The terms and abbreviations below are by no means exhaustive, but I have listed those found within this work. Generally they follow OPNAV 29-P1000, which is the Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations 1940–1946. Current usage in the U.S. Navy may vary from this format. Within the time period there were also numerous variations on usage. For instance, OPNAV 29-P1000 lists ComdgOf as the correct abbreviation for commanding officer. However, it was usually entered as CO in most of the official action reports and other documents. In all likelihood these variations reflected the training of the yeoman writing the report and his immediate superior. The exigencies of war did not always permit perfect editing.
Adm Admiral
AH Hospital Ship
AK Cargo Ship Auxiliary (cargo ship of any kind operated by the Navy)
AKA Cargo Ship Attack
AM Minesweeper
AO Oiler or Fuel Tanker
AP Transport operated by the Navy
APA Transport, Attack
APD Transport, High Speed
ARD Auxiliary Repair Dock (Floating Drydock)
ARG Repair Ship, Internal Combustion Engine
ARL Repair Ship—Landing Craft
ARS Salvage Vessel
ATB Amphibious Training Base
ATR Ocean Tug—Rescue
BB Battleship
Betty Allied code name for the Japanese Mitsubishi G4M1 Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber
BLT Battalion Landing Team
Bum Boat Slang term for small native boats that approached Navy ships looking to sell or trade various items.
BuShips Bureau of Ships
CA Heavy Cruiser
CAP Combat Air Patrol
CAPT Captain
Captain’s Mast A form of non-judicial punishment in which the Commanding Officer of a ship studies and disposes of an infraction of the rules in his command.
CL Light Cruiser
Col Colonel
Comdg Commanding
ComdGen Commanding General
ComdgOf or CO Commanding Officer
Comdr Commander
ComO Communications Officer
Como Commodore
CTF Commander Task Force
CTG Commander Task Group
CTU Commander Task Unit
CV Aircraft Carrier
CVB Aircraft Carrier—Large
CVE Aircraft Carrier—Escort
CVL Aircraft Carrier—Light
DD Destroyer
DE Destroyer Escort
DM Light Minelayer
DMS High Speed Minesweeper
DUKW Heavy Amphibious Tank
Ens Ensign
(F) This designation after a ship’s number indicates that it is the Flagship for the unit
(FF) This designation after a ship’s number indicates that it is the Flotilla Flagship with the Flotilla Commander on board. This was a special LCI(L) set up with extra communications equipment. It did not carry troops for landings.
FS Army Freight and Supply Ship
(GF) This designation after a ship’s number indicates that it is the Group Flagship.
Hamp Allied code name for the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M3, Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 32. This was a variation of the Zeke.
Handy Billy A water pump designed for a variety of uses on board ships, including fire fighting and pumping out water in the hold
Higgins Boat see LCP(L)
Jill Allied code name for the Japanese Nakajima B6N, Navy Carrier Attack Bomber
Jima see Shima
Judy Allied code name for the Japanese Yokosuka D4Y, Navy Carrier Bomber
Kate Allied code name for the Japanese Nakajima B5N, Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber
Kawa or Gawa Japanese term for river, ex. Bisha Gawa is Bisha River
LCC Landing Craft Control
LC(F) Landing Craft (Flak)
LC(FF) Landing Craft (Flotilla Flagship)
LCG Landing Craft Guns
LCG(L) Landing Craft Guns (Large)
LCG(M) Landing Craft Guns (Medium)
LCI(A) Landing Craft Infantry (Ammunition); ammunition carrier
LCI(D) Landing Craft Infantry (Demolition); carried UDT units
LCI(G) Landing Craft Infantry (Guns)
LCI(L) Landing Craft Infantry (Large)
LCI(M) Landing Craft Infantry (Mortars)
LCI(R) Landing Craft Infantry (Rockets)
LCI(RCM) Landing Craft Infantry (RadarCounter Measures)
LCM Landing Craft Mechanized, also (G) and (R) versions—Guns and Rockets
LCP(L) Landing Craft Personnel (Large)
LCP(R) Landing Craft, Personnel (Ramp)
LCS(L) Landing Craft Support (Large); also LCS(L)(3) Landing Craft Support Large Mark 3
LCS(M) Landing Craft Support (Medium)
LCS(S) Landing Craft Support (Small)
LCT Landing Craft Tank
LCT(R) Landing Craft Tank (Rockets)
LCVP Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel
Lily Allied code name for the Kawasaki Ki-48, Army Type 99 twin-engine Light Bomber
LSIL Landing Ship Infantry Large; redesignation for LCI(L) after 1949
LSM Landing Ship Medium
LSM(R) Landing Ship Medium (Rockets)
LSSL Landing Ship Support Large; redesignation for LCS(L) after 1949
LST Landing Ship Tank
Lt Lieutenant
LtCol Lieutenant Colonel
LtCom or LtComdr Lieutenant Commander
LtGen Lieutenant General
Lt (jg) Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
LV Landing Vehicle
LVT Landing Vehicle Tracked
Maj Major
MajGen Major General
Mighty Midget Nickname for the LCS(L), also “Pall Bearers,” “Small Boys,” “Spit Kits”
Misaki Japanese term for Cape
MTB Motor Torpedo Boat; see also PT
Myrt Allied code name for the Japanese Nakajima C6N, Navy Carrier Reconnaissance Plane
Nate Allied code name for the Japanese Nakajima Ki-27, Army Type 97 Fighter
Nick Allied code name for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki-45, Army Type 2 Two-seat Fighter
Oscar Allied code name for the Japanese Nakajima Ki-43, Army Type 1 Fighter
PBR Patrol Boat River
PC Submarine Chaser; see also SC
PCE Patrol Craft Escort
PCS Patrol Craft Sweeper
PGM Motor Gunboat
Plank Owner A member of the crew who joined the ship when it was commissioned.
Point Bolo Cape north of Hagushi beaches; see Zampa Misaki
PT Motor Torpedo Boat
RADM Rear Admiral
RCT Regimental Combat Team
RP Radar Picket Station
Rufe Allied code name for the Japanese Nakajima A6M2-N, Navy Type 2 Fighter Seaplane
Sally Allied code name for the Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-21, Army Type 97 Heavy Bomber
SC Sub-Chaser
Shima Japanese word for island; see also Jima
SOPA Senior Officer Present Afloat
TF Task Force
TG Task Group
Tony Allied code name for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki-61, Army Type 3 Fighter
TU Task Unit
UDT Underwater Demolition Team
VADM Vice Admiral
Val Allied code name for the Japanese Aichi D3A, Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber
Wan Japanese for Bay
Willow Allied code name for the Japanese Yokosuka K5Y, Navy Type 95 Intermediate Trainer
Woofus Landing craft such as an LSM fitted with rockets
YMS Motor Minesweeper
YOG Gasoline Barge
Zampa Misaki Cape north of the Hagushi beaches, also referred to as Point Bolo
Zeke Allied code name for the Japanese Mitsubishi A6-M fighter, also known as the Zero