Major Types of Ships

Source: Morgan, Porpoises Among the Whales: Small Navies in Asia and the Pacific, East-West Center Special Report No. 2, March 1994 (Honolulu: East-West Center, 1994)p. 10.

Submarine Type	Features	Sub Type	Features
SSBN - Nuclear propelled sub; carries ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.	Usually about 400-560 feet; displacement varies from 10,000-20,000 tons. A part of the US strategic triad.	Diesel - powered attack subs	Armed with torpedoes; may have cruise missiles. Can be 200-300 feet (larger patrol types to midgets); displacement 1,500-4,000 tons. Good for coastal patrol, where they can be very effective.
SSN- Nuclear-powered sub, with shorter-range guided missiles (not-nuclear)	Vary in length from 350 to 500 feet; displacement is 6000-9000 tons.	Auxiliary subs	Older boats, nuclear or diesel, used for research. Not combat vessels. May be 200-400 feet, displacement of 1,500-5000 tons.

Larger Surface Vessels	Features	Medium Surface Vessels	Features
Aircraft Carriers (Large)	Larger Nimitz class is length of 3 football fields, displaces 100,000 tons, and carries varied aircraft designed to obtain air superiority: long-range fighter-bombers, antisubmarine and reconnaissance planes, etc.	Destroyers	Modern carry anti-air, anti-surface and anti-sub capability; often have helo port. Can carry missiles plus guns, and vary in electronics and communication aboard. Older ships have guns, are of smaller size, endurance, without electronics or communications. Length 400-500 ft, displace 3000-9000. Larger ones mimic cruiser.
Aircraft Carriers - VSTOL (vertical short take-off and landing)	Can vary from 700 feet and up, with displacement from 20,000 and up. Carries VSTOL (such as the Sea Harrier), and helicopters.	Frigates	Specialize in either anti-air or anti-sub operations. Older: all-gun; modern: missiles, helo port, communications. Length 300-400 ft; displace 1,100-3,000 tons.
Cruiser or Warship	Anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-sub protection. Modern carry a potent electronics and communication. Older ships can be upgraded. Cruisers serve as command ships for a smaller naval contingent. Length - 400-500 feet; displaces 3,000-9,000 tons.	Corvette	Short range vessels, with missile and electronics to make them useful and effective close-in. Length 200 ft, displacement 500-1000 tons.

Small Craft Type	Features	Specialty craft	Features
Patrol Ships	Carry 20-mm cannon, can patrol in EEZ but not in combat. Length 100-200 ft; displacement 100-200 tons.	Amphibious ships	Large, specialized; Hold and land tanks, armored personnel carriers, etc., or personnel and supplies. Some can launch helicopters and VSTOL planes. Length 300-850 feet; displacement varies from small 5000 ton ships to giant 40,000 ton ships.
Large Patrol Craft	Good for surveillance in the EEZ; 170+ feet; 300+ tons.	Amphibious landing craft	These boats ferry men and materials across relatively short distances from the amphibious ships to land. Also re-supply troops on land. Length: 100-200 feet; displacement varies from 200 - 1,000 tons.
Fast-attack craft	Highly maneuverable small craft for coastal defense. Modern: carry anti-ship missiles. Others carry torpedoes, guns. 100-150 feet long; displacement 100-200 tons.	Amphibious hover craft	These advanced design landing craft utilize an air-cushion to cross water and traverse the beach. More useful for ferrying troops and supplies than for heavy equipment.
Fast-attack hydrofoil	High speed, carries missiles. Especially effective in narrow passages. Length 130 ft; displacement 200 tons.	Minesweeper (ocean; coastal; in-shore)	Ocean minesweepers clear shipping routes (150 ft long; 700+ ton displacement); coastal minesweepers are defensive, clearing harbors and coastal waters (125 feet; 250+ tons). In-shore minesweepers are designed for shallow, confined waters, and can be as small as 50 feet.
Coastal, In-shore, River patrol craft	Small ships of less than 100 ft, displacement of 120 tons. Lightly armed; support constabulary functions close to shore..	Fleet support ships	Tankers (oilers), and food or ammunition supply ships. Useful for "blue water" navy or when destroyers or frigates are sufficiently involved at sea and can't afford to break off operations to return to shore.