List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)

Last updated

ZR3 USS Los Angeles an Kriegsschiff.jpg
US Navy rigid airship Los Angeles tied up to the mooring mast aboard airship tender Patoka, circa 1931
Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless of VMSB-132 in flight, in 1941.jpg
A US Marine Corps SBD-1 Dauntless of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) in flight over the Pacific Ocean, circa 1941
HSS-1 Seabat of HS-2 on USS Yorktown (CVS-10) c1959.jpg
A US Navy HSS-1 Seabat of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Two (HS-2) aboard aircraft carrier Yorktown, circa 1959
F-4B Phantom VMFA-314 firing AIM-7 c1961.jpeg
A US Marine Corps F4H-1 Phantom II jet of Marine All-Weather Fighter Squadron 314 (VMF(AW)-314) firing an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, circa 1961

This list of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) includes prototype, pre-production and operational type designations under the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system, which was used by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Coast Guard. The list also includes airships, which were designated under different systems than fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft until 1954, and naval aircraft that received designations under the 1911 and 1914 U.S. Navy systems, which were sequential by manufacturer and/or aircraft class, and did not convey information about the aircraft's mission.

Contents

For aircraft designations under the U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force system or the post-1962 Tri-Service system—which includes U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft currently in service—see List of military aircraft of the United States. For Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft that did not receive formal designations—including those procured from 1917 to 1922 when no designation system was in force, and later aircraft that did not receive designations for other reasons—see List of undesignated military aircraft of the United States.

Summary of pre-1962 designation systems

1911 system

The first U.S. Navy designation system, adopted in 1911, consisted of a letter signifying the manufacturer followed by sequential numbers for individual aircraft from each manufacturer. Only heavier-than-air craft (i.e. airplanes) were given designations. The system was subsequently amended to differentiate aircraft classes from the same manufacturer. The designation letters were as follows: [1]

1914 system

In March 1914, the navy introduced a system similar to hull classification symbols for warships, with an alphabetical code for the aircraft class followed by a sequential number assigned to an individual aircraft. All aircraft designated under the 1911 system that were still in inventory were redesignated. [2] Also consistent with warship designation practices, the designation of the first aircraft of a particular design became the type designation for similar aircraft; for instance, aircraft similar to AH-8 were referred to as AH-8 type. [3]

The aircraft classes and sub-types were as follows: [4]

  • AH – Aeroplane, Hydro
  • AB – Flying boat
  • AX – Amphibian

This second system was abandoned in May 1917 without immediate replacement; until March 1922, the navy used manufacturers' model designations. However, some later aircraft similar to types with 1914 system designations were given conforming designations, apparently on an informal basis. [5]

1922 system

On 29 March 1922, a new designation system was introduced with a reorganization of U.S. naval aviation under the Bureau of Aeronautics. [4] The system conveyed its information in the form:

(Mission)(Design Number)(Manufacturer)-(Subtype)(Minor Modification)

For example, F4U-1A referred to a minor modification (A) to the first major subtype (1) of Chance-Vought's (U) fourth (4) fighter (F) design.

For the first few years after the system was introduced, the manufacturer's letter and the mission letter were sometimes reversed. If it was the manufacturer's first design for that particular mission, there was no number before the manufacturer letter.

Prototypes under the 1922 system were normally prefixed with "X" (differing from purely experimental X-planes, which were not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production or trials aircraft were usually prefixed "Y", and airships were prefixed "Z" (differing from Army or Air Force use of "Z" to designate obsolete aircraft for storage or disposal).

Airships and balloons

Prior to 1954, lighter-than-air craft used separate designation systems from those used for fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft, or were undesignated. As a general rule, a "Z" prefix identified lighter-than-air craft. [6]

Rigid airships

Rigid airships were designated as ZR-class—"R" for rigid—with a suffixed number identifying the individual aircraft, and unlike all other lighter-than-air craft were commissioned no differently that surface ships; therefore, the ZR code was included as a hull classification symbol with those of surface ships. With the introduction of the Akron-class airship, an "S" mission suffix was added to signify scout (ZRS-class). [6]

Other airships

The first U.S. Navy non-rigid airship was ordered in 1915 before an airship designation system was standardized and was designated DN-1 [lower-alpha 2] for Dirigible, Non-rigid. When subsequent airships were ordered into series production for World War I (WWI), alphabetical class letters were adopted starting with the B-class blimp, with individual aircraft identified by a suffixed number; DN-1 was retroactively considered A-class by implication. Within each class, individual airships often had significant design variations, and were sometimes sourced from different manufacturers; the class designations referred to nominal power and size. [7]

The first mission designation system for non-rigid airships, introduced in 1940,[ citation needed ] took the following form:

(Construction)(Mission)-(Class)

For example, the ZNP-K referred to K-class (K) patrol (P) non-rigid airship (ZN).

In 1947, this system was replaced by one more similar to the 1922 fixed-wing system, and the "N" for non-rigid was dropped due to the termination of the rigid airship program. The 1947 system took the following form: [8]

(Z for airship)(Mission)(Design Number)(Class)-(Subtype)(Minor Modification)

For example, the ZP2N-1W referred to the airborne early warning modification (W) of the first subtype (1) of the N-class' (N) second (2) patrol (P) airship (Z).

The airship mission designations were initially "G" for scout, "N" for trainer, and "P" for patrol. In 1947, "N" was changed to "T" for trainers, while "H" for search and rescue and "U" for utility were added, although the latter two mission letters were ultimately not used. [8] [9]

In 1954, the Navy did away with the separate airship designation system and unified it with the main 1922 system, while retaining the "Z" prefix. [8]

Spherical crewed free gas balloons used for airship crew training were considered ZF-class aircraft but never received formal designations and were identified only by serial number and volume; similarly, crewed kite balloons and uncrewed barrage balloons were considered ZK-class, but were undesignated. [10]

Other exceptions

The non-standard XDH designation was applied to two de Havilland aircraft procured in 1927 and 1934 for use by the U.S. Naval Attaché in London. [11]

In 1952, the Navy and Air Force agreed to standardize some flight training curricula and equipment. [12] Accordingly, the T-28 Trojan and T-34 Mentor trainers were adopted and operated by the Navy under their Air Force designations. [13]

1911 system designations, 1911–1914

Data from Baugher, Joe (2006) [14]

1914 system designations, 1914–1917

Data from Baugher, Joe (2014) [15] and Swanborough and Bowers (1976), as noted

A: Heavier-than-air

AB: Flying boat

AH: Aeroplane, Hydro

AX: Amphibian

B: Free balloon

BC: Kite balloon

1922 system designations, 1922–1962

Airborne early warning

W: Airborne early warning (1952–1962)

Airship

ZP: Patrol (1954–1962)

  • G: Goodyear
    • ZPG – redesignated from ZPN and ZP2N in 1954, redesignated Z-1 in 1962

ZS: Scout (1954–1962)

  • G: Goodyear
    • ZSG – redesignated from ZP2K, ZP3K, and ZP4K
    • ZS2G – redesignated from ZP5K

ZW: Airborne Early Warning (1954–1962)

Ambulance

A: Ambulance (1943–1962)

H: Hospital (1929–1942)

H: Air-Sea Rescue (1946–1962)

No designations were assigned in this sequence.

Anti-submarine

S: Anti-submarine (1946–1962)

In 1946, the "S for Scout" designation was replaced by "S for anti-Submarine", however, the numbers in the 'S' series were not restarted.

  • F: Grumman
    • SF – skipped to avoid confusion with the SF in the Scout sequence
    • S2F Tracker – redesignated S-2 in 1962
  • U: Vought
    • SU – skipped to avoid confusion with the SU in the Scout sequence
    • S2U

Attack

A: Attack (1946–1962)

Douglas Skyraider, 1966 Douglas A-1H Skyraider of VA-152 in flight over Vietnam in 1966 (NNMA.1996.253.2810).jpg
Douglas Skyraider, 1966

Bomber

B: Bomber (1931–1943)

BF: Bomber fighter (1934–1937)

BT: Bomber torpedo (1942–1945)

Drone/missile

BD: Bomber drone (1944)

DS: Antisubmarine drone (1959–1962)

KA: Surface-to-air missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, surface-to-air missiles used the same designation system as aircraft.

KD: Unified sequence (1945–1962)

KG: Air-to-surface missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, air-to-surface missiles used the same designation system as aircraft.

KS: Anti-ship missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, anti-ship missiles used the same designation system as aircraft.

KU: Research missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, research missiles used the same designation system as aircraft.

TD: Target drone (1942–1945)

U: Unpiloted aircraft (1946–1955)

Fighter

F: Fighter (1922–1962)

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats in 1943 Hellcats F6F-3, May 1943.jpg
Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats in 1943
Vought F4U-4 Corsair, 1950 F4U-4 Corsair of NARTU Los Alamitos in flight c1950.jpg
Vought F4U-4 Corsair, 1950
McDonnell F3H-2N Demon, 1956 McDonnell F3H-2N Demon in flight in 1956.jpg
McDonnell F3H-2N Demon, 1956

P: Pursuit (1923)

Glider

LB: Bomb glider

LN: Trainer glider (1941–1945)

LR: Transport glider (1941–1945)

Helicopters

HC: Crane (1952–1955)

HJ: Utility (1944–1949)

HO: Observation (1944–1962)

HN: Trainer (1944–1948)

HR: Transport (1944–1962)

HS: Antisubmarine (1951–1962)

HT: Trainer (1948–1962)

HU: Utility (1950–1962)

R: Rotorcycle (1954–1959)

Marine Expeditionary

M: Marine Expeditionary (1922–1923)

Observation

O4U Corsair Ray Wagner Collection Photo (15900643888).jpg
O4U Corsair

O: Observation (1922–1962)

OS: Observation scout (1935–1945)

Patrol

P: Patrol (1923–1962)

P2V-2 Neptune over NAS Jacksonville, 1953 P2V-2 NAS Jacksonville 1952.jpg
P2V-2 Neptune over NAS Jacksonville, 1953

PB: Patrol bomber (1935–1962)

A flight of PBY-5 Catalinas over the Aleutian Islands Catalinas in the aleutians.jpg
A flight of PBY-5 Catalinas over the Aleutian Islands

PT: Patrol torpedo (1922)

No designations were assigned in this sequence.

PTB: Patrol torpedo bomber (1937–1962)

Racer

R3C-2 Curtiss Racer NASA GPN-2000-001310.jpg
R3C-2

R: Racer (1922–1928)

Scout

SC Seahawk Ray Wagner Collection Photo (15903145077).jpg
SC Seahawk

S: Scout (1922–1946)

SB: Scout bomber (1934–1946)

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless Douglas SBD 5 tricolor with bomb.jpg
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless

SN: Scout trainer (1939–1948)

SNJ-5 Texan, 1950 SNJ-5 Texan from NAS Oakland in flight 1950.JPG
SNJ-5 Texan, 1950

SO: Scout observation (1934–1946)

Tanker

G: Tanker (1958–1962)

Torpedo

T: Torpedo (1922–1935)

TB: Torpedo bomber (1935–1946)

Grumman TBF Avenger in mid-1942 TBF mid1942.jpg
Grumman TBF Avenger in mid-1942

TS: Torpedo scout (1943–1946)

Trainer

N: Trainer (1922–1948)

T: Trainer (1948–1962)

Transport

G: Transport, single engine (1939–1941)

R: Transport, 1931–1962

T: Transport (1922–1931)

Utility

J: Utility (1931–1955)

JR: Utility transport (1935–1955)

U: Utility (1955–1962)

Foreign-built utility aircraft (1920–1962)

Pre-1954 airship systems

Commissioned vessels (1922–1935)

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) Uss shenandoah airship.jpg
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)

A series of four airships (two one-offs and two production Akron-class vessels) were the only airships in American history to be commissioned as ships of the United States Navy. Another airship, ZR-2 (the British R.38) crashed and was destroyed before delivery, and was therefore never commissioned. [19]

1940 system

ZNN: Training (1940–1946)

  • ZNN-G – redesignated ZTG in 1947
  • ZNN-L – redesignated ZTL in 1947

ZNP: Patrol (1940–1946)

  • ZNP-K – redesignated ZPK in 1947
  • ZNP-M – redesignated ZPM in 1947
  • ZNP-N – redesignated ZPN in 1947

1947 system

ZP: Patrol (1947–1953)

  • ZPK – redesignated from ZNP-K
  • ZP2K – redesignated ZSG-2 in 1954
  • ZP3K – redesignated ZSG-3 in 1954
  • ZP4K – redesignated ZSG-4 in 1954
  • ZP5K – redesignated ZS2G-1 in 1954
  • ZPM – redesignated from ZNP-M
  • ZPN – redesignated from ZNP-N, redesignated ZPG-1 in 1954
  • ZP2N – redesignated ZPG-2 in 1954

ZT: Training (1947–1953)

  • ZTG – redesignated from ZNN-G
  • ZTL – redesignated from ZNN-L

ZW: Airborne Early Warning (1947–1953)

  • ZWN – redesignated ZPG-3W in 1954

See also

Related Research Articles

Multiple designation systems have been used to specify United States military aircraft. The first system was introduced in 1911 by the United States Navy, but was discontinued six years later; the first system similar to that used today was designed in 1919 when the US Army's Aeronautical Division became the United States Army Air Service. Before this, aircraft were put into service under their manufacturers' designations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Aircraft Factory</span> Former aircraft building site in Philadelphia.

The Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) was established by the United States Navy in 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was created to help solve aircraft supply issues which the Navy Department faced upon the entry of the U.S. into World War I. The United Stated Army’s requirements for an enormous quantity of airplanes created a decided lack of interest among aircraft manufacturers in the Navy's requirements for a comparatively small quantity of aircraft. The Navy Department concluded that it was necessary to build a Navy-owned aircraft factory in order to assure a part of its aircraft supply; to obtain cost data for the department’s guidance in its dealings with private manufacturers; and to have under its own control a factory capable of producing experimental designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vought</span> 1917–1992 series of American aerospace companies

Vought was the name of several related American aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought-Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace, Vought Aircraft Companies, and Vought Aircraft Industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Naval Aviation Museum</span> Military and aerospace museum in Pensacola, FL, USA

The National Naval Aviation Museum, formerly known as the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Naval Aviation Museum, is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patriots Point</span> Naval museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is a naval museum located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, at the mouth of the Cooper River on the Charleston Harbor, across from Charleston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yanks Air Museum</span> Aviation museum in Chino, California

The Yanks Air Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization organization and museum dedicated to exhibiting, preserving and restoring American aircraft and artifacts in order to show the evolution of American aviation, located at Chino Airport in Chino, California.

From 1922 until 1962, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard used a system to designate their aircraft that included information about a craft's role and its manufacturer. For a listing of all such designations, see the list of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accurate Miniatures</span>

Accurate Miniatures is an American manufacturer of scale plastic model kits. It is owned by Collins-Habovick, LLC and is located in Concord, North Carolina, United States. Their products primarily consist plastic model airplane kits from World War II, though they also make model kits of planes and automobiles from other eras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vought XSB3U</span> Type of aircraft

The Vought XSB3U was an American biplane scout bomber developed by Vought-Sikorsky for the United States Navy during the 1930s. Developed as an alternative to the SB2U Vindicator monoplane, the aircraft proved unsatisfactory to the Navy in comparison, and development was not pursued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American FJ-1 Fury</span> First US Navy jet aircraft

The North American FJ-1 Fury was an early turbojet-powered carrier-capable fighter aircraft used by the United States Navy (USN). Developed by North American Aviation (NAA) starting in 1945, it became the first jet aircraft in USN service to serve at sea under operational conditions. This first version of the FJ was a straight-winged jet, briefly operational during the transition to more successful designs. An evolution of the FJ-1 would become the land-based XP-86 prototype of the United States Air Force's enormously influential F-86 Sabre, which in turn formed the basis for the Navy's carrier-based, swept-winged North American FJ-2/-3 Fury.

The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum in Horsham, Pennsylvania is a museum dedicated to preserving the aviation history of the Greater Delaware Valley including NAS Willow Grove and Harold F. Pitcairn. It is owned and operated by the Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association (DVHAA), a non-profit organization. Opened in 2004, the museum features restored historic aircraft, flight helmets, flight gear, air to air missiles, Martin-Baker ejection seats, and military service medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Grosse Ile</span>

Naval Air Station Grosse Ile was a Naval air station located on the southern tip of Grosse Ile, Michigan. It operated from 1927 until late 1969, and is now a township airport. During World War II NASGI was one of the largest primary flight training stations for Naval aviators, and RAF pilots. Among the many thousands of Navy pilots who began their careers at NASGI is game show host Bob Barker. Former President George H. W. Bush finished his active Navy career at NASGI attached to Torpedo Squadron 153(VT-153).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vought XSO2U</span> American observation floatplane

The Vought XSO2U was an American observation floatplane developed by Vought-Sikorsky for the United States Navy during the late 1930s. Intended to replace the Curtiss SOC Seagull in service as a scout aboard cruisers, it proved superior to the Curtiss SO3C in evaluation, but failed to win a production contract due to Vought's lack of manufacturing capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Aircraft Factory NO</span> Type of aircraft

Naval Aircraft Factory NO was an American short-range reconnaissance/gun spotting aircraft of the 1920s. A single-engined three-seat biplane with alternative floats or wheels, six were built for the U.S. Navy.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Curtis name in Burgess and Curtis referred to a business partner unrelated to Curtiss Aeroplane founder Glenn Curtiss; there was no relationship between the companies at the time. Burgess was subsequently absorbed by Curtiss Aeroplane after the 1911 designation system had been superseded.
  2. ↑ Consulted references to not clarify why DN-1 did not receive a designation under the previously-adopted 1914 designation system even though an allowance was made for dirigibles.
  3. ↑ Non-standard XDH designation applied to two de Havilland aircraft procured for use by the U.S. Naval Attaché in London. [11]

Citations

  1. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 4.
  2. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 4–5.
  3. 1 2 3 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 94.
  4. 1 2 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 5.
  5. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 5, 29.
  6. 1 2 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 503.
  7. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 503, 507.
  8. 1 2 3 Grossnik, Roy A., ed. (1987). Kite Balloons to Airships... the Navy's Lighter-than-Air Experience (Pages 67–75) (Report). Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare) and Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, United States Navy. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 503–504.
  10. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 504–505.
  11. 1 2 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 480–481.
  12. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 350.
  13. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, pp. 350, 412.
  14. ↑ Baugher, Joe (5 May 2006). "US Navy and US Marine Corps Military Serial Numbers, First Alphanumeric Series (1911-1914)". joebaugher.com. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  15. ↑ Baugher, Joe (6 March 2014). "US Navy and US Marine Corps Military Serial Numbers, Second Alphanumeric Series (1914-1917)". joebaugher.com. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  16. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 96.
  17. 1 2 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 417.
  18. ↑ Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p. 485.
  19. ↑ Smith, Alfred Emanuel (21 September 1921). "Lessons of the ZR-2". The Outlook . 129: 80, 82. Retrieved 30 July 2009.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.