What do the numbers on the side of a submarine mean?

A hull number is the serial identification number of a boat or ship. For the military, a lower number implies an older vessel. For civilian use, the HIN is used to trace the boat’s history.

What is the front of a submarine called?

The tanks at the front (known as the front trim tanks) are usually filled with water or air first, so the submarine’s front (bow) falls or rises before its rear (stern). The ballast tanks can also be used to help a submarine surface very quickly in an emergency.

What is SSN and SSBN?

The SSN, commonly referred to as the fast attack submarine, is an abbreviation for Submersible Ship Nuclear, while the SSBN stands for the Submersible Ship Ballistic Missile Nuclear. The SSN and SSBN are powered by nuclear reactors.

What does CVN stand for Navy ship?

CVN is ther ship’s “hull classification symbol” while 76 is the hull number. “C” means aircraft carrier, “V” indicates fixed wing (vice rotating wings as on helicopters), and “N” stands for nuclear powered. So CVN means (in Navy-speak) “aircraft carrier, fixed wing, nuclear powered”.

What is a conning tower on a submarine?

Definition of conning tower : a raised structure on the deck of a submarine used especially formerly for navigation and attack direction.

What does SS mean on a submarine?

An SSN is a nuclear-powered general-purpose attack submarine. SSN is the US Navy hull classification symbol for such vessels; the SS denotes a submarine and the N denotes nuclear power. The designation SSN is used for interoperability throughout NATO under STANAG 1166, though navies use other terms.

Why do Navy ships have 2 letter numbers?

So, acting Navy Secretary Robert Coontz decided to standardize a numbering system that included a two-letter code that would identify the ship and its status as well as its number in the series, type, and sub-type. If the ship didn’t have a sub-type, the first letter would just be repeated

What does the hull number mean in the United States Navy?

United States Navy. The combination of symbol and hull number identifies a modern Navy ship uniquely. A heavily modified or re-purposed ship may receive a new symbol, and either retain the hull number or receive a new one. For example, the heavy gun cruiser USS Boston (CA-69) was converted to a gun/missile cruiser,…

What if the ship didn’t have a sub-type?

If the ship didn’t have a sub-type, the first letter would just be repeated So the Battleship USS Missouri, being a battleship with no sub-type and the 63rd ship in that series was designated USS Missouri BB-63. Easy, right? Well, Mostly.

What is a ship with a W on the hull classification symbol?

If a ship’s hull classification symbol begins with “W”, it is a ship of the United States Coast Guard. Until 1965, the Coast Guard used U.S. Navy hull classification codes, prepending a “W” to their beginning.