Talk:Ship Mission Code

Ship Type Codes / Mission Codes / Modifiers - (T⁵ / AotI)

Ship Classification Identifiers (Prefix-Codes /ABC-Type Categories) (T⁵/AotI)

Ship Classification Identifiers (Prefix-Codes /ABC-Type Categories)
ABC(D) Code	D. Qualifier	C. Type	B. Activity	A. Service	Description	Remarks
M /A-	Transport (T) / Tug/Motivator (V/M) / Barge (W)	Supply (Q)	Auxiliary (A)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Tertiary/Minor. Auxiliary. / Naval Transport (AT) / Naval Resupply Tender (ATQ) / Vessel Tug (AVT/AVW) / Vessel-Transport Motivator (Jump) (ATM).	Tugs clamp onto and pull/tow another vessel via M-Drive. Motivators attach to or enclose a portion of another vessel and interface with it. They produce acceleration via their M-Drive, and/or act as a Jump-Motivator. V = Vehicle/Vessel Carrier (Tug) M = Vessel Tug or Motivator
M /A-	Escort/Courier (E)	Naval Operations (N)	Auxiliary (A)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Tertiary/Minor. Auxiliary. / AE = Fleet Courier (Corvette)
M /B-	Fleet Mobile (B) / Line Combatant (B)	Offensive Combatant (B)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Fleet/Offense/Line. / BB = Capital Battleship
M /C-	Fleet Mobile (B) / Independent (C)	Offensive Combatant (B)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Independent/Offense/Fleet. / BC = Battlecruiser / CB = Heavy/Gun-Cruiser. / CC = Independent/Combat Cruiser
M /D-	Fleet Mobile (B) / Defender (D) / Independent (C)	Defensive Combatant (D)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Fleet/Defense/Escort. Military. Independent/Defense/Fleet. / BD = Fleet Escort / DD = Destroyer / CD = Escort Destroyer (Gun-Frigate)
M /E-	Escort Mobile (E) / Defender (D) / Independent (C)	Defensive Combatant (D)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Independent/Defense/Escort. / EC = Escort Cruiser. / ECD = Defense/Detached Cruiser. / DE = Destroyer Escort (Frigate). / CE = Close Escort (Corvette)
M /P-	Paramilitary (P) / Independent (R)	Independent Combatant (R)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Paramilitary. Independent Combatant. / PR = Corsair-Raider
M /SO-	Ortillery-Attack (O)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Siege-Ortillery.
M /SD-	Defender (D)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Siege-Sentinel.
M /SI-	Invasion/Assault (I)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Naval/Military (M)	Military. Siege-Invasion-Assault.
H /HP- H /HS- H /HD- H /DV-		Security (H/ HS) Defense (H/ HD)	Bureaucratic (H)	Government (G)	Paramilitary. Security (H/ HS). / Inspection (HP) / Enforcement (HS) Military. Defense (H/ HD). / Principal (DN = Monitor) / Major (HDV = Defense Vessel) / Special (HDB/HSB = Defense Boat) / Minor (HDE/HSE = System / Defense Escort)
L /S- L /SJ- L /SR- L /XS-		Communication (X) & Recon / Survey (R/S/J)	Information / Exploration (L)	Government (G) / NGO (N)	Paramilitary.
L /L- L /N-		Scientific Research (L)	Information / Exploration (L)	NGO (N)	Civilian.
C /K-	Exploration/Expeditionary Charter (KK/KL) Recreational Charter (KY) Private/Luxury Charter(YY)	Charter (KK) Private (KY)	Charter (K)	Commerce (C)	Civilian. CK = Commercial Charter. / C/ K-KL = Expeditionary Vessel / C/ K-KY = Safari Vessel / C/ K-YY = Luxury/Charter Yacht
C /M-		Merchant - Corporate/Subsidized (MK) Merchant - Free (MF)	Merchant (M)	Commerce (C)	Civilian. CM = Commercial Merchant. / C/ MK-F = Corporate/Subsidized Freighter / C/ MK-R = Corporate/Subsidized Merchantman / C/ MK-M = Corporate/Subsidized Liner / C/ MF-T = Independent Transport / C/ MF-A = Independent Trader / C/ MF-U = Independent Packet
Y-				Private (Y)	Civilian. Privately owned/operated vessel in non-commercial use.	Prefix Code to other codes (YK- /YY- /YP(R)-)

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BCS Ship Identifier (Ship Type Codes) (T⁵/AotI)

BCS Naval Ship Classification /Mission Code
BC Type Prefix	CDE Code	E. Mission 2a. Superclass (CD-Type)	D. Qualifier 1c. Supraclass	C. Type 1b. Supraclass	B. Activity 1a. Supraclass	A. Service	Remarks / Comments
B-	B	Battle	Principal	Offensive/Line (B)	Combat (B)	Naval (N)	Primary, Capital, Line-of-Battle
B-	C	Cruiser	Major	Offensive/Line (B)	Combat (B)	Naval (N)	Secondary, Independent
B-, N-, D-, SI-	V	Carrier	Special	Offensive/Secondary (N)	Combat (B)	Naval (N)	"Voler", "Vessel" or "Vehicle" Carrier
O- / S-	S	Siege Engine	(Varies)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Naval (N)	"Siege" / SD="Sentinel", SI=Invader-Assault, SO = Ortillery-Attack
N-, A-	E, (varies)	Escort, Auxiliary	Minor	Support (varies) / Supply (Q)	Auxiliary (A)	Naval (N)	Tertiary, ACS Combatant (Corvette), Resupply, Courier, Transport

BCS Ship Mission Modifiers (T⁵/AotI)

BCS Naval Ship Classification /Modifiers
Code	Mission Modifier	Grouping	Description	§	Remarks
A	Armored	Combat	A ship which normally does not have Armor is provided Armor.	AotI	(Usually applies to Auxiliaries)
B	Beam	Combat	The primary weaponry is beam weapons.	AotI	Typical for Capital Line Combatants
C, F	Command/Flag	Operation	The ship is equipped for command and control of other ships. The squadron commander (Admiral or Commodore) commands from a Flag-designated ship.	AotI
D	Monitor	Combat	The ship, while movable, is intended to operate in a fixed location. Typically restricted to one system, and so does not require (or does not have) jump drives.	AotI	D = Defensive/Defender /N = Monitor /DN = Defense Monitor.
E, L	Escort/Light	Size	The ship is of lesser tonnage, with lighter armament and/or armor, or is primarily intended to defend a more substantive vessel from attacks, or to defend non-military vessels.	T5
F	Fast	Performance	The ship has drives that provide acceleration greater than typical within the fleet.	AotI
K	Strike	Combat	The ship is designed to attack world or immobile targets.	AotI
L	Lander	Operation	The craft carries troops, vehicles, and equipment to a world surface for battle. An Assault Lander delivers directly to the battlefield.	AotI
M	Missile	Combat	The primary weaponry is missiles or torpedoes.	AotI
O	Orbital	Operation	The ship is designed to operate from orbit.	AotI	(Typically applies to siege engines) - Ortillery Vessels, et al.
R	Rider	Operation	The ship is designed to be carried by (to ride) a Carrier. The design typically omits jump drive and associated fuel.	AotI
S	Slow	Performance	The ship has drives that provide acceleration less than typical within the fleet.	AotI
F	Fighter	Combat	The small craft (less than 100 tons) equivalent of a Rider.	AotI	(Not used for Capital Vessels)
Q	Quarantine	Operation	The ship is dedicated to the Quarantine mission.	AotI	(Obsolete)

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ACS Ship Identifier (Ship Type Codes) (T⁵)

ACS Ship Classification (T5)
Type/Mission Code (Prefix=ABC(D) / Mission=E)		Mission (E=CD)	Mission Type (Mission=CD)	Supraclass Type (=ABC Prefix Type-Code)			NOTES
ABC Type Prefix	Mission Code	E. Mission 2a. Superclass ( = CD-Type)	D. Qualifier 1c. Supraclass	C. Type 1b. Supraclass	B. Activity 1a. Supraclass	A. Service	§	Remarks / Comments
	C	Cruiser	Principal	Offensive (B)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
	G	Frigate	Major	Offensive (B)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
	D	Special (Destroyer)	Special	Offensive (B)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	"Special" Mission defined by type-modifiers (multiple types - (Destroyer, et al))
	E	Corvette	Minor	Offensive (B)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
S/O	H	Ortillery Ship	Attack (O)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
S	T	Assault	Invasion (I)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
D	S	Sentinel	Defender (D)	Siege (S)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
D	N	Monitor	Principal	Defensive (D)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
D	V	Defender	Major	Defensive (D)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
D	B	Special (Boat)	Special	Defensive (D)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	"Special" Mission defined by type-modifiers (multiple types - (SDB, et al))
D	E	Escort	Minor	Defensive (D)	Combat (B)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
P	P	Corsair Vessel	Anti-Shipping	Independent (R)	Combat (B)	Paramilitary /Naval (M)	T5	None
P	P	Marauder	Anti-Port	Independent (R)	Combat (B)	Paramilitary /Naval (M)	T5	None
P	R	Raider	Anti-Commerce	Independent (R)	Combat (B)	Paramilitary /Naval (M)	T5	None
A	T	Transport	Major	Supply	Auxiliary (A)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
A	W	Barge	Minor	Supply	Auxiliary (A)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
A	T	Tender, Tug	Resupply	Supply	Auxiliary (A)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
A	E	Corvette	Information	Supply	Auxiliary (A)	Military /Naval (M)	T5	None
M	M	Liner	Passenger	Scheduled	Mercantile (CM)	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
M	R	Merchant Ship	Cargo	Scheduled	Mercantile (CM)	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
M	F	Freighter	Freight	Scheduled	Mercantile (CM)	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
M	T	Transport	Freighter	Unscheduled	Mercantile (CM)	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
M	A	Trader	Cargo	Unscheduled	Mercantile (CM)	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
M	U	Packet Ship	Passenger & Small Goods	Unscheduled	Mercantile (CM)	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
K	K	Safari Ship	Recreation	Charter (CK)	Non-Mercantile	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
K	K	Expedition Ship	Active	Charter (CK)	Non-Mercantile	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
K	Y	Yacht	Luxury	Charter (CK)	Non-Mercantile	Civilian /Commercial (C)	T5	None
	S	Courier Ship	Small Goods	Information	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	S	Messenger Ship	Data Files	Information	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	X	Express Ship	Goods & Files	Information	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	S	Scout Ship	First Look	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	N	Survey Ship	Re-Look	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	B	Beagle	Data Collection	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	N	Medical Vessel / Hospital Ship	Medical Data	Exploration	Non-combat	Civilian /NGO (N)	T5	None
	L	Lab Ship	Data Analysis	Exploration	Non-combat	Civilian /NGO (N)	T5	None
	J	Seeker (Prospector)	Resource Search	Exploration	Non-combat	Civilian /NGO (N)	T5	None
	P	Picket Ship	Inspection	Bureaucratic	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	P	Patrol Ship	Enforcement	Bureaucratic	Non-combat	Paramilitary /Government (G)	T5	None
	P	Privateer	Anti-Shipping	Privateer	Combat (R)	Paramilitary /NGO (N)	T5	None
	Z	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified	T5	None

ACS Ship Mission Modifiers (T⁵)

The mission code here shows the principle active mission codes and scope of use. These are currently used within the encyclopedia ship mission and type modifiers.

ACS Ship Classification /Mission Code Modifiers (F) (T5)
Code (F)	Meaning	Grouping	Description	§	Remarks / Notes
B	Bulk	Transport	Raw materials transport	T5
C	Clipper	Operations	Scheduled long distance cargo/freight and passenger carrier
F	Free	Operations	Unscheduled cargo/freight and passenger carrier	T5
G, H	Gas	Transport	Gas giant interface or fuel handler	T5
I
J	Prospector	Operation	Resource search and extraction	T5
K	Subsidized	Operation	Scheduled cargo/freight and passenger carrier	T5
L, LR	Long Range	Performance	Extended jump and maneuver drive operation	T5
M	Medical	Operation	Emergency or medical support
N	Naval	Operation	General naval operational support	T5
O	Orbital/Ortillery	Combat	Operates from Orbital Position / Orbital Bombardment	AotI
Q	Mother	Operation	Mobile base of operations for craft and persons.	T5
P, R	Raider	Operation	Designed for quick strike missions and escape.
R	Rider	Operation	Designed to be carried and transported by a Carrier or Tender Vessel.	T5/AotI
V	Carrier	Transport	Carries vehicles, small craft, or utility craft	T5/AotI
W	Unpowered	Performance	Lacks both jump and maneuver drives, an orbital station.	T5
X	Express	Transport	Optimized and scheduled data and small package carrier	T5
Y	Yacht	Transport	Privately owned or charter vessel for non-commercial purposes.	T5

There are two mission modifier code tables below.

Mission Modifier Code Table #1
The first shows the principle modifier codes with their definitions and scope of use.
These are currently used within the encyclopedia ship mission and type modifiers.

ACS Ship Classification /Mission Code Modifiers (F1) (T5)
Code (F1)	Meaning	Grouping	Description	§	Remarks / Notes
A	Armored	Combat	Substantial addition of armor	T5
B	Battle	Combat	Substantial addition of firepower	T5/AotI
B	Boat	Performance	Lacking a jump drive	T5
C	Carrier	Transport	Naval fleet combat ship carrier	T5
C	Close	Operations	Close range naval fleet operations	T5
C	Communications	Transport	Small package and data carrier	T5
D	Defender	Operations	Anti-intruder operations	T5/AotI
E	Escort	Operations	Ship defense operations	T5
F	Far	Performance	Increased jump range	T5
F	Fast	Performance	Increased maneuver speed	T5/AotI
F	Fighter	Combat	Frontal assault craft	T5/AotI
F	Frontier	Operation	Independent operations	T5
G	Gas	Transport	Gas/liquid carrier or fuel handler (volatiles)	T5
G	Government	Operation	General operations
G	Gunned	Combat	Increased Firepower	T5
H	Heavy	Size	Larger, more capable	CT/MT
H	Hydrogen	Transport	Gas giant interface or fuel handler (H2 / He)	T5
I
J	Interface	Operation	Planetary to space operations	T5
J	Intruder	Operation	Probes enemy territory	T5
J	Prospector	Operation	Resource search and extraction	T5
K	Courier	Operation	Unscheduled data and passenger carrier	CT/MT
K	Strike	Combat	Optimized for first strike capability	AotI
L	Lander: Launch, Lifeboat	Operation	Landing Craft / Emergency rescue operation vehicle	AotI
L	Light	Size	Smaller, less capable	T5
LR	Long Range	Performance	Extended jump and maneuver drive operation	T5
M	Industrial	Operation	General commercial operations
M	Mercenary	Operation	Light independent military operations	T5
M	Motivator	Performance	Provides maneuver or Jump for other ships	T5
N	Naval	Operation	General naval operational support	T5
O	Orbital/Ortillery	Combat	Operates from Orbital Position / Orbital Bombardment	AotI
P	Packet	Operation	Unscheduled passenger carrier
P	Passenger	Transport	Optimized for long term passengers or residents	T5
P	Pursuit/Patrol	Operation	Chases enemy ships	T5
Q	Decoy	Operation	Misleads enemy forces, hides true capabilities ("Q-Ship")	T5
Q	Quartermaster	Operation	Supply, Resupply, Replenishment.
Q	Mother	Operation	Mobile base of operations for craft and persons.	T5
R, P	Raider	Operation	Anti-commerce/ship operations
R	Rider	Performance	Designed to be carried and transported by a Carrier or Tender Vessel.	T5/AotI
R	Rescue	Operation	Emergency rescue of people from damaged or destroyed ships.	T5
S	Slow	Performance	Decreased maneuver speed	T5/AotI
S	Small	Size	Smaller than Light, Smallcraft	T5
S	Survey	Operation	Detailed survey analysis operations
S	System	Operation	Operates within a single system	T5
T	Transport	Transport	Moves people and equipment	T5
U	Unarmed	Combat	No armaments	T5
U	Utility	Operation	General purpose operation	T5
U	Inoperable	Operation	Either is junk or manages junk ships	T5
V	Carrier	Transport	Carries vehicles, small craft, or utility craft	T5/AotI
W	Unpowered	Performance	Lacks both jump and maneuver drives	T5
X	Express	Transport	Optimized and scheduled data and small package carrier	T5
Y	Rider	Operation	Non-jump capable ship carried by a carrier.	T5

Mission Modifier Code Table #2
This is the second modifier code listing giving a broader definition for each of the codes, but lacking precise definitions as given above.

ACS Ship Classification /Mission Code Modifiers (F2) (T5)
Code (F2)	Modifier name(s)	§	Remarks / Notes
A	Alternate, Improved, Armored, Attack	T5
B	Boat. Bulk. Battle. Big.	T5/AotI
C	Close. Carrier. Command/Flag. Communications. Construction. Cutter.	T5, ?
D	Defense. Defending. Interceptor. Transport	T5/AotI, ?
E	Escort. Essential. Electronic Warfare	T5
F	Fast. Fat. Frontier. Far. Flag. Free. Fleet. Fighter	T5/AotI, ?
G	Gunned. Upgunned. Gas (volatiles), Governmental. Gig	T5, ?
H	Fuel. Tanker. Gas (H2/He). Heavy	T5, CT/MT
I
J	Survey. Prospector. Interface. Intruder	T5
K	Subsidized. Fast, Diplomatic, Courier	T5
L	LR=Long Range. Lifeboat. Exploratory. Light. Leader. Launch.	T5
M	Military. Militia. Mercenary. Motivator. Tug. Mining, Missile	T5/AotI
N	Naval. Nuclear. Fleet. Non-standard. Pinnace.	T5
O	Orbital/Ortillery	AotI
P	Patrol. Plus. Passenger, Mercenary, Pursuit. Provincial	T5
Q	Disguised. Decoy. Quarantine, Quartermaster (Supply), Mother	T5/AotI
R	Recon. Rescue. Rider. Resident. Raider	T5/AotI, ?
S	Slow. System/Local. Special. Luxury. Small. Strike. Survey. Shuttle	T5/AotI, CT/MT, ?
T	Tramp. Tender. Transport. Tanker.	T5
U	Unarmed, Hulk. De-activated. Inoperative	T5
V	Vehicle Carrier, Drone. Remote. Replenishment. Agricultural	T5/AotI
W	Unpowered. Non-Jump. Barge	T5
X	Experimental. Special. Express.	T5
Y	Hull. Subhull. Pod. Rider. Modular. Private. Shuttle. Cutter	T5
Z	Unassigned, Experimental.	T5
	Local.	T5	Limited Mobility
(unassigned)	Minus.	T5	Inferior Capability
(unassigned)	Standoff.	T5	Operates at Long Range

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• --WHULorigan (talk) 00:23, 25 November 2025 (UTC)

Notes (2019)

1. EXTERNAL LINK: ship naming conventions
2. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: Naming conventions (ships)
3. EXTERNAL LINK: United States Ship (Ship prefix)
4. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: Hull number
5. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: United States military aircraft serial numbers
6. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: Ship Prefix
7. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: Ship Class
8. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: US Navy Ships
9. EXTERNAL LINK: Wikipedia: Hull classification symbol

- Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 12:02, 16 January 2019 (EST)

Notes (2018)

1. EXTERNAL LINK: Craft Type Codes by David by David Jaques-Watson

- Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 23:09, 18 November 2018 (EST)

WHP Prison Hulk (2015)

Added WHP classification. Please discuss, accept, or reject.

- Maksim-Smelchak (talk) 11:13, 17 February 2015 (EST)

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Looks good to me and mirrors the QP designation on the military side.

- Jmattera (talk) 11:59, 17 February 2015 (EST)