What are the classification and sizes for different ships and submarines in the Navy?

Sam Carter — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:24:51 -0400

Response by Sam Carter made Apr 13 at 2017 10:25 AM

Sam Carter — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 10:25:44 -0400

By the way, this was a challenge coin we did recently for a group of submariners so this question has sparked my curiosity. (Coin pictures courtesy of Challenge Coins 4 U).

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Apr 13 at 2017 4:29 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:29:24 -0400

SN Greg Wright ENS Private RallyPoint Member ?

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2017 5:50 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:50:14 -0400

Sam Carter Check out Jane's Fighting Ships for a world wide reference to all types of vessels.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Apr 13 at 2017 6:11 PM

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 18:11:49 -0400

Here you go. Highlights are, for surface ships, the big flat-tops, Carriers and Helo carriors (LPD's, LHA's) ranging up to 100k tons. The big surface combatants are guided missile cruisers. Smaller than those is the Destroyers, then the LCS class. The Biggest Bad of them all (at least in destructive power) are the Ohio class Nuclear ICBM (we call them Boomers) Subs, then you have the converted Ohio missile subs (Tomahawks, not nukes), then the Fast-attacks, Los Angeles class. The graphic is slightly easier to see if you click to enlarge it.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 15 at 2017 1:07 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 01:07:49 -0400

Can't tell you, or I would have to ...

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Apr 17 at 2017 11:41 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:41:42 -0400

This may be what you want to know. You can tell the type of ship by the first or first two letters of it's designation, CV is a carrier, DD is a destroyer, which now includes Escort Destroyers and Frigates, C or CA for Cruisers, SS for submarines and L for amphibious, as the main examples. Addition letters can tell you weaponry and/or power source, so a CVN is a nuclear carrier and a DDG is a guided missile destroy, LHD is an amphibious assault ship, or literally a Landing Helicopter Dock. This may explain it better. http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_ships_list.php

USN Ship Designations - NavWeaps

Warships in the United States Navy were first designated and numbered in a system originating in 1895. Under this system, ships were designated as "Battleship X", "Cruiser X", "Destroyer X", "Torpedo Boat X" and so forth where X was the series hull number as authorized by the US Congress. These designations were usually abbreviated as "B-X", "C-X", "D-X", "TB-X," etc. This system became cumbersome by 1920, as many new ship types had been...