Surface Combatant Ships

Mission: Varies with the type of combatant ship. The Naval Reserve forces also completely and independently maintain and operate many surface combatant ships.

Aircraft Carriers

Mission: Carry, launch, and retrieve aircraft at sea.

CVN- Nuclear Powered

Cruisers

CG Mission: Protect battle groups from surface and air attacks as well as conduct land attacks

G- Guided Misseles

Frigates

FFG Mission: Escort other ships to protect them from submarines and perform coastal patrols

Destroyers

DDG Mission: Detect and engage enemy submarines, aircraft, and surface ships, conduct land attacks, and perform patrol, search, and rescue operations

Littoral Combat

LCS Mission: Perform anti-submarine Escort other ships to protect them from submarines and perform coastal patrols

Mine Warfar ships

Mission: clear mines from vital waterways

Mine-Countermeasures ships (Mine Warfare ship)

MCM Mission: Find and destroy moored and bottom mines

Coastal Mine Hunters (Mine Warfare ship)

MHC Mission: Detect and locate highly sophisticated mines.

Amphibious Ships

Mission: Land large numbers of personnel, equipment, and supplies on enemy shores

General Purpose Amphibious Assault Ships (Amphibious Ship)

LHA Mission: Transport and land marine personnel using helicopters, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles

Amphibious Assault ships, multipurpose (Amphibious Ship)

LHD Mission: Transport and land marine personnel and their equipment using heliocopters, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles. Perform antisubmarine warfare using heliocopters

Amphibious Transport Docks (Amphibious Ship)

LPD Mission: Transport and land personnel and equipment using heliocopter and landing craft

Dock Landing Ships (Amphibious Ship)

LSD Mission: Transport and land: Troops & Cargo, Amphibious vehicles, Landing vehicles including Landing Craft Air Cushion(LCAC)

Submarines

Mission: Varries with the type of submarine

Attack Submarine

SSN Mission: Locate and destroy enemy ships and submarines, conduct land attacks

Ballistic Missile Submarine

SSBN Mission: Launch ballistic missiles for attacks on enemy land targets

Guided Missile Submarine

SSGN Mission: Locate and destroy enemy ships and submarines, launch guided missiles for attacks on enemy land targets.

Auxilary Ships and Military Sealift

Mission: Provide support services for the fleet

Submarine Tenders (Aux. Ship & Military Sealift)

AS Mission: Service submarines

Fast Combat Support Ships (Aux. Ship & Military Sealift

T-AOE, T-AKE Mission: Carry fuel, ammunition, and supplies

Salvage Ship (Aux. Ship & Military Sealift

T-ARS Mission: Assist ships in distress and sunken vessels, towing vessels, performing manned diving operations

Aircraft Carrier Type

All ships designed primarily for the purpose of conducting combat operations by aircraft that engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-surface and shore targets

Surface Combatant Type

Large, heavily armed, surface ships that are designed primarily to engage enemy forces on the high seas

Submarine Type

All self-propelled submersible types regardless of whether employed as combatant, auxillary, or research and development vehicles that have at least residual combat capability

Patrol Combatant Type

Combatants whose mission may extend beyond coastal duties and whose characteristics include adequate endurance and sea keeping, providing a capability for operations exceeding 48 hours on the high seas without support

Amphibious Warfare Type Ships

All ships having organic capability for amphibious assault and characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas

Combat Logistics Type Ships

Ships that have the capability to provide underway replenishment to fleet units

Mine Warfare Type Ships

All ships whose primary function is mine warfare on the high seas

Support Type Ships

A grouping of ships designed to operate in the open ocean in a variety of sea states to provid general support to either combatant forces or shore based establishments. (Includes smaller auxiliaries which by the nature of their duties, leave inshore waters)

Mobile Logistics Type Ships

Ships that have the capability to provide direct material support to other deployed units operating far from home base

CV/CVN

aircraft carriers

CG

cruiser

DD/DDG

Destroyers

FFG

frigates

SSN/SSBN

SUBMARINE

MCS

Mine Countermeasures Command and control ships

MCM

Mine Countermeasures Ship

MHC

Minehunter, Coastal

LHA/LHD

Amphibious Assault Ships

LCC

Amphibious Command Ship

LPD

Amphibious Transport Dock

LSD

Dock Landing Ship

LCAC

Landing Craft Air Cushion

PC

Patrol coastal

AE

Ammunition Ship

AOE

Fast Combat Support Ship

ARS

Rescue and Salvage

aircraft carrier

CV/CVN

Cruisers

CG

Destroyers

DD/DDG

Frigates

FFG

Submarines

SSN/SSBN

Mine Countermeasures

MCS

Mine Countermeasure Ship

MCM

Mine hunter, coastal

MHC

Assault ship

LHA/LHD

Command

LCC

Transport Dock

LPD

Dock Landing Ship

LSD

Landing Craft Air Cushion

LCAC

Patrol Coastal

Pc

Ammunition ship

AE

Fast Combat Support Ships

AOE

rescue/salvage

ARS