List of World War II vessel types of the United States

Army

Under the Army organization of 1940, the Army Quartermaster was charged with the responsibility of providing the Army with all water transport services except those specifically authorized; for the Corps of Engineers in river and harbor work, for the Coast Artillery Corps in mine planting, and for the Signal Corps in cable laying (the Army had no communication ships at this time). In March 1942, most of the transportation functions of the Army Quartermaster were consolidated into the Transportation Division of the newly created Services of Supply and later that same year, on July 31, the Transportation Corps was established.

Coast Artillery Corps Mine Planter Service

The Army Mine Planter Service was responsible for the minefields of the coast defenses. The largest vessels of the service were the U.S. Army Mine Planter (USAMP), which was equipped to install mines and associated control cables. Smaller vessels known as "junior mine planters" or "pup planters", were occasionally employed as mine planters, but they mostly served as freight and passenger boats for river and harbor duty. In addition to the mine planters, there were distribution box boats, used for servicing the mine-cable distribution boxes and rugged utility boats called motor mine yawls.

Mine ships

One example is:

Wallace F. Randolph (MP-7) (ex FS-70)

Cable ships

One example is:

USASPB Col. William. A. Glassford (BSP-2098)

Communication ships

Army communications ships in the South West Pacific theater of World War II provided radio relay services and acted as command posts for forward elements ashore.

Surviving examples include:

PCER-848

PS Weeroona (1910) (S-195, CSQ-1)

Schooners

Argosy Lemal (S-6)

Harold (S-58, CS-3)

Geoanna (IX-61, TP-249, S-382, CS-1)

Volador (IX-59, TP-248, S-385, CSM-1)

South West Pacific Area (SWPA) - Services of Supply (USASOS)

Operated in the Southwest Pacific Area.

Small Ships Section

As there was a need for a fleet of shallow-draft vessels that could navigate among coral reefs, use primitive landing places far up the coast of New Guinea, and land along the outlying islands. An "S" fleet under Army control was created using local Australian vessels crewed largely by civilian Australians and New Zealanders. It was a miscellaneous collection of luggers, rusty trawlers, old schooners, launches, ketches, yawls, and yachts.

Water Branch - Army Transport Service (ATS)

The Army Transport Service (ATS), originating with the Quartermaster Corps in 1898 and continuing into Transportation Corps as a division, operated the Army's large ships, most of which were transports, but ATS also manned the Army's large cable ships.

Troop ships

Troop ships included the following.

Surviving examples include:

USAT Agwileon

USAT George Washington

USAT Orizaba

Sunk

USAT Cynthia Olsen (sunk December 7, 1941)

USAT Meigs

USAT Liberty

USAT General John McE. Hyde

Cargo ships over 1,000 tons

Cargo ships moved freight around the world.

Harbor Branch - Harbor Boat Service (HBS)

FM 55-130 Small Boats and Harbor Craft

Harbor Vessels

The Harbor Craft Company is organized for the purpose of ferrying to shore cargo from freighters and transports arriving in theaters of operation. The vessels may either be riding offshore at anchor in the open sea or more likely, anchored in a harbor. Cargo from the ships is loaded by Transportation Corps port company personnel onto barges. Then tugs, tow boats, or marine tractors propel the barges to the shore for unloading. Any cargo too heavy for the vessel's gear to lift is handled by a 60-ton floating crane.

B Barge or Lorcha

BB Balloon Barge

BBP Balloon Barrage Leader

BC Cargo Barge (Med. 110'-130')

BCS Cargo Barge (Sm. 45' - 60')

BCL Cargo Barge (Large - 210' or more)

BD Derrick and Crane Barges

BDP Pontoon Derrick Barge

BK Knocked-down barge

BG Gasoline Barge

BSP Self-propelled Barge

BW Water Barge

BTL Truck Lighter

C Navy Type Launch (Obsolete designation)

CL Landing Boat

D Dory and Dinghie

G Marine Tractor

HA Hoisting or Retrieving Vessel

JR Radio Controlled Boat

J Launch up to 50'

MT Motor Towboat (Sm. 26')

MTL Motor Towboat (Large, over 26')

OB Outboard Launch - Detachable Motor

OBM Outboard Motor - Stationary Motor

Q Launch, more than 60'

R Rowboat

TKL Tank Lighter

V Speed Boat

Y Tanker - 176'

Cargo ships under 1,000 tons

Coastwise and inter-island cargo ships, sometimes known as coastal freighters.

Small Boat Company

The small boat company provided regular coastal and island service to bases in the Aleutian and Pacific Islands to supply food and equipment transported by small coastal and inter-island vessels and water craft that were under 200 feet or under 1,000 gross tons of the following vessel types.

Ferry

Tanker

Water Boat

Motor Launch

Seagoing Tug

Freight-Passenger Vessel

FS-80 to FS-90 were merchant vessels refitted for wartime operation

Built during World War II:

F-76

FS-64

FS-206

FS-240

FS-244

FS-246

FS-263

FS-344

FS-391

T-57

T-89

T-147

TP-225

Surviving examples include:

LT-5 the only surviving Army vessel that participated in the D-Day Normandy landing.

LT-152

LT-638

Air Corps - Quartermaster Corps (QMC) boat service

Late in 1943 all rescue-boat activities were reassigned to the Army Air Forces.

Unit Designation Chronology

1. Air Corps Marine Rescue Service
2. Quartermaster Boat Company, Avn. (note; Avn=Aviation)
3. AAF Emergency Rescue Boat Squadron (ERBS)

Rescue Boats

Rescue boats included the following.

Rivers & Harbors Division

Reorganized 6 June 1942 as Construction Division - Engineering and Operations branches.

Surviving examples include:

Sergeant Floyd (towboat)

William M. Black (dredge)

Montgomery (snagboat)

WT Preston

Troops Division

The 1943 Engineer Field Manual described a table of organization and equipment for specialized types of engineering units. These included:

Engineer Units, Combat, with Army Ground Forces

Engineer Units, Service, with Army Ground Forces

Engineer Units with Army Air Forces

Engineer Units with Army Service Forces

Port Repair Ship

Port Construction and Repair group

Engineer Amphibian Brigades

Port & Harbor Rehabilitation

The engineer Engineer Port Repair ship is equipped with repair facilities that include a heavy crane and a machine shop and maintains channels and ship berths by removing sunken ships and other obstructions. It also maintains channel markings and other aids for pilots. It does needed work on docks and wharves in conjunction with engineer port construction and repair groups.

Port Construction and Repair Group

The primary mission of the engineer port construction and repair group is to make ready for use the facilities of ports of debarkation in a theater of operations. and to perform work involved in improvement or expansion of such ports, exclusive of harbors. Its work is performed in conjunction with engineer port repair ship operations offshore.

The construction platoon consists of a divers' section under the supervision of an officer, as master diver. Enlisted personnel consists of marine divers and divers' attendants. This section does underwater work incident to construction of quay walls, wharves, piers, etc.

Surviving examples include:

Junior N. Van Noy, only one of the ten Port Repair Ships that was not a Maritime Commission type N3-M-A1 type conversion.

Near-short units

The Engineer Amphibian Brigade, redesignated in 1943 as Engineer Special Brigade provided personnel and equipment for transporting combat troops from a friendly near shore to a hostile far shore when the distance is not over 100 miles. The brigade resupplies these troops during the early stages of establishing a beachhead. The brigade can transport one division when reinforced by naval LCT boats.

2+1/2-ton amphibian trucks,

command and navigation boats

tank lighters

patrol boats

surf-landing boats

River crossing units

Treadway bridge company

A Treadway bridge company is attached to an armored division in river-crossing operations to provide a bridge for heavy vehicles. Equipment included a steel-treadway bridge M1, providing a floating bridge about 1,080 feet long, or a steel-treadway bridge M2, providing a floating bridge about 864 feet long.

Light ponton company

The company is attached to a division in river-crossing operations to provide bridges and rafts. Equipment included two units of M3 pneumatic bridge equipage or two units of M1938 10-ton ponton bridge equipment.

Their stream-crossing equipment included:

One unit of footbridge, M1938 Four ferry set, No. 1, Infantry Support Twelve raft, set No. 1, Infantry Support Seventy assault boats, M2

Heavy ponton battalion

The Heavy ponton battalion was attached to a corps in river-crossing operations to provide bridges and rafts capable of supporting heavier loads. Bridges and rafts are constructed of four units of 25-ton heavy ponton equipment, M1940.

Airborne Engineer Battalion (pneumatic reconnaissance boats)

Combat Engineer Battalion

15 boat, reconnaissance, pneumatic, canvas, 2-man

14 boat, assault, M-2, with paddles and canvas bag

Maritime Commission vessels

Vessels operated by the Maritime Commission included Liberty and Victory Ships.

Liberty ship

Surviving examples include:

SS John W. Brown

SS Jeremiah O'Brien, the only surviving Merchant Marine ship which was in the D-Day armada.

Victory ship

Surviving examples include:

SS Kingsport Victory

SS Simmons Victory (end USS Liberty (AGTR-5))

Amphibious warfare type

Amphibious warfare vessels include all ships with organic capability for amphibious warfare and which have characteristics enabling long duration operations on the high seas. There are two classifications of craft: amphibious warfare ships which are built to cross oceans, and landing craft, which are designed to take troops from ship to shore in an invasion. Some vessels called "landing ships" did not have the capability to off-load troops and supplies onto beaches; they were just transports or command-and-control vessels.

Ships

AGC: Amphibious Force Flagship

class anewed (1969) too, LCC—Amphibious Command Ship

AKA: Attack Cargo Ship

APA: Attack Transport

APD: High speed transport

LSD: Landing Ship, Dock

LSM: Landing Ship, Medium

LSMR or LSM(R)—Landing Ship, Medium (Rocket)

LST: Landing Ship, Tank

LSTH or LST(H)—Landing Ship, Tank (Hospital)

LSV: Landing Ship, Vehicle

Landing Craft

LCC: Landing Craft, Control

LCFF, LC(FF): Flotilla Flagship

LCI, LCIL or LCI(L): Landing Craft, Infantry (Large)

class anewed (1949) too, LSI—Landing Ship, Infantry

LCI(G)(M)(R)—Landing Craft, Infantry (Gunboat) (Mortar) (Rocket)

LCM : Landing Craft, Mechanized

LCP, LCPL, or LCP(L): Landing Craft, Personnel (Large)

LCR, LCRS or LCR(S): Landing Craft, Rubber (Small)

LCR, LCRL or LCR(L): Landing Craft, Rubber (Large)

LCSS, LCS(S) : Landing Craft, Support (Small), an LCP(L) conversion, fitted with heavy machine guns

LCS, LCSL or LCS(L): Landing Craft, Support (Large)

class anewed (1949) too, LSSL—Landing Ship, Support (Large)

LCT: Landing Craft, Tank

class anewed (1949) too, LSU—Landing Ship, Utility

class anewed (1956) too, LCU—Landing Craft, Utility

LCV: Landing Craft, Vehicle

LCVP or LCV(P): Landing Craft, Vehicle (Personnel)

an LCV, fitted with 1/4 inch armor

LCA—Landing Craft, Assault (British term for LCVP)

Other types

Aircraft Carriers

Fleet Aircraft Carriers CV Light Aircraft Carriers CVL Escort Carriers CVE

Battleships

Battleships BB

Cruisers

Large Cruisers CB Heavy Cruisers CA Light Cruisers CL

Destroyers

Destroyers DD Destroyer Escorts DE

Submarines

Submarines SS

Minecraft

Minelayers & Coastal Minelayers CM Light Minelayers DM Auxiliary Minelayers ACM Minesweepers AM Coastal Minesweepers AMc Fast Minesweepers DMS Motor Minesweepers YMS

Patrol Craft

Gunboats PG Converted Yachts PG Frigates PF River Gunboats PR Smaller Converted Yachts PY Coastal Yachts PYc Escort Patrol Craft PCE Eagle Boats PE Patrol Craft, Sweepers PCS Motor Gunboats PGM

Submarine Chasers

Submarine Chasers (Steel Hull) PC Submarine Chasers (Wooden Hull) SC

Motor Torpedo Boats

Motor Torpedo Boats PT Motor Boat Submarine Chasers PTC

Auxiliaries

Crane Ship AB Advanced Base Section Dock ABSD Advanced Base Dock ABD Destroyer Tenders AD Ammunition Ships AE Provision Store Ships AF Auxiliary Floating Dock AFD Large Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) AFDB Small Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) AFDL Medium Auxiliary Floating Dock (non-self-propelled) AFDM Miscellaneous Auxiliaries AG Amphibious Force Command Ships AGC MTB Tenders AGP Surveying Ships AGS

Hospital Ships

Hospital Ships AH

Cargo Ships

Cargo Ships AK Attack Cargo Ships AKA Net Cargo Ships AKN General Stores Issue Ships AKS Cargo Ships and Aircraft Ferries AKV

Net-Laying Ships AN Oilers & Tankers

Oilers AO Gaoline Tankers AOG

Transports

Transports AP Attack Transports APA Self-Propelled Barracks Ships APB Coastal Transports APc High-Speed Transports APD Evacuation Transports APH Barracks Ships APL Mechanized Artillery Transport APM Transport Submarine APS Aircraft Ferries APV

Repair Ships

Repair Ships AR Battle-Damage Repair Ships ARB Auxiliary Repair Dock (Concrete) ARDC Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ships ARG Heavy Hull Repair Ships ARH Landing Craft Repair Ships ARL Salvage Vessels ARS Salvage Craft Tenders ARS(T) Aircraft Repair Ships (Aircraft) ARV(A) Aircraft Repair Ships (Engine) ARV(E)

Submarine Tenders & Rescue Vessels

Submarine Tenders AS Submarine Rescue Vessels ASR

Tugboats

Auxiliary Tugs ATA Fleet Ocean Tugs ATF Old Ocean Tugs ATO Rescue Tugs ATR

Seaplane Tenders & Aviation Supply Ships

Seaplane Tenders AV Catapult Lighter AVC Seaplane Tenders (Destroyers) AVD Small Seaplane Tenders AVP Aviations Supply Ships AVS

Distilling Ships

Distilling Ships AW

Unclassified Vessels

Unclassified Vessels IX

Yard and District Craft Coast Guard Cutters

Cruising Cutters WPG Weather Patrol Ships WIX Weather Patrol Cutters WPC Icebreakers WAG