-class

Diver-class

Gyre-class

Thomas G. Thompson-class

Kilo Moana-class

Neil Armstrong-class

Ocean Surveillance Ships (T-AGOS)Edit

Stalwart-class

Victorious-class

Impeccable-class

Motor Torpedo Boat Tenders (AGP)Edit

Radar Picket Ships (AGR)Edit

Guardian-class radar picket ship

All Guardian-class ships were originally classed as YAGR but were then reclassed as AGR in 1958.

Surveying Ships (AGS)Edit

Bowditch-class

Other classes

Silas Bent-class

Other classes

Pathfinder-class

Coastal Survey Ships (AGSC)Edit

Auxiliary Submarines (AGSS)Edit

Technical Research Ships (AGTR)Edit

Signals intelligence collection vessels.

Oxford-class

Belmont-class

Hospital Ships (AH)Edit

Comfort-class

Haven-class

Mercy-class

Dry Cargo Ships (AK, T-AK)Edit

Attack Cargo Ships (AKA)Edit

Cargo Ship Dock (T-AKD)Edit

Advanced Auxiliary Dry Cargo Ships (T-AKE)Edit

Advanced Auxiliary Dry Cargo Ships (T-AKE) are designed to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products via underway replenishment; they effectively combine the missions of Ammunition Ships (AE) and Combat Stores Ships (AFS, T-AFS) along with a limited refueling capability.

Lewis and Clark-class

Small Cargo Ships (AKL)Edit

Net Cargo Ships (AKN)Edit

Indus class

Other classes

Vehicle Cargo Ships (T-AKR)Edit

Cape-T-class

Algol-class

Shughart-Class

Gordon-Class

Bob Hope-class

Watson-class

Other classes

General Stores Issue Ships (AKS)Edit

Aircraft Transports (AKV, T-AKV)Edit

Auxiliary MinesweepersEdit

Minesweepers (AM)Edit

Auxiliary Base Minesweepers (AMb)Edit

Coastal Minesweepers (AMc)Edit

Coastal Minesweepers (Underwater Locator) (AMCU)Edit

Ocean Minesweepers (AMS)Edit

Net Laying Ships (AN)Edit

All of the following ships were originally classed as Yard Net Tenders, see List of yard and district craft of the United States Navy § Yard Net Tenders (YN) for the original hull numbers.

Aloe-class net laying ships

Ailanthus-class net laying ships

Cohoes-class net laying ships

Fleet Oilers (AO, T-AO)Edit

Fast Combat Support Ships (AOE, T-AOE)Edit

Gasoline Tankers (AOG, T-AOG)Edit

Patapsco class

Halawa class

Mettawee class

Klickitat class

Other / unknown classes

Replenishment Oilers (AOR)Edit

Oiler Submarines (AOSS)Edit

Oil Transporters (T-AOT)Edit

Transports (AP, T-AP)Edit

Attack Transports (APA)Edit

Self-Propelled Barracks Ships (APB)Edit

Benewah-class barracks ships

All ships of this class were based on LST hulls, but less than half were converted from actual LSTs.

Other class

Coastal Transports (APC)Edit

Small Coastal Transports (APc)Edit

APc-1-class small coastal transports:

High-speed Transports (APD)Edit

Evacuation Transports (APH)Edit

Barracks Craft (APL)Edit

APL-2 class

APL-17 class

APL-41 class

APL-53 class

Other classes

APL-61 class

APL-65 class

APL-67 class

Mechanized Artillery Transports (APM)Edit

Convoy Rescue Craft (APR)Edit

APR was the original hull symbol intended for the patrol craft escorts that were converted to rescue crews from ships attacked in convoys, but they were instead redesignated as PCERs.[14]

Transport Submarines (APS, APSS)Edit

Transport and Aircraft Ferries (APV)Edit

Repair Ships (AR)Edit

Battle Damage Repair Ships (ARB)Edit

Base Repair Ship (ARb)Edit

Cable Repair Ships (ARC)Edit

Neptune-class

Zeus-class

Two other Navy vessels performed cable support operations without the ARC hull classification: USS Nashawena (AG-142 / YAG-35) and Kailua (IX-71).

Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ships (ARG)Edit

Aroostook-class

Luzon-class

Basilan-class

Other ships

Heavy-hull Repair Ship (ARH)Edit

Landing Craft Repair Ships (ARL)Edit

Achelous-class repair ship

Rescue and Salvage Ships (ARS)Edit

Lapwing-class

Diver-class

Unknown class

  • USS Assistance (ARS-10), not commissioned

Anchor-class

Ex-commercial vessels

Weight-class

Tackle-class

Bolster-class

Safeguard-class

Salvage Lifting Vessels (ARSD)Edit

Salvage Craft Tenders (ARST)Edit

Aircraft Repair Ships (ARV, ARV(E), ARV(A))Edit

Chourre-class

Aventinus-class

  • USS Aventinus (ARV(E)-3), ex-LST-1092
  • USS Chloris (ARV(E)-4), ex-LST-1094

Fabius-class

  • USS Fabius (ARV(A)-5), ex-LST-1093
  • USS Megara (ARV(A)-6), ex-LST-1095

Helicopter Aircraft Repair Ships (ARVH)Edit

Submarine Tenders (AS)Edit

Ships which have functioned as submarine tenders without the AS designation include the USS Tallahassee (M-9).

Fulton-class

Griffin-class

Ex-commercial ships

Aegir-class

Uncertain class

Hunley-class

Simon Lake-class

L. Y. Spear-class

Emory S. Land-class

Submarine Rescue Vessels (ASR)Edit

Lapwing-class

Chanticleer-class

Penguin-class

Pigeon-class

Cargo Transport Submarines (ASSA)Edit

Fleet Tugs (AT)Edit

Sonoma-class

Arapaho-class

Bagaduce-class

Cherokee-class

Abnaki-class

Sotoyomo-class

Lapwing-class

Auxiliary Ocean Tugs (ATA, T-ATA)Edit

The first ten boats of the Sotoyomo-class were originally classed as Fleet Tugs (AT), as were ATA-146, ATA-166, and ATA-167.

Sotoyomo-class

ATA-214-class

Other classes

Fleet Ocean Tugs (ATF, T-ATF)Edit

All tugs of the Cherokee and Abnaki classes were reclassed from Fleet Tugs (AT) on 15 May 1944.

Cherokee-class

Abnaki-class

Powhatan-class

Fleet Tugs, Old (ATO)Edit

The Fleet Tug Old classification was created on 15 May 1944, several Fleet Tugs received this classification at this time without a change of hull number.

Sonoma-class

Bagaduce-class

Lapwing-class

Rescue Tugs (ATR)Edit

ART-1 class

Sotoyomo-class

Salvage and Rescue Ships (ATS)Edit

Edenton-class

ATS-4 and ATS-5 skipped

Navajo-class

  • USNS Navajo (T-ATS-6) [P]
  • USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS-7) [P]
  • USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS-8) [P]
  • USNS Lenni Lenape (T-ATS-7) [P]
  • USNS Muscogee Creek Nation (T-ATS-10) [P]
  • (T-ATS-11) [P]
  • (T-ATS-12) [P]

Seaplane Tenders (AV)Edit

Ships which have functioned as seaplane tenders without the AV designation include the USS Mississippi (BB-23) in 1914, the USS Ajax (AG-15) in 1924-1925, and the USS Christiana (IX-80 / YAG-32) in WW2.[18]

Wright-class

Jason-class

Langley-class

  • USS Langley (AV-3), ex-AC-3, CV-1, scuttled Java Sea 27 February 1942 after air attack, 16 killed outright, possibly hundreds killed after rescue ship sunk

Curtiss-class[19]

Patoka-class

Currituck class

Tangier-class

Pocomoke-class

Chandeleur-class

Kenneth Whiting-class

unknown class

  • USS Calibogue (AV-19), canceled while under construction 1944
  • (AV-22), conversion from unassigned ship canceled
  • (AV-23), conversion from unassigned ship canceled

Ashland-class

Advance Aviation Base Ships (AVB, T-AVB)Edit

Seaplane Catapult, Light (AVC)Edit

Destroyer Seaplane Tenders (AVD)Edit

Clemson-class[21]

Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG)Edit

The Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG) were redesignated Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV) and then Escort aircraft carriers (CVE).

Guided Missile Ships (AVM)Edit

Small Seaplane Tenders (AVP)Edit

Lapwing-class[21]

Clemson-class

  • USS Childs (AVP-14), former DD-241, later AVD-1
  • USS Williamson (AVP-15), former DD-244, later AVD-2
  • USS George E. Badger (AVP-16), former DD-196, CG-16 (USCG), later AVD-3
  • USS Clemson (AVP-17), former DD-186, later AVD-4
  • USS Goldsborough (AVP-18), former DD-188, later AVD-5
  • USS Hulbert (AVP-19), former DD-342, later AVD-6
  • USS William B. Preston (AVP-20), former DD-344, later AVD-7

Barnegat-class

Aviation Stores Issue Ships (AVS)Edit

Aircraft Transports (AVT)Edit

Auxiliary Aircraft Landing Training Ships (AVT)Edit

Distilling Ships (AW)Edit

Stag-class

Pasig-class

Lighter-than-Air Aircraft Tender (AZ)Edit

Miscellaneous Classifications (IX)Edit

Yard and District Craft (Y)Edit

Pre-1920 craftEdit

Screw TugsEdit

World War I (ID) seriesEdit

Civilian cargo ships, tankers, transports, etc., were registered during World War I for potential use and given "ID" identification numbers in the "ID/SP" numbering series.

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

CitationsEdit

  1. ^ a b c d "Crane Ships, Heavy Lift Ships, Tanker Retired from Sealift Fleet". Navy League. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ "WEST ELCASCO (AK-33)".
  3. ^ a b "H-039-5: The Explosion of Ammunition Ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11), 10 November 1944".
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Notable U.S. Navy Ships Lost Since World War II". US Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Keel Authenticated for T-AGS 67" (Press release). US Navy. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  6. ^ Mongilio, Heather (December 2022). "SECNAV Del Toro Names Future Survey Ship After Titanic Discoverer Robert Ballard". USNI News. United States Naval Institute.
  7. ^ Dead Reckoning: The Pollux-Truxton Disaster
  8. ^ "The Attack on the USNS Card". October 7, 2015.
  9. ^ NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AOG-24 Sheepscot
  10. ^ "APc-21". Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Repair and Berthing Barges YR YRB YRBM YRDH YRDM YRR". Shipbuildinghistory.com. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  12. ^ LST-53
  13. ^ Pursuivant
  14. ^ Friedman, Small Combatants, p. 85
  15. ^ Apache
  16. ^ NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AT-12 / ATO-12 Sonoma
  17. ^ USS Partridge.com
  18. ^ "World Aircraft Carriers List: US Seaplane Tenders: Miscellaneous".
  19. ^ "World Aircraft Carriers List: US Seaplane Tenders: Heavy Tenders".
  20. ^ "Aircraft Catapult Barge (AVC)".
  21. ^ a b "World Aircraft Carriers List: US Seaplane Tenders: Small Tenders".

SourcesEdit

  • Friedman, Norman (1987). U.S. Small Combatants: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 978-0870217135.

External linksEdit

Museum ships