List of hull classifications (original) (raw)

The list of hull classifications comprises an alphabetical list of the hull classification symbols used by the United States Navy to identify the type of a ship. The combination of symbol and hull number identify a modern Navy ship uniquely. A heavily modified or repurposed ship may receive a new symbol, and either retain the hull number or receive a new one. Also, the system of symbols has changed a number of times since it was introduced in 1907, so ships' symbols sometimes change without anything being done to the physical ship.