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I. PW Pursuit, water cooled
II. PN Pursuit, night work
III. PA Pursuit, air cooled
IV. PG Pursuit, ground attack
V. TP Two-seat pursuit
VI. GA Ground attack
VII. IL Infantry liaison
VIII. NO Night observation
IX. AO Artillery observation
X. CO Corps observation
XI. DB Day bombardment
XII. NBS Night bombardment, short distance
XIII. NBL Night bombardment, long distance
XIV. TA Training, air cooled
XV. TW Training, water cooled
A Ambulance
M Messenger
R Racer
T Transport
A Attack
AT Advanced trainer
B Bomber
C Cargo
HB Heavy bomber
LB Light bomber
O Observation
OA Observation Amphibian
P Pursuit
PT Primary trainer
This system was formally abandoned in 1948. But then 22 additional
categories had been introduced, including:
AG Attack Glider
BC Basic Combat (trainer)
BG Bomb Glider (glide bomb)
BQ Bomb, guided
BT Basic Trainer
BLR Bomber, long range
BQ Bomber, radio-controlled
CB Cargo Bomber
CG Cargo glider
CQ Target controller
F Photographic reconaissance
FG Fuel-carrying glider
FM Fighter, multiplace
G Glider
G Gyroplane
GB Glide bomb
GT Glide Torpedo
JB Jet-propelled bomb
L Liaison
O Observation
OA Observation, amphibian
OQ Target, flying model
PB Pursuit biplace
PG Powered glider
PQ Aerial target
R Rotorcraft
TG Training glider
UC Utility cargo
FP Reconaissance fighter
X and Y letters were used as prefix to indicate prototypes and preseries
aircraft. The prefix 'Y1' was used for aircraft bought with 'F-1' funds
instead of normally allocated money. The letter Z was used for obsolete
aircraft. In some cases, R (meaning 'restricted' was also used for this
purpose. Some experimental aircraft had an 'E' prefix, meaning 'Exempt',
instead of the more common 'X'.
VZ VTOL experimental
XXXX-...X (-..-XX)
G - Glider
H - Helicopter
S - Spaceplane
V - VTOL/STOL
Z - Lighter than air
A - Attack
B - Bomber
C - Cargo/ transport
E - Special electronic installation
F - Fighter
O - Observation
P - Patrol
R - Reconnaissance:
ER - Electronic Reconnaissance
SR - Strategic Reconnaissance
TR - Tactical Reconnaissance
S - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
T - Trainer
U - Utility
X - Research
A - Attack
C - Cargo/ transport
D - Drone control
E - Special electronic installation
F - Fighter
H - Search and Rescue (SAR)
K - Tanker (from Kerosine tanker)
L - Cold weather
M - Multi-mission
O - Observation
P - Patrol
Q - Drone
R - Reconnaissance
S - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
T - Trainer
U - Utility
V - Staff/ VIP transport
W - Weather
G - Permanently grounded
J - Special test temporary
N - Special test permanent
X - Experimental
Y - Prototype
Z - Planning
NKC-135A
||| | |
Status prefix ----------------------------+|| | |
|| | |
Modified mission --------------------------+| | |
| | |
Basic mission ------------------------------+ | |
| |
Design number ---------------------------------+ |
|
Series ------------------------------------------+
Sometimes, the block number and manufacturer code are added to the
designation:
F-4G-43-MC
| || | |
Basic mission ----------------------------+ || | |
|| | |
Design number ------------------------------+| | |
| | |
Series --------------------------------------+ | |
| |
Block number ----------------------------------+ |
|
Manufacturer--------------------------------------+
B - Booster
M - Guided missile or drone
N - Probe
R - Rocket
S - Satellite
C - Cargo/ transport
D - Decoy
E - Electronic or communication
G - Surface attack
I - Intercept aerial or space
L - Launch detection or surveillance
M - Scientific/ calibration
N - Navigation
Q - Drone
S - Space support
T - Training
U - Underwater attack
W - Weather
A - Air
B - Multiple
C - Coffin
F - Individual
G - Runway
H - Silo stored
L - Silo launched
M - Mobile
P - Soft pad
R - Ship
S - Space
U - Underwater
C - Captive
D - Dummy
J - Special test temporary
M - Modified
N - Special test permanent
X - Experimental
Y - Prototype
Z - Planning
Let's take an example:
AIM-9L
||| ||
Launch environment -----------------------+|| ||
|| ||
Basic mission -----------------------------+| ||
| ||
Vehicle type -------------------------------| ||
||
Design number --------------------------------+|
|
Series ----------------------------------------+
A - Auxilary assemblies
B - Bombing
C - Communications
D - Direction finding, recon, and/or surveillance
E - Ejection and/or release
G - Fire control or light finding
H - Recording or reproducing
K - Computing
M - Maintenance or test assemblies
N - Navigational aids
Q - Special or combinations of purposes
R - Receiving/ passive detecting
S - Detecting and/or range bearing, search
T - Transmitting
W - Automatic flight or remote control
X - Identification and recognition
Y - Surveillance and control
A - Infrared or invisible light
C - Carrier (wire)
D - Radiac
E - Nupac
F - Photographic
G - Telegraph or teletype
I - Interphone or public address
J - Electromechanical or inertial wire covered
K - Telemetering
L - Countermeasure
M - Meteorological
N - Sound in air
P - Radar
Q - Sonar and underwater sound
R - Radio
S - Special types, magnetic combination of types
T - Telephone (wire)
V - Visual or visible light
W - Armament
X - Facsimile or TV
Y - Data processing
A - Airborne (piloted aircraft)
B - Underwater mobile (submarine)
C - Air transportable
D - Pilotless carrier
F - Fixed (ground)
G - General purpose use
K - Amphibious
M - Ground mobile
P - Portable
S - Water
T - Ground transportable
U - General utility assemblies
V - Ground vehicular
W - Water surface and underwater combination
Z - Piloted and pilotless airborne combination
AN - Joint services
Let's take an example:
AN/APG-68A
| ||| ||
Approved for joint services -------------+ ||| ||
||| ||
Installation ------------------------------+|| ||
|| ||
Equipment type -----------------------------+| ||
| ||
Purpose -------------------------------------+ ||
||
Design number ----------------------------------+|
|
Series ------------------------------------------+
Designations were built as follows:
Function letters and combinations were subject to changes, to simplify the system, make room for new categories, or adapt the system to changed practice. For example: shortly after WWII the USN abandoned the TB, BF and SB designations for a simplified A designation, indicating the replacement of specialized torpedo and dive bombers by all-round attack aircraft.
A Attack
A Ambulance
BF Fighter bomber
F Fighter
G Utility transport
H Ambulance
HC Transport helicopters
HJ Utility helicopter (?)
HN Utility helicopter (?)
HO Observation helicopter
HR Transport helicopter
HS ASW helicopter
HT Training helicopter
HU Utility helicopter
J Utility transport
JR Utility transport
LB Bomb Glider (unmanned, of course)
LN Training glider
M Observation / Multi-role
N Trainer
O Observation
OS Observation / Scout
P Patrol
PB Patrol Bomber
R Racer
R Transport
SB Scout bomber (dive bomber)
SF Scout Torpedo bomber
SN Scout trainer
SO Scout / Observation
T Trainer
TB Torpedo bomber
TD Target drone? Unmanned aircraft.
TS Torpedo bomber / Scout
U Utility
W AEW
The X was a prefix applied to prototypes.Manufacturer letters were not always unique, nor always the same for one manufacturer. The USN manipulated the system to bring numerous manufacturers in line with only 26 letters, or more correctly only 23 because it didn't use all.
A = Brewster F2A Buffalo
General Aviation XFA
Noorduyn JA Norseman
Allied LRA
B = Beechcraft GB Traveller
Boeing F2B
Budd RB Conestoga
C = Curtiss F6C Hawk
Cessna JRC Bobcat
Culver TD2C
D = Douglas A4D Skyhawk
McDonnell F2D Phantom
E = Piper HE
Cessna OE-2 Birddog
Hiller HOE
Bellanca XSE-1
Edo XOSE-1
Pratt-Read (Gould) LBE
Elias EM-2
F = Grumman F4F Wildcat
Fairchild SBF Helldiver
G = Goodyear FG Corsair
Great Lakes BG
Eberhart XF2G-1
H = McDonnell FH Phantom
Howard GH Nightingale
Hall PH
J = North American FJ Fury
Berliner-Joyce F3J
General Aviation PJ
K = Fairchild J2K Forwarder
Kaman HOK
Keystone NK Pup
L = Bell FL Airabonita
Columbia XJL
Loening OL
M = General Motors (Eastern) F3M Bearcat
Bell FM Airacuda
Martin P4M Mercator
N = Naval Aircraft Factory PBN Catalina
Seversky FN
Stinson RN Reliant
O = Lockheed FO Lightning
Piper UO
P = Spartan NP-1
Piper XLNP
Pitcairn OP
Piasecki HUP Retriever
Q = Fairchild R4Q flying Boxcar
R = Ryan FR Fireball
Interstate XTDR
Ford RR Trimotor
S = Stearman N2S
Sikorsky HR2S
Aeromarine FS
Schweizer LNS
T = Northrop FT Black Widow
Timm N2T Tutor
Taylorcraft LNT Grasshopper
Temco TT-1
U = Chance-Vought F4U Corsair
V = Lockheed P2V Neptune
Vultee SNV
W = Wright F3W Apache
Waco JW
Canadian Car & Foundry SBW Helldiver
Y = Consolidated PBY Catalina
Convair XFY pogo
Stinson OY Sentinel
Z = Wilford OZ
AB Crane Ship
ABD Advanced Base Dock
ABSD Advanced Base Sectional Dock
AC Collier
ACS Auxiliary Crane Ship
AD Destroyer Tender
AE Ammunition Ship
AEFS Fleet Replenishment Ship
AF Stores Ship
AFD Mobile Floating Dry Dock
AFS Fleet Stores Ship
AG Miscellaneous Auxiliary
AGC Amphibious Force Flagship
AGDS Launch Area Support Ship
AGF Command Ship
AGL Lighthouse Tender (Coast Guard)
AGM Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
AGP Motor Torpedo Boat Tender
AGOR Oceanographic Research Ship
AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ship
AGS Surveying Ship
AGSS Auxiliary Research/Experimental Submarine
AGTR Auxiliary Technical Reconaissance Ship
AH Hospital Ship
AK General Cargo Ship
AKA Attack Cargo Ship
AKD Deck-Hold Cargo Ship
AKN Net Cargo Ship
AKR Vehicle Cargo Ship
AKS General Stores Carho Ship
AKV Aircraft Ferry
AL Lightship (Coast Guard)
AM Fleet Minesweeper (steel)
AMB Base Minesweeper
AMC Coastal Minesweeper (wooden)
AN Net Laying Ship
AO Oiler
AOE Fast Combat Support Ship
AOG Gasoline Carrier / Tanker
AOR Replenishment Oiler
AOT Transport Oiler / Tanker
AP Troop Ship, non-landing
APA Attack Transport Ship
APB Barrack Ship, Self-Propelled
APC Small Coastal Transport
APD Fast Destroyer Transport
APF Adminstration Flagship
APG Supporting Gunnery Ship
APH Transport, Evacuation of Wounded
APL Auxiliary Personnel Light / Labour Transport Ship
APM Mechanized Artillery Transport
APN Non-Mechanized Artillery Transport
APR Rescue Transport
APS Transport Submarine
APSS Vehicle Transport Submarine
AR Repair Ship
ARB Repair Ship, Battle Damage
ARC Cable Repair/Laying Ship
ARD Floating Dry Dock
ARD Repair Dock, Concrete
ARG Repair Ship, Landing Craft / Repair Ship, Internal Combustion Engine
ARH Repair Ship, Hull
ARL Repair Ship, Landing Craft
ARM Repair Ship, Heavy Machinery
ARS Salvage Vessel
ARV Aviation Repair Vessel
AS Submarine Tender
ASR Surmarine Rescue Vessel
ASSP Auxiliary Transport Submarine
AT Tug
ATA Auxiliary Tug
ATF Oceangoing Fleet Tug
ATO Old Tug
ATR Recue Tug
ATS Salvage & Rescue Ship
AV Seaplane Tender
AVC Catapult Lighter
AVD Seaplane Tender (Destroyer)
AVP Seaplane Tender (Small)
AVR Aircraft Rescue Vessel
AVS Aviation Supply Ship
AVT Auxiliary Aircraft Transport
AW Distilling Ship
AWK Water Tanker
AZ Airship Tender (Lighter-Than-Air)
BB Battleship
BC Battlecruiser
BCGN Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Battlecruiser
BRDM Floating Dry Dock
CA Heavy Gun Cruiser
CAG Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser
CB Large Cruiser
CC Tactical Command Ship
CG Guided Missile Cruiser
CGN Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Cruiser
CHG Helicopter Cruiser with Guided Missiles
CL Light Cruiser
CLAA Light Anti-Aircraft Cruiser
CLC Task Fleet Command Ship
CLG Guided Missile Light Cruiser
CLGN Guided Missile Light Cruiser, Nuclear-powered
CLK Hunter-Killer Cruiser
CM Minelayer
CMC Minelayer, Coastal
CONT Container Ship
CV Aircraft Carrier
CVA Attack aircraft carrier
CVAN Attack aircraft carrier, nuclear powered.
CVB Large Aircraft Carrier
CVE Escort aircraft carrier.
CVH Helicopter Carrier
CVHA Assault Helicopter Transport
CVHE Escort Helicopter Aircraft Carrier.
CVHG Helicopter Carrier with guided missile armament.
CVL Light aircraft carrier.
CVN Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
CVS Support (ASW) Aircraft Carrier.
CVT Training Aircraft Carrier
CVU Utility Aircraft Carrier
DD Destroyer
DDE Escort Destroyer
DDG Guided Missile Destroyer
DDH Helicopter Destroyer
DDK Hunter-Killer Destroyer
DDR Radar Picket Destroyer
DE Escort Destroyer
DEC Control Escort Ship
DEG Guided Missile Escort Ship
DER Radar Picket Escort Ship
DL Frigate
DLG Guided Missile Frigate
DLGH Guided Missile Frigate, Helicopter
DLGN Guided Missile Frigate, Nuclear-powered
DM Light Minelayer (Former Destroyers)
DMS Minesweeper, Fast (Former Destroyers)
EDD Experimental Destroyer
EDE Experimental Escort Ship
FF Frigate
FFG Guided Missile Frigate
FFGH Guided Missile Frigate, Helicopter
FFH Frigate, Helicopter
FFL Corvette
IFS Inshore Fire Support Ship
IX Unclassified Auxiliary
IXS Unclassified Auxiliary Submarine
LASS Launch Area Support Ship
LCAC Landing Craft, Air Cushioned
LCC Command Ship for Amphibious Operations
LCI Landing Craft, Infantry
LCM Landing Craft, Mechanized units
LCP Landing Craft, Personnel
LCT Landing Craft, Tank
LCU Landing Craft, Utility
LCVP Landing Craft, Vehicles and Personnel
LHA Helicopter Assault Ship
LHD Amphibious Assault Ship
LKA Amphibious Cargo Ship
LPA Amphibious Transport
LPD Amphibious Transport Dock
LPH Amphibious Assault Ship
LPSS Amphibious Transport Submarine
LS Landing Ship
LSD Landing Ship, Dock
LSI Landing Ship, Infantry
LSM Landing Ship, Medium
LSMR Landing Ship, Medium, Rockets
LST Landing Ship, Tank
LSU Landing Ship, Utility
LVT Landing Vehicle, Tracked
MCM Mine Countermeasures Ship
MHC Coastal Mine Hunter
ML Minelayer
MS Minesweeper
MSB Minesweeping Boat
MSH Minesweeper,
MSO Minesweeper, Ocean
MV Merchant Vessel
PBR Patrol Boat, River
PC Patrol Corvette
PCE Escort Patrol Corvette
PCS Patrol Corvette, Minesweeping
PF Patrol Frigate
PG Patrol Gunboat
PGH Patrol Gunboat, Hydrofoil
PGM Patrol Gunboat, Motor
PHM Missile-armed Patrol Hydrofoil.
PM Patrol Missile Boat
PT Torpedo Boat
PTG Torpedo Boat, guided missile armament
PTM Missile-armed Torpedo Boat
PY Patrol Vessel (Converted Yacht)
PYC Coastal Patrol Vessel (Converted Yacht)
SC Submarine Chaser (Wooden)
SM Minelayer Submarine
SS Submarine
SSA Cargo Submarine
SSB Ballistic Missile Submarine
SSBN Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
SSG Guided Missile Submarine
SSGN Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Submarine
SSK Hunter-Killer Submarine
SSKN Hunter-Killer Submarine, nuclear powered
SSN Nuclear-powered (attack) Submarine
SSO Oiler Submarine
SSP Vehicle Transport Submarine
SSR Radar Picket Submarine
SSRN Radar Picket Submarine, nuclear powered
TANK Tanker
TRAN Transport
YA Ash Lighter
YAG District Auxiliary, Miscellaneous
YC Open Lighter
YCF Car Float (Railroad)
YCK Open Cargo Lighter
YCV Aircraft Transportation Lighter
YD Floating Derrick
YDG Degaussing Vessel
YDT Diving Tender
YE Ammunition Tender
YF Covered Lighter
YFB Ferry Boat / Launch
YFD Floating Dry Dock
YF Torpedo Transportation Lighter
YG Garbage Lighter
YH Ambulance Boat
YHB House Boat
YHT Heating Scow
YLA Open Landing Lighter
YM Dredge
YMS Motor Mine Sweeper
YN Net Tender
YNG Gate Vessel
YNT Net Tender, Tuc Class
YO Fuel Oil Barge
YOG Gasoline Barge
YOS Oil Storage Barge
YP District Patrol Craft
YPD Pile Driver (Floating)
YPK Pontoon Storage Barge
YR Floating Workshop
YRD Floating Workshop, Drydock
YS Stevedoring Barge
YSD Seaplane Wrecking Derrick
YSP Salvage Pontoon
YSR Sludge Removal Barge
YTB Large Harbour Tug
YTL Little Harbour Tug
YTM Medium Harbour Tug
YTT Torpedo Testing Barge
YW Water Barge
