Hull Designations for Auxiliary and Service Vessels Hull Designation Description AD Destroyer Tender AR Repair Ship ARB Battle Damage Repair Ship ARC Cable Repairing/Laying Ship ARG Repair Ship Internal Combustion Engine ARH Repair Ship Heavy-hull ARL Repair Ship Landing Craft ARSD Salvage Lifting Vessel ARST Salvage Craft Tender ARV Repair Ship Aircraft ARVH Repair Ship Aircraft, Helicopter AS Submarine Tender ACS Crane Ship AK Cargo Ship AKD Cargo Ship Dock AKL Cargo Ship Light AKN Cargo Ship Net AKR Cargo Ship Vehicle AKS General Stores Issue Ship AKV Aircraft Transport AG Miscellaneous Auxiliary AGB Icebreaker AGDS Deep Submergence Support Ship AGEH Hydrofoil Research Ship AGER Environmental Research Ship AGF Command Ship AGM Missile Range Instrumentation Ship AGMR Major Communications Relay Ship AGOR Oceanographic Research Ship AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ship AGP Motor Torpedo Boat Tender AGR (YAGR) Radar Picket Ship AGS Survey Ship AGSC Coastal Surveying Ship AGTR Technical Research Ship AE Ammunition Ship AF Stores Ship AFS Combat Stores Ship T-AKE Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship AO Fleet Oiler / Underway Replenishment Oiler AOE Fast Combat Support Ship AOG Gasoline Tanker AOR Replenishment Fleet Tanker AP Transport APB Self-propelled Barracks Ship APC Coastal Transport APH Evacuation Transport APM Mechanized Artillery Transport APV Transport and Aircraft Ferry ARS Rescue and Salvage Ship ASR Submarine Rescue Vessel AT Fleet Tug ATA Auxiliary Fleet Tug ATF Fleet Ocean Tug ATO Fleet Tug (Old) ATR Rescue Ocean Tug ATS Salvage and Rescue Ship AV Seaplane Tender AVB Advance Aviation Base Ship AVD Seaplane Tender, Destroyer AVM Guided Missile Ship AVP Small Seaplane Tender AVS Aviation Stores Issue Ship AVT Auxiliary Aircraft Landing Training Ship AZ Lighter-than-Air Aircraft Tender AB Crane Ship AC Collier ADG Degaussing Ship AH Hospital Ship AN Net Laying Ship AOT Oil Transporter AW Distilling Ship HSV High Speed Vessel (HSV) IX Miscellaneous Unclassified (USS CONSTITUTION is an example)