Extended Operational and Trade Vocabulary

Naval Vessels, Warship Systems and Naval Architecture glossary

Warship systems and naval architecture vocabulary: vertical launch systems, arresting gear, mission areas (AAW, ASW, ABM), and the weapon, sensor, and combat-system designations that define a surface combatant. Grounds each term in the platform and capability it belongs to, from carrier aviation systems to fleet air defense.

430 defined terms.

Showing 250 on this page (page 1 of 2).

A

A-50 SylVer: French vertical launch system family by DCNS for Aster missile family.
AAG: Advanced Arresting Gear, electromagnetic arrestor on Ford-class CVN replacing Mk 7 hydraulic gear.
AAW: Anti-air warfare mission area covering fleet air defense.
AAW Commander: Officer responsible for anti-air warfare in a carrier strike group.
ABM: Anti-ballistic missile defense role, executed at sea by Aegis BMD ships.
Admiral Gorshkov class: Russian Project 22350 frigate armed with Poliment-Redut and Tsirkon.
Admiral Kuznetsov: Russian Project 1143.5 STOBAR aircraft carrier commissioned 1990.
Aegis Ashore: Land-based variant deployed in Romania and Poland for European missile defense.
Aegis BMD: Ballistic missile defense variant of Aegis using SM-3 interceptors.
Aegis Combat System: Although naval, integrates with maritime domain awareness picture for high-end threats.
AESA: Active electronically scanned array radar with transmit/receive modules per element.
AEW: Airborne early warning capability, embarked as E-2 Hawkeye on CATOBAR carriers.
AGI: Auxiliary, General, Intelligence collection ship.
AGM: Auxiliary, General, Missile range instrumentation ship.
AGOR: Auxiliary, General, Oceanographic Research vessel.
AGS: Auxiliary, General, Surveying ship.
AIP: Air-independent propulsion enabling submerged endurance without snorkeling.
Air Wing: Embarked aviation unit on a US carrier, designated CVW.
AK-630: Soviet/Russian 30 mm six-barrel rotary CIWS gun mount.
AKE: Dry cargo and ammunition ship, USN Lewis and Clark class T-AKE.
Akizuki class: Japanese JMSDF general-purpose destroyer with FCS-3A AESA, lead ship DD-115.
Akula class: Soviet Project 971 SSN nuclear attack submarine.
Alvaro de Bazan class: Spanish F-100 Aegis frigate with SPY-1D, lead ship F-101.
Amphibious Ready Group: USN three-ship formation built around an LHA or LHD.
AN/SLQ-32: US shipboard electronic warfare suite, current variants V6 and V7 SEWIP.
AN/SPS-49: US long-range two-dimensional air search radar.
AN/SPY-1: Passive electronically scanned S-band radar of the Aegis system.
AN/SPY-1A: Initial Aegis variant on CG-47 through CG-58.
AN/SPY-1B: Improved Aegis variant on later Ticonderoga cruisers.
AN/SPY-1D: Single deckhouse variant for Arleigh Burke DDGs Flight I/II.
AN/SPY-1D(V): Littoral upgrade with improved low-altitude performance for Flight IIA.
AN/SPY-6(V): Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), GaN-based AESA on DDG Flight III and Ford CVN.
AN/SQQ-89: Integrated undersea warfare combat system on USN surface combatants.
AN/SQS-53: Hull-mounted active/passive low-frequency sonar on Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke.
AN/SSQ-53: DIFAR passive directional sonobuoy.
AN/SSQ-62: DICASS active directional sonobuoy.
Andrea Doria class: Italian Horizon-class air-defense destroyer with PAAMS.
AOE: Fast combat support ship, USN designation, e.g., Supply class T-AOE-6.
AOR: Replenishment oiler.
APAR: Active Phased Array Radar, Thales X-band illuminator on De Zeven Provincien and Sachsen.
Arihant class: Indian Navy SSBN with K-15 and K-4 SLBMs.
Arleigh Burke class: USN DDG-51 Aegis guided missile destroyer.
Arleigh Burke Flight I: Hulls DDG-51 to DDG-71, no helicopter hangar.
Arleigh Burke Flight II: Hulls DDG-72 to DDG-78, improved EW and Link 16.
Arleigh Burke Flight IIA: Hulls DDG-79 onward with twin hangar, 5 inch/62 Mk 45 Mod 4.
Arleigh Burke Flight III: Hulls from DDG-125 Jack H. Lucas with SPY-6(V)1.
ARS: Auxiliary, Rescue and Salvage ship.
AS: Submarine tender, USN designation, e.g., Emory S. Land class AS-39.
ASCM: Anti-ship cruise missile generic category.
Aster 15: MBDA short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile with 30 km range.
Aster 30: MBDA long-range SAM with 120 km class range, Block 1NT for ABM.
Astute class: Royal Navy SSN with Spearfish and Tomahawk Block IV.
ASW: Anti-submarine warfare.
Atago class: JMSDF Aegis DDG with SPY-1D(V), lead ship DDG-177.
ATF: Fleet ocean tug, USN designation.
Avenger class: USN MCM-1 mine countermeasures ship.

B

Babcock Type 31: Royal Navy Inspiration class general-purpose frigate based on Iver Huitfeldt.
Ballistic Missile Defense: Mission to intercept ballistic missiles in midcourse or terminal phase.
Barbette: Armored cylindrical structure supporting a gun turret.
Barracuda class: French SSN, also called Suffren class, lead boat Suffren S 635.
Bastion-P: Russian K-300P coastal defense system with P-800 Oniks.
Battle of Jutland: 1916 North Sea fleet action between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet.
Battle of Midway: June 1942 Pacific carrier battle, a turning point against Imperial Japan.
Battle of Trafalgar: Royal Navy victory of 21 October 1805 under Nelson over the combined Franco-Spanish fleet.
Battle of Tsushima: 1905 Russo-Japanese naval engagement won by Admiral Togo.
Battlecruiser: Capital ship with battleship guns and reduced armor for higher speed.
Battleship: Heavily armored capital ship with large-caliber main battery.
Bay class: Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship dock based on Enforcer design.
Beam: Maximum breadth of the ship.
Belknap class: USN guided missile cruiser of the 1960s with Mk 10 launcher.
Black Shark: Italian Leonardo heavyweight torpedo for SSK and SSN.
Blue Ridge class: USN amphibious command ship LCC-19 and LCC-20.
BMD: Ballistic missile defense.
Bofors 40 mm: Swedish gun in 40/60 and 40/70 marks widely used as light AA.
Bofors 57 mm Mk 3: Naval gun on LCS, Constellation, and Visby classes.
Borei class: Russian Project 955 SSBN carrying RSM-56 Bulava.
Bow sonar: Sonar mounted in the bow dome of a submarine or surface ship.
BrahMos: India-Russia supersonic cruise missile, ramjet, Mach 2.8 class.
Broadside: Combined fire of all guns on one side of a warship.
Bulava: Russian RSM-56 submarine-launched ballistic missile for Borei class.
Bulkhead: Vertical partition dividing a ship into compartments.

C

CA: Heavy cruiser hull symbol, 8 inch main battery class under London Treaty.
Capital Ship: Most powerful surface combatant of a fleet (today usually carriers).
Carrier Air Wing: USN designation CVW, embarked squadrons aboard CV/CVN.
Carrier Strike Group: USN formation built around a CVN with cruiser, destroyers, and SSN.
Casemate: Armored mount for secondary battery on early 20th century capital ships.
CATOBAR: Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery carrier configuration.
CEC: Cooperative Engagement Capability, USN sensor netting between Aegis ships.
CG: Guided missile cruiser hull symbol.
CG-47 Ticonderoga: Lead ship of USN Aegis cruiser class.
Charles de Gaulle: French Navy CVN R91, only nuclear carrier outside USN.
Chinese Type 052D: Luyang III class DDG with HHQ-9 and Type 346A AESA.
Chinese Type 055: Renhai class large guided missile destroyer.
Citadel: Hardened on-board refuge for crew during piracy boarding.
CIWS: Close-In Weapon System for terminal anti-missile defense.
CL: Light cruiser hull symbol, 6 inch main battery class.
Columbia class: USN SSBN-826, replacement for Ohio class with Trident II D5LE.
Combat Information Center: Compartment where sensor data is fused and engagements managed.
Constellation class: USN FFG-62 guided missile frigate based on FREMM.
Conventional take-off and landing: CTOL operation from a CATOBAR carrier.
Corvette: Light surface combatant smaller than a frigate.
County class: Royal Navy guided missile destroyer of 1960s with Seaslug.
CSG: Carrier Strike Group.
CV: Cargo Value, used in insurance and freight rating.
CVA: Attack aircraft carrier hull symbol, retired 1975 in USN.
CVE: Escort aircraft carrier, mass produced in World War II.
CVL: Light aircraft carrier hull symbol.
CVN: Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier hull symbol.
CVW: Carrier Air Wing.

D

D5LE: Trident II D5 Life Extension SLBM variant fielded from 2017.
Daring class: Royal Navy Type 45 air-defense destroyer with PAAMS.
Dazzle camouflage: World War I disruptive paint scheme on warships.
DCNS: French naval prime contractor, since 2017 Naval Group.
DD: Destroyer hull symbol without missile fit.
DDG: Guided-missile destroyer.
DDG-1000 Zumwalt: USN tumblehome stealth destroyer with two 155 mm AGS.
DDG-51: USN Arleigh Burke class hull number for lead ship.
DDH: Helicopter destroyer hull symbol, JMSDF usage for Hyuga and Izumo.
De Zeven Provincien class: Royal Netherlands Navy LCF air-defense frigate with APAR and SMART-L.
Decoy launcher: Mk 36 SRBOC and Nulka systems for chaff, IR, and active decoys.
Depth charge: Hydrostatically fused ASW weapon dropped from surface ship or aircraft.
DICASS: Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System.
DIFAR: Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording sonobuoy.
Dipping sonar: Helicopter-deployed active/passive sonar, e.g., FLASH and AQS-22.
Displacement Tonnage: Total mass of water displaced by a vessel.
DM2A4 Seehecht: German Atlas Elektronik heavyweight torpedo.
Doppler velocity log: Acoustic sensor measuring ship's speed over ground.
Double hull: Submarine construction with separate pressure and outer hulls.
Dreadnought: HMS Dreadnought 1906, all big-gun turbine battleship that defined the class.
Dreadnought class (UK): Royal Navy future SSBN to replace Vanguard from 2030s.

E

EH101 Merlin: Royal Navy ASW and ASaC helicopter, naval variant of AW101.
EMALS: Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System on Ford-class and Fujian.
EMPAR: European Multi-function Phased Array Radar on Horizon class.
Enterprise CVN-65: First nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, commissioned 1961, eight reactors.
ESSM: RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, quad-packed in Mk 41 cells.
ESSM Block II: Variant with active radar seeker fielded from 2020.
Exocet MM38: Original surface-launched anti-ship variant of 1970s.
Exocet MM40 Block 3: Long-range turbojet variant with land-attack capability.
Exocet SM39: Submarine-launched encapsulated variant.

F

F100 frigate: Spanish Alvaro de Bazan Aegis frigate, lead ship F-101.
F124 frigate: German Sachsen class air defense frigate with APAR and SMART-L.
F125 frigate: German Baden-Wurttemberg class focused on stabilization missions.
F21 Artemis: French Naval Group heavyweight torpedo replacing F17 Mod 2.
FAC: Fast Attack Craft, missile or gun, e.g., Pauk and Tarantul.
Fast combat support ship: AOE designation for high-speed underway replenishment.
FCS-3A: Mitsubishi multi-function AESA on Akizuki class.
FF: Freight forwarder.
FFG: Guided-missile frigate.
FFG-62: USN Constellation class lead ship.
FFG-7: USN Oliver Hazard Perry class lead ship.
Fincantieri: Italian shipbuilder, prime contractor for FREMM and Constellation.
First Rate: Royal Navy ship of the line with 100 or more guns.
Flag bridge: Bridge level reserved for the embarked flag officer's staff.
Flight deck angle: Angle, typically 9 to 10 degrees, between angled landing deck and ship centerline.
FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared sensor, navalized on most warships.
Ford class: USN Gerald R. Ford CVN-78 nuclear carrier with A1B reactor and EMALS.
Forrestal class: USN supercarrier of 1950s with first integrated angled deck.
Freeboard: Distance from waterline to freeboard deck, governed by the Load Lines Convention but referenced in SOLAS.
Freedom class: USN LCS-1 monohull littoral combat ship.
FREMM: Frigate Europeenne Multi-Mission, Italian and French class.
Frigate (sail-era): Fifth-rate cruising warship with single gun deck.
FS: NATO STANAG symbol for corvette.
Fujian: Chinese Navy Type 003 CV-18 with electromagnetic catapults, launched 2022.

G

GaN: Gallium nitride semiconductor used in modern AESA T/R modules.
Gato class: USN World War II fleet submarine.
Gepard class: Soviet/Russian Project 11661 light frigate.
Gerald R. Ford CVN-78: Lead ship of Ford class, commissioned 2017.
Goalkeeper CIWS: Thales 30 mm GAU-8 based close-in weapon system.
Gorshkov class: Russian Project 22350 frigate.
Gotland class: Swedish AIP submarine with Stirling engine.
Grand Fleet: British Royal Navy main battle force in the First World War.

H

Halifax class: Royal Canadian Navy patrol frigate with SMART-S Mk 2.
Hamina class: Finnish Navy fast attack craft with RBS-15 and Umkhonto.
Hangar: Enclosed deck for aircraft maintenance and stowage.
Harpoon: Boeing AGM/RGM/UGM-84 subsonic anti-ship missile.
Harpoon Block II: GPS-aided land attack capable variant.
Heavyweight torpedo: 533 mm class submarine torpedo, e.g., Mk 48, Spearfish, DM2A4.
Helideck: Flight deck on surface combatant sized for embarked helicopter.
HMS Dreadnought: 1906 all-big-gun battleship, namesake of the dreadnought type.
HMS Vanguard: Lead Royal Navy SSBN with Trident II D5.
HMS Victory: Nelson's first-rate flagship at Trafalgar, preserved at Portsmouth.
Horizon class: Franco-Italian air defense destroyer with PAAMS and EMPAR.
Hospital ship: Auxiliary, Hospital, AH, e.g., USNS Mercy T-AH-19.
Hull number: Alphanumeric designation, e.g., CVN-78, used by USN for unique ship identification.
Hunter-killer: Mission category historically applied to SSN against SSBN.
Huntington Ingalls Industries: USN prime shipbuilder for Ford CVN and Virginia SSN.
Hyuga class: JMSDF DDH-181 helicopter destroyer with through-deck.

I

IFEP: Integrated Full Electric Propulsion, used on Type 45 and Zumwalt.
IFF: Identification, Friend or Foe interrogator/transponder, modern Mode 5 standard.
Inboard Profile: Naval architecture drawing showing internal arrangements.
Independence class: USN LCS-2 trimaran littoral combat ship.
INS Arihant: Indian Navy first indigenous SSBN, commissioned 2016.
INS Vikramaditya: Indian Navy STOBAR carrier converted from Russian Admiral Gorshkov.
INS Vikrant: Indian Navy indigenous aircraft carrier IAC-1, commissioned 2022, STOBAR.
Internal subdivision: Watertight compartmentalization for damage control.
Iowa class: USN World War II fast battleship with 16 inch/50 main battery.
Iver Huitfeldt class: Royal Danish Navy air-defense frigate with SMART-L and APAR.
Izumo class: JMSDF DDH-183 helicopter destroyer being converted for F-35B STOVL.

J

JL-2: Chinese PLAN Julang-2 SLBM on Type 094.
JL-3: Chinese PLAN Julang-3 SLBM on Type 094A and Type 096.
JMSDF: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
JTIDS: Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, Link 16 waveform.
Julang: PLAN family of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, JL-1 through JL-3.
Jutland 1916: Largest battleship fleet action in history.

K

K-15 Sagarika: Indian Navy SLBM on Arihant class with 750 km range.
K-4: Indian Navy intermediate-range SLBM with 3,500 km range.
Kalibr: Russian 3M-14 family of land-attack, anti-ship, and anti-submarine cruise missiles.
Kashin class: Soviet Project 61 gas-turbine destroyer of the 1960s.
KDX-III: ROK Navy Sejong the Great class Aegis destroyer with 128 VLS.
Keel laying: Symbolic placement of first block in dock.
Kidd class: USN AAW destroyer derived from Spruance, four built for Iran and sold to USN.
Kiev class: Soviet Project 1143 aviation cruiser with VTOL aircraft.
Kilo class: Soviet/Russian Project 877/636.3 diesel-electric submarine.
King George V class: Royal Navy WWII battleship with 14 inch quadruple main battery.
Kirov class: Soviet Project 1144 nuclear-powered missile cruiser.
Kockums Stirling: Swedish AIP engine used in Gotland and Soryu classes.
Kongo class: JMSDF Aegis DDG with SPY-1D, lead ship DDG-173.
Krivak class: Soviet/Russian Project 1135 ASW frigate.
Kuznetsov class: Soviet/Russian Project 1143.5 STOBAR carrier.

L

Lada class: Russian Project 677 diesel-electric submarine, planned AIP fit.
Lafayette class: USN SSBN of 1960s, last conventional pre-Ohio boat.
LAMPS: Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System, SH-60 ASW/ASuW helicopter.
Landing craft: Small amphibious craft, e.g., LCAC, LCU, LCM.
LCAC: Landing Craft, Air Cushion, USN amphibious hovercraft.
LCC: Amphibious command ship hull symbol.
LCS: Lashing Computer System notation issued by DNV and others for container securing software.
LCU: Landing Craft, Utility.
Leander class: Royal Navy Cold War general-purpose frigate, widely exported.
Lerici class: Italian Intermarine GRP minehunter, exported as Osprey class.
Lewis and Clark class: USN T-AKE dry cargo ship.
LHA: Landing Helicopter Assault, USN Tarawa and America classes.
LHD: Landing Helicopter Dock, USN Wasp and Australian Canberra classes.
Liaoning: Chinese PLAN Type 001 CV-16 STOBAR carrier, ex-Varyag.
Light frigate: Smaller version of a frigate, e.g., Type 31 Inspiration.
Lithium-ion battery: Modern submarine main battery, fielded on Soryu and Taigei classes.
Littoral Combat Ship: USN focused-mission corvette-sized combatant.
LM2500: GE marine gas turbine widely used on USN, JMSDF, RN, and other surface combatants.
Long lance torpedo: IJN Type 93 oxygen-fueled heavyweight torpedo.
LPD: Landing Platform Dock, USN San Antonio class LPD-17.
LPH: Landing Platform Helicopter, retired USN designation.
LSD: Landing Ship Dock, USN Whidbey Island and Harpers Ferry.
LST: Landing Ship Tank, retired USN designation.
Lurssen: German shipbuilder, FAC and corvettes for export.
Luyang III: PLAN Type 052D destroyer.

M

M51: French Navy SLBM on Triomphant class.
Magazine: Armored compartment storing ammunition and propellant.
Maritime patrol aircraft: Fixed-wing ASW/ISR aircraft, e.g., P-8 Poseidon, P-3 Orion.
Maya class: JMSDF Aegis DDG with cooperative engagement capability, lead ship DDG-179.
MCM: Mine countermeasures vessel hull symbol.
Meko 200: Blohm + Voss modular frigate, exported widely.