SHIPS PENNANT NUMBERS 17/06/2011 Please Email Any
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SHIPS PENNANT NUMBERS The Royal Navy Pennant Numbering System Pennant, or Pendant, numbers were introduced to help to abbreviate signalling and to help make signals more secure, they also served to clear up confusion between ships with similar names and as an aid in identifying ships visually, particularly where ships of the same classification were grouped in a Squadron. During the war, many ships were transferred between Commonwealth and Allied Navies. Where this did occur, the ship usually kept the same Pennant Number (even though the ships name may well have changed). If a ship was sunk in action, it was usual for the Pennant Number of that ship to be allocated to the next ship to be launched. Renaming of ships was also regularly carried out. During and after the war, some ships had received up to three or four changes of Flag Superior, with many destroyers changing from F to G in 1940, then to L, and later to R, and finally to D after the war. Usually, ships of the same Classification were grouped under the same Flag Superior, although this wasn’t always the case. Due to shear numbers of ships in the Second World War a greater number of Flag Superior allocations were in use. Today, the Flag Superior generally helps to identify the Class of ship, i.e. A – Auxiliaries, D = Destroyers, F = Frigates, R = Aircraft Carriers (A already in use for Auxiliaries), S = Submarine. Until the Second World War, it was usual for submarines to have only a Pennant Number and no name, Winston Churchill directed that all Submarines be named. Some minor ships had no Pennant Number, whilst others had them removed from photographs due to censorship. It is believed that the pennant system was last revised in 1947. Some of the information on the lists was gleaned from an old copy of the BR619 (Admiralty Book of Reference) and publication contained a number in brackets following the Flag Superior heading. The number in brackets is the amount of space allocated to the number of vessels in that section, for additions. Some of the allocations were not used, whilst others may have been exceeded. The following is a list of official class designators and their meanings for United Kingdom Ships under Naval control by class. The list was taken from an Unclassified NATO document: LPH Amphibious Assault PP Patrol Vessel, AFS Combat Stores Ship Ship General AG Auxiliary, LSL Landing Ship, Miscellaneous Logistic AGH Auxiliary Helicopter LSU Landing Ship, Utility SS Submarine Support SSBN Primary Strategic AGS Survey Ship Nuclear Submarine AGSA Survey Ship, Polar MCS Mine armed with Ballistic AGSC Survey Ship, Coastal Countermeasures Missiles AOR Oiler Replenishment Support Ship SSG Submarine, Attack, ATA Tug, Ocean going, MHC Minehunter, Coastal Surface Missiles Auxiliary MHSC Minehunter/Sweeper, SSK Submarine, Patrol Coastal CSB Combat Support Boat MS Minesweeper CVS Aircraft Carrier, ASW MSC Minesweeper, Coastal DD Destroyer MSF Minesweeper, Fleet Key: NC = Not Completed FF Frigate NCTY Naval College Training Yacht LPD Amphibious Transport, Dock PB Patrol Boat 17/06/2011 Please email any alterations/additions to [email protected] Page 1 SHIPS PENNANT NUMBERS SURFACE SHIPS 34 LION 69 LONDON 35 BELFAST 70 ACHILLES NO FLAG SUPERIOR 36 TEMERAIRE CANC 71 GALATEA BATTLESHIPS, CRUISERS AND 36 MAGNIFICENT 71 VENGEANCE CARRIERS 37 DIDO 72 RENOWN 38 VICTORIOUS 73 SHROPSHIRE 00 QUEEN ELIZABETH 39 DEVONSHIRE 74 HERMIONE LOST 01 MALAYA 40 DORSETSHIRE 75 LEANDER 02 VALIANT 40 SUMATRA 76 NEWCASTLE 03 WARSPITE 41 KING GEORGE V 77 MAJESTIC 04 BARHAM LOST 42 EURYALUS 77 GLORIOUS 04 VENERABLE 43 PHOEBE 78 NORFOLK 05 ROYAL SOVEREIGN TO 44 MELAMPUS C1920 79 ANSON USSR ARKHANGELSK 44 JAMAICA 80 MAURITIUS 05 GLOIRE 45 EMILE BERTIN 81 BLACK PRINCE 06 REVENGE 45 CONQUEROR CANC 82 SIRIUS 07 RAMILLIES 46 TRINIDAD LOST 83 SOUTHAMPTON 08 ROYAL OAK LOST 47 FURIOUS 84 DIADEM 08 SWIFTSURE 48 GAMBIA 85 ORION 09 RESOLUTION 49 THUNDERER CANC 86 IMPLACABLE 10 INDEFATIGABLE 49 HERCULES 87 CAROLINE 1914-18 11 LIVERPOOL 50 COURAGEOUS LOST 87 ILLUSTRIOUS 12 AURORA 50 BELLEROPHON 88 JEANNE D’ARC 14 KENYA 50 TIGER 88 CHARYBDIS 14 ARROGANT CANC 50 COURAGEOUS 89 ROYALIST 15 MANCHESTER LOST 51 HOOD LOST 90 GEORGES LEYGUES 15 COLOSSUS 51 PERSEUS 90 YORK 16 EDINBURGH LOST 52 BERMUDA 91 ARK ROYAL 3 16 TRIUMPH 53 PRINCE OF WALES LOST 92 INDOMITABLE 17 DUKE OF YORK 53 MINOTAUR 93 TERRIBLE 18 IRON DUKE 53 ONTARIO EX MINOTAUR 93 NAIAD 19 BIRMINGHAM 54 KENT 94 EAGLE CANC 20 NEPTUNE 55 SUFFOLK 95 POWERFUL 20 TIGER 56 CORNWALL LOST 95 SPARTAN LOST 1944 21 GLASGOW 56 MONTCALM 96 SUSSEX 22 AJAX 57 CUMBERLAND 96 MONMOUTH CANC 1945 23 VANGUARD 57 POLYPHEMUS CANC 97 PENELOPE 24 SHEFFIELD 58 FIJI 97 LEVIATHAN NOT COMP 25 CHAMPION 58 RICHELIEU 98 SCYLLA 25 MEDWAY 59 NEWFOUNDLAND 99 BLAKE 25 SUPERB 60 NIGERIA 26 ARETHUSA 61 ELEPHANT CANC A FLAG SUPERIOR 27 LION CANC 61 ARGONAUT Auxiliary and Support Vessels 27 HAWKE CANC 62 GLOUCESTER LOST 27 ADVENTURE 62 GLORY A00 BRITTANIA HMY 28 NELSON 63 BELLONA A70 ECHO 29 RODNEY 64 THESEUS A71 WAVE PRINCE AOR 30 CEYLON 65 BERWICK A71 ENTERPRISE 31 BONAVENTURE LOST 66 UGANDA A72 EGERIA 31 WARRIOR 66 QUEBEC A72 CAMERON AG 32 HOWE 67 FORMIDABLE A75 TIDESPRING AOR 33 CLEOPATRA 68 EXETER A76 TIDEPOOL AOR 34 REPULSE LOST 68 OCEAN A77 PEARLEAF 2 AOR 34 DEFENCE 17/06/2011 Please email any alterations/additions to [email protected] Page 2 SHIPS PENNANT NUMBERS A78 PLUMLEAF 2 AOR A111 CYCLONE AG A145 GUARDIAN A79 APPLELEAF 3 AOR A111 OAKLEAF 2 AOR A145 DAISY AG A79 BAYLEAF 2 AOR A112 FELICITY AG A146 PROTECTOR A80 ORANGELEAF 2 AOR A113 C614 A146 WATERMAN AG A81 BRAMBLELEAF 2&3 A113 ALICE AG A147 FRANCES AG AOR A114 MAGNET A148 FIONA AG A83 APPLELEAF 2 AOR A114 DERWENTDALE 1 A149 FLORENCE AG A83 MELTON AG AOR A150 GENEVIEVE AG A84 MENAI AG A115 AIRSPRITE A150 ALLIANCE AG A84 RELIANT STORES A115 LODESTONE A151 DEWDALE 1 AOR A86 FORCEFUL A116 CELEROL AOR A152 GREEN RANGER AOR A87 FAVOURITE A116 AGATHA AG A152 GEORGINA AG A87 MEON AG A117 AUDREY AG A153 AUSONIA DEPOT A88 AGILE AG A119 WAVE LAIRD A154 ELMOL AOR A89 ADVICE AG A120 LIMOL AOR A154 ELDEROL AOR A90 ACCORD AG A121 HMS BULAWAYO AOR A155 PRESTOL AOR A91 MILFORD AG A121 AGNES AG A155 SALMOOR A92 MANLY AG A122 OLWEN 2 ex OLYNTHUS2 A155 DEERHOUND AG A94 MENTOR AG AOR A156 DAPHNE AG A122 OLWEN AOR A95 TYPHOON AG A157 BLUE RANGER AOR A123 OLNA 3 AOR A96 TIDEREACH AOR A157 LOYAL HELPER AG A96 SEA CRUSADER A124 C85 A158 SUPPORTER AG A124 OLMEDA AOR A97 TIDEFLOW AOR A158 DUNCANSBY HEAD A124 OLEANDER 3 AOR A97 TIDERACE AOR A159 EMPIRE SALVAGE A124 OLMEDA AOR A97 MILLBROOK A159 LOYAL WATCHER AG A126 FORTOL AOR A98 TIDE RANGE AOR A160 FORT DUNVEGAN A126 CAIRN AG A98 TIDESURGE AOR STORES A98 SEA CENTURION A127 BIRCHOL 2 AOR A160 LOYAL VOLUNTEER A127 TORRENT A161 SCOTOL AOR A99 TIDE AUSTRAL AOR A162 SERBOL AOR A99 BEAULIEU A128 TORRID A129 WAVE PREMIER AOR A162 ELKHOUND AG A100 WAVE EMPEROR AOR A163 BLACK RANGER AOR A100 BEDDGELERT A129 DALMATION AG A163 EXPRESS A101 BEMBRIDGE A130 GOLD RANGER AOR A164 ADAMANT A102 C633 A130 ROEBUCK AGS A131 RELIANT 3 STORES A164 GOOSANDER A102 AIREDALE AG A165 POCHARD A103 SULTAN ADVENTURER AG A131 SCOTT AGS A132 EDDYBEACH AOR A165 ENVOY AG A103 BACCHUS 2 STORES A166 KATHLEEN AG A103 BIBURY A132 DILIGENCE AG A167 TEAKOL 3 AOR A104 EAGLESDALE A133 ARNDALE AOR A168 BROOMDALE AOR A104 BLAKENEY A133 HECLA A168 LABRADOR AG A105 EASEDALE A134 RAME HEAD REPAIR A169 BROWN RANGER AOR A105 BRODICK A135 ARGUS AGH A137 LARCHOL AOR A169 HUSKY AG A106 BELGOL AOR A137 HECATE A170 ECHOLDALE AOR A106 ALSATION AG A138 HERALD AGS A170 KITTY AG A107 EDDYBAY AOR A140 TORNADO A171 ENDURANCE AGSA A107 BOXOL AOR A172 LESLEY AG A107 MESSINA AG A140 JAUNTY AG A173 DOROTHY AG A108 WAVE MONARCH A141 TORCH AOR A141 ANTIC AG A173 ENNERDALE AOR A108 TRIUMPH DEPOT A142 TORMENTOR PB A174 LILAH AG A109 ABBEYDALE AOR A143 TOREADOR A175 MARY AG A109 BAYLEAF 3 AOR A143 MIXOL AOR A177 ENFORCER AG A110 ORANGELEAF 3 AOR A144 DINGLEDALE AOR A177 EDITH AG A111 GROWLER AG A144 HYDRA A178 HUSKY AG 17/06/2011 Please email any alterations/additions to [email protected] Page 3 SHIPS PENNANT NUMBERS A180 MASTIFF AG A216 OLNA 2 EX HMS AOR A250 SHEEPDOG AG A181 HICKOROL AOR A216 BEE AG A251 LYDFORD AG A181 IRENE AG A217 CHRISTINE AG A252 NASPRITE A182 WAVE KING AOR A218 SAMSONIA AG A252 DORIS AG A182 SALUKI AG A218 CLARE AG A253 PHILOL AOR A183 ISABEL AG A219 DEWDALE 2 AG A253 LADYBIRD AG A185 MAIDSTONE DEPOT A219 DODMAN POINT A254 PROSPEROUS AG A185 SALMOOR AG A220 WAVE VICTOR AOR A257 SPABURN A186 FORT ROSALIE 1 A220 LOYAL MODERATOR A258 EDDYCREEK A186 SALMASTER AG A221 DERWENTDALE 2 AOR A259 ST MARGARETS A187 SALMAID AG A221 FORCEFUL AG A260 SPALAKE A187 FORTH DEPOT A222 SPAPOOL AG A261 EDDYFIRTH AOR A187 SEALYHAM AG A222 NIMBLE AG A261 THORNOL AOR A188 POINTER AG A223 POWERFUL AG A262 HARTLAND POINT A189 SETTER AG A224 SPABROOK AG A263 CICALA AG A190 EDDYCLIFF AOR A224 ADEPT ATA A264 REWARD AG A190 JOAN AG A225 BUSTLER AG A265 WAVE CHIEF AOR A191 BERRY HEAD DEPOT A225 MULL OF KINTYRE A268 GREEN ROVER AOR A191 BOVISAND AG A226 CAPABLE AG A269 GREY ROVER AOR A192 CAWSAND AG A226 MULL OF GALLOWAY A270 BLUE ROVER AOR A192 SPA A227 SPABECK AG A271 GOLD ROVER AOR A193 WAVE MASTER AOR A227 CAREFUL AG A272 SCARAB AG A193 JOYCE AG A228 FAITHFUL AG A273 BLACK ROVER AOR A194 TYNE DEPOT A229 FORT DUQUESNE A274 ETTRICK A196 GWENDOLINE AG STORES A275 VISCOL AOR A197 PERSEUS A229 CRICKET AG A277 ELSING A230 FORT LANGLEY A197 SEALYHAM AG A280 RESURGENT STORES A230 COCKCHAFER AG A198 EDDYROCK AOR A280 NEWHAVEN AG A231 RECLAIM SALVAGE A198 HELEN AG A281 KINBRACE AG