Soviet and US Ship Designations
 
Soviet Navy Classification and   
equivalent Western (US) terms 
Soviet Navy Classification and   		 Former Western Classification and   
new US Navy Classification System, adopted in June 1975. 
Note 1: Vessels formerly classified as "Frigates" (DLG/DLGN) became "Cruiser" (CG/CGN), and "Destroyer Escoprt" (DE/DEG) became "Frigates" (FF/FFG). 
Note 2: The US Navy classification system is often incorrectly used for ships of other navies. The suffix "G" used in US Navy classification (FFG, DDG) mean "surface-to-air missiles" and this is not the same as suffix "M" ("SS missiles").
Ocean-going Surface Ships: 
    Aircraft-Carrying Cruisers/ Carriers: 
  • TAKR - Tyazholyi Avianesushyi Kreyser = CVN/CV/CVGH - Heavy Aircraft-Carrying Cruiser

    • Rocket Ships: 

  • ARKR - Atomnyi Raketny Kreyser = CGN - Nuclear-powered Rocket Cruiser (Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Cruiser) armed with long-range anti-ship missiles
  • RKR - Raketny Kreyser = CG - Rocket Cruiser (Guided Missile Cruiser) armed with long-range anti-ship missiles
  • BRK - Bol'shoy Raketny Korabl' = DDG - Large Rocket Ship (Guided-Missile Destroyer) armed with medium/horizon-range anti-ship missiles)
  • EM - Eskadrenny Minonosets = DDG - Guided-Missile Destroyer (with long-range anti-ship missiles) 

    • ASW Ships: 

  • PKR - Protivolodochny Kreyser = CVGH/CVS - ASW Cruiser (Aviation Cruiser) 
  • BPK - Bol'shoy Protivolodochny Korabl' = CG/DDG/DD - Large ASW Ship (Guided Missile Cruiser/ or Destroyer) 

    • Destroyers: 

  • EM - Eskadrenny Minonosets = DD - Destroyer
Coastal Area and Defence Vessels: 
  • MPK - Maly Protivolodochny Korabl' = Small Antisubmarine Ship (Corvette)
  • SKR - Storozhevoy Korabl' = Patrol Ship (Frigate)
    • PLK 3 ranga - Protivolodochny Korabl' 3 ranga = Antisubmarine Ship 3rd rank
  • MRK - Maly Raketny Korabl' 3 ranga = Small Rocket Ship (Guided Missile Patrol Combatant) 
  • PSK - Patrul'ny Storozhevoy Korabl' = Coastguard (Maritime Border Guard) Patrol Ship
  • RK - Raketny Kater = Missile Boat (Guided Missile Patrol Boat) 
      • River Flotilla 
    • RK - Raketny Kater 3 ranga (ex-BTK - bol'shoy torpedny kater) = Missile Boat 3rd rank (ex-Large Torpedo-Boat)
    • BAK - Bronirovanny Artilleryisky Korabl' = Armored Gun Ship
  • MAK - Maly Artilleryisky Korabl' = Small Gun Ship
  • PSKR/P - Patrul'ny Storozhevoy Kater = Coastguard Patrol Boat
  • AK - Artilleryisky Kater = Gun Boat
  • BK - Bronirovanny Kater = Armored Boat
  • TKA/TK/T - Torpedny Kater = Torpedo-Boat
Submarines:   
  • PLARB - Atomnaya Podvodnaya Lodka Raketnaya Ballisticheskaya = SSBN - Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
  • PLARK - Atomnaya Podvodnaya Lodka Raketnaya Krylataya  = SSGN - Nuclear-powered Cruise-Missile (Attack) Submarine
  • PLAP - Atomnaya Protivolodochnaya Podvodnaya Lodka = SSKN - Nuclear-powered Hunter/Killer (ASW) Submarine
  • PLA - Atomnaya Podvodnaya Lodka = SSN - Nuclear-powered Submarine
  • PLRB - Podvodnaya Lodka Raketnaya Ballisticheskaya = SSB - Ballistic Missile Submarine (non-nuclear propulsion)
  • PLRK/PLK - Podvodnaya Lodka Raketnaya Krylataya  = SSG - Cruise-Missile (Attack) Submarine (Diesel-powered or other non-nuclear propulsion)
  • PL/PLD - Podvodnaya Lodka = SS - Diesel-powered Submarine
Mine Warfare (MCM) Craft: 
  • ZM - Minny i Setevoy Zagraditel'  = Minelayer
  • MT/MTSh - Morskoy Tral'shik = Seagoing (Ocean) Minesweeper
  • TSh  - Tral'shik = Minesweeper
  • BT - Bazovy Tral'shik = Base Minesweeper
  • RT - Reydovy Tral'shik 4 ranga = Roadstead (Coastal) Minesweeper 4th rank
  • KT - Kater Tral'shik
  • RChT - Rechnoy Tral'shik (ex-river)
Amphibious Vessels: 
  • BDK - Bol'shoy Desantny Korabl' 1-go ranga = Large Landing (Dock Landing) Ship 1 rank
  • BDK - Bol'shoy Desantny Korabl'2-go ranga  = Large Landing (Tank Landing) Ship 2 rank
  • SDK - Sredny Desantny Korabl' = Medium Landing Ship
  • MDK - Maly Desantny Korabl' = Small Landing Ship
  • DK - Desantny Kater = Landing Craft
  • KVP/MDK - Maly Desantny Korabl' na Vozdushnoy Podushke = Large Air-cushion Vehicle Landing Craft
  • KVP/D - Desantny Kater na Vozdushnoy Podushke = Small Air-cushion Vehicle Landing Craft (or Air-cushion Personnel Landing Craft)
  • KVP/S - Desantny Ekranoplan = Wing-in-Ground-Effect Amphibious Landing Craft 
Naval Auxiliaries: 
  • KRU - Korabl' Upravleniya = Command Ship
  • KVN - Korabl' Vozdushnogo Nabl'udenya
  • GKS - Gidroakusticheskoe Kontrol'noe Sudno
  • SS - Spasatel'noe Sudno
 
 		 Aircraft Carriers:  
  • CVN (ex-CVAN) = Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier
  • CV (ex-CVA) = Aircraft Carrier (usually larger than 20,000 tons but not always the case)
      • Former (Ex-) Classification:  
    • CVB= Large Aircraft Carrier after WWII
    • CVA=Attack Aircraft Carrier after WWII
    • CVGH carrier-cruiser armed with guided missiles and helicopters
    • CVL=Light Aircraft Carrier smaller then fleet carriers
    • CVE=Escort Aircraft Carrier smaller than light carriers
    • CVS=Anti-Submarine Carrier
    • In Eurpoean NATO Countries "R" is used to designate an aircraft carrier
Major Surface Warships:  
    • B/BB=Battleship usually larger than 20,000 tons and armed with over 10" guns.
    • BC=Battlecruiser usually larger than Heavy Cruisers . Common phrase is "armed with a battleships gun's but has a cruisers speed and armour." Inaccurate after WWI.
  • CGN (ex-CLGN/DLGN) = nuclear-powered missile cruiser
  • CG (ex-DLGN) = missile cruiser
    • CB=Large Cruiser associated with the U.S. Alaska Class.
    • CC =Command Cruiser usually associated with the Lexington Battlecruisers
    • CA=Heavy Cruiser armed with guns 8" and larger
    • CL=Light Cruiser armed with guns smaller than 8"
    • CGH=Guided Missile Cruiser Helicopter usually carries a helicopter and landing pad
    • CAG=Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser a heavy cruiser converted to carry missiles
    • CLG=Light Guided Missile Cruiser-same as above except with a light cruiser
  • DDG = missile destroyer (AAW)
  • DD = destroyer (ASW)
    • D/DD=Destroyer usually armed with 4" or 5" weapons
    • DE=Destroyer Escort a small lightly armed destroyer
    • DDH=Destroyer usually equipped with a helicopter and landing pad.
    • DDG=Guided Missile Destroyer usually main armament is missiles.
  • FFG (ex-DEG) = missile frigate (AAW)
  • FF (ex-DE) = frigate (ASW)
    • F/FF=Frigate similiar to destroyer escorts,name is sometimes interchanged-originally ocean escorts
    • FFG=Guided Missile frigate usually the main armament is missiles.
    • FFH=Frigate Helicopter usually equipped with a helicopter and landing pad.
Partol Combatans:  
  • PHM = missile patrol hydrofoil
Submarines:  
  • SSBN = Ballistic Missile Nuclear-powered Submarine
  • SSN = Nuclear-powered Submarine
    • SSLN = Nuclear-powered Land-Attack Missile Submarine (Carrier)
    • SSTN = Nuclear-powered Theater Ballistic Missile Submarine (Carrier)
    • SSFN = Nuclear-powered Special Operation Submarine 
    • SSCN = Command, Control, and Communications variant of Nuclear-powered Submarine (capable electronic warfare missions)
    • SSMN = Mine Warfare version of Nuclear-powered Submarine (capable mine countermeasures operations)
    • SSKN = Sea Control and Maritime Surveilance variant of Nuclear-powered Submarine
  • SS = Submarine underwater vessel with diesel/electric or some other non-nuclear propulsion.
    • SSK = same as above used in some countries (hunter-killer)
    • SSG/SSGN=equipped with guided missiles mostly used by Russia
Amphibious Warfare Vessels: 
  • LCC = Amphibious Command Ship
  • LHA = Amphibious Assault Ship (multi-purpose)
    • LHD = Amphibious Assault Ship (multi-purpose)
  • LPH = Amphibious Assault Ship (helicopter carrier)
  • LPD = Amphibious Transport Dock
    • LPA = Amphibious Personnel Transport
  • LST = Tank Landing Ship
  • LSD = Dock Landing Ship
    • LKA=Amphibious Cargo Ship
Replenishment Ships: 
  • AD = Destroyer Tender
  • AS = Submarine Tender
  • AE = Ammunition Ship
  • AFS = Combat Support Ship
  • AO = Oiler
  • AOE = Fast Combat Support Ship
  • AOR = Replenishment Oiler