On the naming of submarines and their hull number designations:

Source: DANFS, Volume IV, Appendix V

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General Order 541 of 17 July set forth the hull number and type letter designation for US naval ships.  The standard marking system was published annually in the “Ships Data Book” which was requried to contain the standard nomenclature and identification numbers for all naval ships.  There were six (6) standard double letter designators for submarines.  For submarines the following definitions were made.  Submarine, first line – SS; Submarine, second line – OSS; Fleet submarine, first line – SF; Fleet submarine, second line – OSF; Cruiser submarine – SC; Minelaying submarine – SM. The double letter designator is NOT and acronym but is used to differentiate the designators from European practice of using single letters. In the interim period, several other type designators were added and some deleted. 

 

 The practice was substantially changed in SecNav Instruction 5030.1E of 14 August 1968 which changed the designators to four and formalized the “N” designation for nuclear powered ships and for service craft.

 

The type designations used for submarines and their meanings are:

 

AGSS              Auxiliary Submarine (formerly AG(SS))

AKSS              Cargo Submarine (ex-ASSA)

AOSS              Submarine Oiler (Symbol formerly AO(SS), ex-SSO)

APS                 Transport, Submarine (Later SSP)

APSS               Transport, Submarine (ex-ASSP, reclassified LPSS 14 Aug 68)

ASSA              Cargo Submarine (ex- SSA, later APSS)

ASSP               Transport Submarine (ex-SSP, later APSS)

LPSS               Amphibious Transport Submarine (ex-APSS Reclassfied 14 Aug 68)

SC                   Cruiser Submarines

SF                    Fleet Subamrine, First Line

SM                  Minelaying Submarine

SS                    Submarine (ex-Submarine First Line)

SSA                 Submarine, Cargo (Later ASSA)

SSB                 Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine

SSBN              Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine (Nuclear Propulsion) SSB(N) to 1967

SSG                 Guided Missile Submarine

SSK                 Anti Submarine Submarine

SSN                 Submarine (Nuclear Propulsion) SS(N) to 1967

SSO                 Submarine Oiler (Later AOSS)

SSP                 Submarine, Transport (ex-APS, Later ASSP)

SSR                 Radar Picket Submarine          

SSR(N)            Radar Picket Submarine (Nuclear Propulsion) (1956-61)

SST                 Target and Training Submarine (Reclassified 1953)

 

 

Submarine hull numbers were backdated from 1920 to include submarines accepted into the Navy after 1900.  One error was made and USS G-1 for a time used the hull number 19 ˝.  No submarine in commission from 1900 to July 1920 carried a hull number designation during its commissioned lifetime.

 

Submarine hull numbers start with “1” and go to (at present) 776.  They are NOT consecutive as named but are generally consecutive as ordered.  Several gaps occur when groups of or single submarine contracts are cancelled.  A noteable exception is the group SSN-21 to SSN-23 which were numbered out of any sequence or order. 

 

Normally a ship's name is selected while the it is being built, then when launched it is christened and formally given that name.  As the ship is accepted into the United States Navy, it is "commissioned".  At that time an officer takes command and becomes the "Captain" of the ship and the prefix "USS" is attached to the ships name.  The USS stands for United States Ship, meaning it is, through Congress and the Navy, the property of the United States and represents our country. 

 

However, the formal use of the USS prefix as a standard manner to mean only ships in commission in the Navy is a relatively recent thing and did not apply during the Civil War as it does now.  Before the issuance of Executive Order 549 of 8 January 1907 a ship's name could be prefixed by (in a loose manner) by the type of ship it was or by its status.  For example, the USS Minnesota (of Civil War fame) was variously called the Steam Frigate Minnesota and the Flagship Minnesota in offical orders and communication.  The lack of USS does not mean the ship was not 'in commission' during the periods she carried the other prefixes. 

 

After 8 January 1907 the use of USS meant the ship was formally 'in commission'.  It wasn't until 1948 that the Navy formalized the precise status each ship and boat in the Navy had.  Article 2001 (Navy Regulations 1948) further stated that only those ships which were on "Active status" and 'In commission' could carry the prefix USS.  

 

Recently the Navy adopted the “In Commission, Special” designation to designate a ship status in the interim period between the acceptance of a ship onto the Navy List, commissioning, and the formal commissioning ceremony.

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