List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

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USS Shasta (AE-33, left), USS Kiska (AE-35, right), USS Flint (AE-32, rear) in 2005

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.

Auxiliary ships which function as hospital ships and as oilers are to be found in their own articles: List of United States Navy hospital ships and List of United States Navy oilers. Escort carriers, amphibious warfare vessels, and some mine warfare vessels were also originally classed as auxiliaries but were later given their own hull classification symbols outside the auxiliary series (which all begin with an 'A'). Links to these and other list articles of similar ships can be found throughout this article.

Yard and district craft also function as auxiliaries but generally are smaller and less capable than their ocean-going counterparts, and so they generally remain in harbors and coastal areas. Their hull classification symbols begin with a 'Y'.

Ship status is indicated as either currently active [A], ready reserve [R], 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.

Listed ship classes will often state 'MA type' or 'MC type'. The difference is that 'MC Type' refers to ships designed by the United States Maritime Commission aka MarCom, while 'MA Type' refers to ships designed or converted under MarCom's successor agency, the United States Maritime Administration or MarAd. They are in fact the same designs, and the year 1950 is the date at which MarAd succeeded MarCom.

Historical overview[edit]

Prior to the creation of the auxiliary hull classification system, ships that performed such tasks had no symbol or code to identify them, only informal designations such as Fleet Collier No. 1.

World War I[edit]

During World War I the Navy created the Section patrol (SP) and identification number (ID) system to register civilian vessels for naval acquisition. The ID series can be considered a forerunner of the current auxiliary hull numbering system, and some ships with ID numbers were later given 'A' hull symbols.

Also during WWI a series of mass-produced ships were designed by the Emergency Fleet Corporation, but few were completed before the end of the war and even fewer became naval auxiliaries.

Pre-World War II[edit]

Until World War II the US auxiliary fleet was notable for being composed of non-standard ships which had been purchased ad-hoc. Very few were designed specifically for their intended role.

Interesting examples from the 1920's of rare early auxiliaries deliberately designed for their roles include the destroyer tenders USS Dobbin (AD-3) and USS Whitney (AD-4), the repair ship USS Medusa (AR-1), and the submarine tender USS Holland (AS-3): these 4 ships had the same length hulls and similar superstructures, so they were likely of the same basic design.

In the late 1930's the Navy began the construction of 22 large tenders and repair ships to a new basic design: all were nearly identical in hull form, power plant, and superstructure (but the seaplane tenders had a large hangar that the others lacked):

The last of these 22 ships (the submarine tender Sperry) was scrapped in 2011.[1]

Also at this time the Navy began the construction of 4 large net layers (AN)s and 3 minelayers (CM)s to a different basic design, but changing requirements resulted in all but one minelayer being redesignated as transports (AP)s and then converted into Landing ships, vehicle (LSV)s.[A 1][2]

World War II[edit]

During the naval build-up for World War II over 700 vessels of Maritime Commission (MarCom, later MarAd) standard designs were converted to US Navy auxiliaries,[A 2] as were a few Landing Ships Medium (LSM)s:

Post World War II[edit]

During the Cold War over 100 United States Maritime Administration (MarAd) standard designs were converted to US Navy auxiliaries:[A 5]

Modern auxiliaries have been designed to reduce operating costs by introducing scales of economies with larger ships and by reducing manning requirements (a trend begun in 1949 with the introduction of manning non-commissioned ships with civilian crews under the Military Sealift Command and its predecessors - such ships carry the 'T-' prefix on their hull symbols and the USNS prefix rather than USS; ships with MV or SS prefixes are under long-term charter with the Navy rather than under Navy ownership).

Crane ships (AB)[edit]

Colliers (AC)[edit]

USS Cyclops (AC-4)

Auxiliary minelayers (ACM)[edit]

Auxiliary crane ships (T-ACS)[edit]

SS Grand Canyon State (T-ACS-3)
SS Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6)

unknown class: MA type C6-S-MA1qd

Gopher State-class: MA type C5-S-73b

unknown class: MA type C6-S-1aq

unknown class: MA type C6-S-MA60d

Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV)[edit]

The Auxiliary aircraft carriers (ACV) were designated as Auxiliary aircraft escort vessels (AVG) until 20 August 1942 and then were redesignated Escort aircraft carriers (CVE) on 15 July 1943.

Destroyer tenders (AD)[edit]

USS Dobbin (AD-3)
USS Denebola (AD-12)
USS Dixie (AD-14)
USS Isle Royale (AD-29)
USS Yellowstone (AD-41)

Dobbin-class

Unknown classes

Altair-class

Dixie-class

Cascade-class

Hamul-class: MC type C3

Klondike-class: MC type C3

Shenandoah-class: MC type C3

Alcor-class

Samuel Gompers-class

Yellowstone-class

Degaussing ships (ADG)[edit]

Ammunition ships (AE)[edit]

USS Shasta (AE-6)
USS Vesuvius (AE-15)
USS Mauna Kea (AE-22)
USS Pyro (AE-24)
USNS Kilauea (T-AE-26)

Lassen-class: MC types C2, C2-T, C2-N

Unknown class: MC type C1-A

Mount Hood-class: MC type C2-S-AJ1

Fomalhaut-class: MC type C1-A

Suribachi-class

Nitro-class

Andromeda-class: MA type C2-S-B1

Kilauea-class

Auxiliary floating drydock[edit]

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]

USS Hyades (AF-28)
USS Adria (AF-30)
USS Sirius (AF-60)
USS Regulus (AF-57)
USS Vega (AF-59)

Hyades-class: MC type C2-S-E1

Adria-class: MC type R1-M-AV3

Alstede-class: MC type R2-S-BV1 or C2-S-B1

Unknown class: MC type C2-S-B1

Grommet Reefer-class: MA type C1-M-AV1

Denebola-class: MA type VC2-S-AP2

Rigel-class: MA type R3-S-4A

Combat stores ships (AFS, T-AFS)[edit]

USS Mars (AFS-1)
USNS Spica (T-AFS-9)

Mars-class

Sirius-class

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)
USS Wyoming (AG-17)
USS Sequoia (AG-23)
USS Potomac (AG-25)
USS Argonne (AG-31) as (AS-10)
USS Anacapa (AG-49)
USS Mississippi (AG-128)
USS Whidbey (AG-141)
USS Timmerman (AG-152)
USS Compass Island (AG-153)
USS King County (AG-157)
USNS Kingsport (T-AG-164)
USNS Glomar Explorer (T-AG-193)

Icebreakers (AGB)[edit]

USS Glacier (AGB-4)

Amphibious force command ships (AGC)[edit]

Deep submergence support ship (T-AGDS)[edit]

Hydrofoil research ship (AGEH)[edit]

Environmental research ships (AGER)[edit]

USS Pueblo (AGER-2)

Signals intelligence collection vessels.

Banner-class

Command ships (AGF)[edit]

Missile range instrumentation ships (T-AGM)[edit]

USNS Redstone (T-AGM-20)
USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23)

Major communications relay ships (AGMR)[edit]

Oceanographic research ships (T-AGOR)[edit]

USNS Robert D. Conrad (T-AGOR-3)
USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11)
USNS Knorr T-AGOR-15)
USNS Thomas G. Thompson T-AGOR-23)
RV Sally Ride T-AGOR-28)

Robert D. Conrad-class

Eltanin-class: MC type C1-ME2-13a

Melville-class

Hayes-class

Diver-class

Gyre-class

Thomas G. Thompson-class

Kilo Moana-class

Neil Armstrong-class

Ocean surveillance ships (T-AGOS)[edit]

USNS Stalwart (T-AGOS-1)
USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23)

Underwater acoustics collection vessels.

Stalwart-class

Victorious-class

Impeccable-class

Motor torpedo boat tenders (AGP)[edit]

Radar picket ships (AGR)[edit]

USS Tracer (AGR-15)

Guardian-class: MC type Z-EC2-S-C5

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

Surveying ships (AGS)[edit]

USS Pathfinder (AGS-1)
USS Maury (AGS-16)
USNS Dutton (T-AGS-22)
USNS Silas Bent (AGS-26)
USNS Chauvenet (T-AGS-29)
USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-62)

YMS-135-subclass

Artemis-class: MC type S4–SE2–BE1

Auk-class

Bowditch-class: MA type VC2-S-AP3

Other classes

Silas Bent-class

Other classes

Pathfinder-class

Coastal survey ships (AGSC)[edit]

Submarine and special warfare support vessel (T-AGSE)[edit]

Black Powder-class

Auxiliary submarines (AGSS)[edit]

USS Albacore (AGSS-569)
USS Dolphin (AGSS-555)

Gato class

Balao class

Tench class

Albacore class

Dolphin class

Technical research ships (AGTR)[edit]

USS Oxford (AG-159 / AGTR-1)

Signals intelligence collection vessels.

Oxford-class: MA type Z–EC2–S–C5

Belmont-class: MA type VC2-S-AP3

Hospital ships (AH)[edit]

Dry cargo ships (AK, T-AK)[edit]

Attack cargo ships (AKA)[edit]

Cargo ship dock (T-AKD)[edit]

The Point Barrow was similar in design to the amphibious warfare Landing Ships Dock (LSD)s, but with a hull strengthened for sailing in Arctic ice.

Advanced auxiliary dry cargo ships (T-AKE)[edit]

USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE-3)

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]

USS Zebra (AKN-5)

Indus class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Other classes

Vehicle cargo ships (T-AKR)[edit]

USNS Comet (T-AK-269)
SS Cape Island (T-AKR-10)
USNS Shughart (T-AKR-295)
USNS Gordon (T-AKR 296)
USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300)
USNS Watson (T-AKR-310)

Cape-I-class: MA Type C7-S-95

Cape-T-class

Algol-class

Shughart-Class

Gordon-Class

Bob Hope-class

Watson-class

Other classes

General stores issue ships (AKS)[edit]

Castor and Unknown classes: all MC type C2

Acubens-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

LST-542 class

Belle Isle-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

LST-542 class

Antares-class: MA type VC2-S-AP3

Aircraft transports (AKV, T-AKV)[edit]

USS Kitty Hawk (AKV-1) as (APV-1)
USS Siboney (AKV-12) as (CVE-112)

LT. James E. Robinson class: MA type VC2-S-AP1

Other classes

Commencement Bay class: MA type T3

USS Marcus Island (AKV-27) as (CVE-77)

Casablanca class: MA type S4-S2-BB3

Commencement Bay class

USNS Card (T-AKV-40) as (CVE-11)

Bogue class: MA types C3-S-A1 and C3-S-A2

Auxiliary minesweepers[edit]

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]

USS Montauk (AN-2)
USS Ash (AN-7)
USS Silverbell (AN-51)
USS Yazoo (AN-92)

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

Ailanthus-class

Cohoes-class

Net layer (ANL)[edit]

Fleet oilers (AO, T-AO)[edit]

Fast combat support ships (AOE, T-AOE)[edit]

Gasoline tankers (AOG, T-AOG)[edit]

USS Patapsco (AOG-1)
USS Mettawee (AOG-17)
USS Klickitat (AOG-64)

All AOG tankers were MarCom (MC) T1 tankers, with the exception of these former commercial ships: the Halawa-class, AOG-13, AOG-14, AOG-16 and AOG-47.

Patapsco-class: MC type T1-MT-M1

Halawa-class

Mettawee-class: MC type T1-M-A2

Klickitat-class: MC type T1-M-BT1

Other / unknown classes

Light replenishment oilers (T-AOL)[edit]

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]

USS Benewah (APB-35)

Benewah-class

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]

USS APL-4
USS APL-31
USS APL-42

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]

APM was the original hull designation of what became the Landing Ship, Dock (LSD).

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.[26]

Transport submarines (APS, APSS)[edit]

Transport and aircraft ferries (APV)[edit]

Repair ships (AR)[edit]

USS Medusa (AR-1)
USS Vulcan (AR-5)
USS Delta (AR-9)
USS Grand Canyon (AR-28)

Vulcan-class

Delta-class: MC type C3

Altair-class

Amphion-class

Xanthus-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Klondike-class: MC type C3

Shenandoah-class: MA type C3

Battle damage repair ships (ARB)[edit]

USS Aristaeus (ARB-1)

Base repair ship (ARb)[edit]

Cable repair ships (ARC)[edit]

USS Aeolus (ARC-3)
USNS Zeus (T-ARC-7)

Aeolus-class: MA type S4–SE2–BE1

Neptune-class: MA type S3-S2-BP1

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]

USS Oglala (ARG-1)
SS Luzon (ARG-2)

Aroostook-class

Luzon-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Basilan-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

Other ships

Heavy-hull repair ship (ARH)[edit]

Landing craft repair ships (ARL)[edit]

Achelous-class

Rescue and salvage ships (ARS)[edit]

USS Redwing (ARS-4) as (AM-48)
USS Grapple (ARS-7)
USS Restorer (ARS-17)
USS Bolster (ARS-38)
USS Safeguard (ARS-50)

Lapwing-class

Diver-class

Unknown class

  • USS Assistance (ARS-10), not commissioned

Anchor-class

Rescuer-class

Ex-commercial vessels

Weight-class

Tackle-class

Bolster-class

Safeguard-class

Salvage lifting vessels (ARSD)[edit]

USS Windlass (ARS(D)-4)

Salvage craft tenders (ARST)[edit]

Aircraft repair ships (ARV, ARV(E), ARV(A))[edit]

USS Chourre

Chourre-class: MC type EC2-S-C1

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]

USS Holland (AS-3)
USS Fulton (AS-11)
USS Hunley (AS-31)
USS L.Y. Spear (AS-36)
USS Emory S. Land (AS-39), top, and USS Frank Cable (AS-40)

Ships which have functioned as submarine tenders without the AS designation include the four Arkansas-class monitors.

Fulton-class

Griffin-class: MC type C3

Ex-commercial ships

Aegir-class: MC type C3-S-A2

Uncertain class

Hunley-class

Simon Lake-class

L. Y. Spear-class

Emory S. Land-class

Submarine rescue vessels (ASR)[edit]

USS Penguin (ASR-12)
USS Sunbird (ASR-15)
USS Pigeon (ASR-21)

Lapwing-class

Chanticleer-class