U.S. Naval Designations 1922 - 1962

Ambulance 1943

AE-

-

Piper Grashopper

HE redesignated

..

Attack 1946 - 1962

AD-

A-1

Douglas Skyraider

BT2D- redesignated

..

A2D-

-

Douglas Skyshark

.

..

A3D-

A-3

Douglas Skywarrior

.

..

A4D-

A-4

Douglas Skyhawk

.

..

AF-

-

Grumman Guardian

BTF- redesignated

..

A2F-

A-6

Grumman Intruder

.

..

AH-

-

Mc Donnell Douglas Phantom II

Initial designation for F4H-

..

AJ

A-2

North American Savage

.

..

A2J-

-

North American Super Savage

.

..

A3J-

A-5

North American Vigilante

.

..

AM-

-

Martin Mauler

BTM- redesignated

..

AU-

-

Vought Corsair

variant of F4U- Corsair

..

A2U-

-

Vought Cutlass *

variant of F7U- Cutlass

..

Bomber 1931 - 1943

BD-

B-20

Douglas Bosten / Havoc

..

BG-

-

Great Lakes

..

B2G-

-

Great Lakes

..

BM-

-

Martin

Also known as T5M-

..

BN-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory

..

BT-

-

Northrop

..

B2T-

-

Northrop

..

BY-

-

Consolidated Fleetster

..

B2Y-

-

Consolidated

..

Bomber-Drone 1944

BDR-

-

Interstate

..

Bomber-Fighter 1934 - 1937

BFB-

-

Boeing

F6B redesignated

..

BFC-

-

Curtiss Goshawk

F11C-2 redesignated

..

BF2C-

-

Curtiss Goshawk

F11C-3 redesignated

..

Bomber-Torpedo  1942 - 1945

BTC-

-

Curtiss

..

BT2C-

-

Curtiss

..

BTD-

-

Douglas Destroyer

Also known as SB2D-

..

BT2D-

A-1

Douglas Skyraider

Later redesignated AD-

..

BTK-

-

Kaiser

..

BTM-

-

Martin Mauler

Later redesignated AM-

..

Drone-Antisubmarine 1959 - 1962

DSN-

H-50

Gyrodyne DASH

..

Fighter 1922 - 1962

FA-

-

General Aviation

..

F2A-

-

Brewster Buffalo

..

F3A-

-

Brewster Corsair

Alternative source of F4U

..

FB-

-

Boeing

..

F2B-

-

Boeing

..

F3B-

-

Boeing

..

F4B-

-

Boeing Bipe

..

F5B-

-

Boeing

..

F6B-

-

Boeing

Later redesignated BRB-

..

F7B-

-

Boeing

..

F8B-

-

Boeing

..

FC-

-

Curtiss

Paper designation for CR racer

..

F2C-

-

Curtiss

Paper designation for R2C racer

..

F3C-

-

Curtiss

Paper designation for R3C racer

..

F4C-

-

Curtiss

Also known as TS-

..

F5C-

-

Curtiss - skiped -

..

F6C-

-

Curtiss Hawk

..

F7C-

-

Curtiss Seahawk

..

F8C-

-

Curtiss Falcon

Later redesignated OC- and O2C-

..

F9C-

-

Curtiss Sparrowhawk

..

F10C-

-

Curtiss

..

F11C-

-

Curtiss Goshawk

Later redesignated BFC- and BF2C-

..

F12C-

-

Curtiss Helldiver

Later redesignated SBC-

..

F13C-

-

Curtiss

..

F14C-

-

Curtiss

..

F15C-

-

Curtiss

..

FD-

-

Douglas

..

-

..

F3D-

F10

Douglas Skyknight

..

F4D-

F-6

Douglas Skyray

..

F5D-

-

Douglas Skylancer

..

F6D-

-

Douglas Missiler *

..

FD-

-

Mc Donnell Phantom

Later redesignated FH-

..

F2D-

F-2

Mc Donnell Banshee

Later redesignated F2H-

..

FF-

-

Grumman Fifi

Also known as SF- and SBF-

..

F2F-

-

Grumman

..

F3F-

-

Grumman

..

F4F-

-

Grumman Wildcat

..

F5F-

-

Grumman Skyrocket

..

F6F-

-

Grumman Hellcat

..

F7F-

-

Grumman Tigercat

..

F8F-

-

Grumman Bearcat

..

F9F-

F-9

Grumman Panther / Cougar

..

F10F-

-

Grumman Jaguar

..

F11F-

F-11

Grumman Tiger

..

F12F

-

Grumman *

..

FG-

-

Eberhart Comanche

..

F2G-

-

Eberhart Comanche

..

FG-

-

Goodyear Corsair

Alternative source of F4U-

..

F2G-

-

Goodyear Super Corsair

..

FH-

-

Hall

..

FH-

-

Mc Donnell Phantom

FD- redesignated

..

F2H-

F-2

Mc Donnell Banshee

F2D- redesignated

..

F3H-

F-3

Mc Donnell Demon

..

F4H-

F-4

Mc Donnell Phantom II

..

FJ-

-

Berliner Joyce

..

F2J-

-

Berliner Joyce

..

F3J-

-

Berliner Joyce

..

FJ-

F-1

North American Fury

..

FL-

-

Loening *

..

FL-

-

Bell Airabonita

..

F2L-

-

Bell Kingcobra

..

F3L-

-

Bell

..

FM-

-

General Motors Wildcat

Alternative source of F4F-

..

F2M-

-

General Motors *

..

F3M-

-

General Motors Bearcat

Alternative source of F8F-

..

FN-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory

..

FN-

-

Seversky

..

FO-

-

Lockheed Lightning

..

FO-

-

Lockheed

Later redesignated FV-

..

FR-

-

Ryan Fireball

..

F2R

-

Ryan Dark Shark

..

FS-

-

Supermarine Spitfire

Paper designation

..

FT-

-

Northrop

..

F2T-

-

Northrop Black Widow

..

FU-

-

Vought

UF- and UO- redesignated

..

F2U-

-

Vought

..

F3U-

-

Vought

..

F4U-

-

Vought Corsair

..

F5U-

-

Vought

..

F6U-

-

Vought Pirate

..

F7U-

-

Vought Cutlass

..

F8U-

F-8

Vought Crusader

..

FV-

-

Vickers Hellcat

Alternative source of F6F-

..

FV-

-

Lockheed

FO- redesignated

..

FW

-

 - skiped -

..

F2W-

-

Wright

..

F3W-

-

Wright Apache

..

FY-

-

Convair Pogo

..

F2Y

F-7

Convair Sea Dart

..

Transport single engine 1910 - 1931

GB-

-

Beech Traveler

Also known as JB-

..

GH-

-

Howard Nightingale

Also known as NH-

..

GK-

-

Fairchild Forwarder

Also known as J2K-

..

GQ-

-

Stinson Reliant

..

Tanker 1958 - 1962

GV-

C-130

Lockheed Hercules

Also known as G8V-

..

Hospital 1929 - 1942

HE-

-

Piper Grashopper

Also known as AE-

..

HL-

-

Loening

..

Helicopter Crane 1952 - 1955

HCH-

-

Mc Donnell

..

Helicopter Utility 1944 - 1949

HJD-

-

Mc Donnell Whirlaway

Later redesignated HJH-

..

HJH-

-

Mc Donnell Whirlaway

HDH- redesignated

..

HJP-

-

Piasecki Retriver

Later redesignated HUP-

..

HJS-

-

Sikorsky

..

Helicopter Trainer 1944 - 1949

HNS-

-

Sikorsky Hoverfly

..

Helicopter Observation 1944 - 1962

HOE-

-

Hiller Hornet

..

HOG-

-

Gyrodyne

Later redesignated RON-

..

HOK-

-

Kaman

..

HOS-

-

Sikorsky Hoverfly II

..

HO2S-

-

Sikorsky Dragonfly

..

HO3S-

-

Sikorsky Dragonfly

..

HO4S-

H-19

Sikorsky Chickasaw

Also known as HRS-

..

HO5S

-

Sikorsky

..

Helicopter Transport 1944 - 1962

HRB-

C-46

Boeing-Vertoll Seaknight

..

HRH-

-

Mc Donnell

..

HRP-

-

Piasecki Rescuer

..

HRS-

-

Sikorsky Chickasaw

Also known as HO4S-

..

HR2S-

H-37

Sikorsky Mojave

..

HR3S-

-

Sikorsky *

..

Helicopter Antisubmarine 1951 - 1962

HSL-

-

Bell

..

HSS-1

H-34

Sikorsky Seabat

..

HSS-2

H-3

Sikorsky Sea King

..

Helicopter Training 1948 - 1962

HTE-

H-23

Hiller Raven

..

HTK-

H-43

Kaman Huskie

Also known as HUK-

..

HTL-

H-13

Bell Sioux

Also known as HUL-

..

Helicopter Utility 1950 - 1962

HUK-

H-43

Kaman Huskie

Also known as HTK-

..

HU2K-

H-2

Kaman Seasprite

..

HUL-

H-13

Bell Sioux

Also known as HTL-

..

HUP-

H-25

Piasecki Retriver

HJP- redesignated

..

HUS-

H-34

Sikorsky Seahorse

..

HU2S-

H-52

Sikorsky Seaguard

..

Transport 1926 - 1931

JA-

-

Fokker-Atlantic Super Universal

..

JC-

-

Curtiss Kingbird

Later redesignated RC-

..

JR-

-

Ford Tri-Motor

Later redesignated RR-

..

Utility 1931 - 1955

JA-

-

Noorduyn Norseman

..

JB-

-

Beech Traveler

Also known as GB-

..

JD-

A-26

Douglas Invader

..

JE-

-

Bellanca Senior Pacemaker

..

JF-

-

Grumman Duck

..

J2F-

-

Grumman Duck

..

J3F-

-

Grumman Goose

Later redesignated JRF-

..

J4F-

-

Grumman Widegon

..

JH-

-

Stearman-Hammond

..

JK-

-

Fairchild

..

J2K-

-

Fairchild Forwarder

..

JL-

-

Columbia

..

JM-

B-26

Martin Marauder

..

JO-

-

Lockheed Electra Junior

..

JQ-

-

Fairchild

Later redesignated RQ-

..

J2Q-

-

Fairchild

Later redesignated R2Q-

..

JW-

-

Waco

..

J2W-

-

Waco

..

Utility Transport 1935 - 1955

JRB-

-

Beech Expeditor

Also known as SNB-

..

JRC-

-

Cessna Bobcat

..

JRF-

-

Grumman Goose

J3F- redesignated

..

JR2F-

U-16

Grumman Albatross

Later redesignated UF-

..

JRK-

-

Nash-Kelvinator

..

JRM-

-

Martin Mars

PB2M- redesignated

..

JRS-

-

Sikorsky

..

JR2S-

-

Sikorsky Excalibur

..

KDA-

-

Ryan Firebee

..

KDB-

-

Beech Kardinal

..

KD2B-

-

Beech

..

KDC-

-

Curtiss

..

KD2C-

-

Curtiss Snipe

..

KD3C-

-

Curtiss Snipe

..

KDD-

-

Mc Donnell Katydid

Later redesignated KDH-

..

KDG-

-

Globe Snipe

..

KD2G-

-

Globe Firefly

..

KD3G-

-

Globe Snipe

..

KD4G-

-

Globe Quail

..

KD5G-

-

Globe

..

KD6G-

-

Globe

..

KDH-

-

Mc Donnell Katydid

..

KDM-

-

Martin Plover

..

KDN-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory Gorgon

..

KD2N-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory Gorgon

..

KDR-

-

Radioplane Quail

..

KD2R

-

Radioplane

..

KD3R-

-

Radioplane *

..

KD4R-

-

Radioplane

..

KDT-

-

Temco Teal

..

KDU-

-

Vought Regulus

..

KD2U-

-

Vought Regulus II

..

Glider Bomb Carrying 1941 - 1955

LBD-

-

Douglas Gargoyle

..

LBE-

-

Pratt-Read / Naval Aircraft Factory

..

LBP-

-

Piper

Alternative source of LBE-

..

LBT-

-

Taylorcraft

Alternative source of LBE-

..

Glider Training 1941 - 1955

LNE-

-

Pratt-Read

..

LNP-

-

Piper Grasshopper

..

LNR-

-

Aeronca Grasshopper

..

LNS-

-

Schweizer

..

LNT-

-

Taylorcraft

..

Glider Transporter 1941 - 1955

LRA-

-

Allied

..

LR2A-

-

Allied *

..

LRG-

-

AGA Aviation *

..

LRH-

-

Snead *

..

LRN-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory

..

LR2N-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory *

..

LRQ-

-

Bristol

..

LRW-

-

Waco

..

LR2W-

-

Waco

..

Trainer  1922 - 1948

NB-

-

Boeing

..

N2B-

-

Boeing

..

NC-

-

skipped to avoid confusion with NC flying boats

..

N2C-

-

Curtiss Fledgling

..

NE-

-

Piper Grasshopper

Also known as HE-

..

HN-

-

Huff-Daland

Also known as HO-

..

NN-

-

Howard

..

NJ-

-

North American

..

NK-

-

Keystone

..

NL-

-

Langley

..

NM-

-

Martin - skiped -

..

N2M-

-

Martin

..

NN-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory - skiped -

..

N2N-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory

..

N3N-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory Yellow Peril

..

N4N-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory - skiped -

..

N5N-

-

Naval Aircraft Factory

..

NP-

-

Spartan

..

NQ-

-

Fairchild

..

NR-

-

Maxon

..

NR-

-

Ryan Recruit

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

Observation 1922 - 1962

-

..

-

..

-

Also known as F8C-1

..

-

Also known as F8C-5

..

-

Later redesignated SOC-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

..

..

-

Also known as HN-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

Also known as NO-

..

-

Also known as M2O-

..

-

Later redesignated OSN-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

Also known as SU-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

Observation-Scout 1935 - 1945

-

..

-

..

-

Alternative source of OS2U-

..

-

..

-

Also known as O3U-6

..

-

..

Patrol 1923 - 1962

-

..

..

..

-

..

-

Alternative source of PN-12

..

-

Also known as T2D-

..

-

..

-

Grumman Albatross

Interim designation for UF

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

Alternative source of PN-12

..

-

Alternative source of PN-12

..

-

Also known as PY-

..

-

Alternative source of P2M-

..

-

..

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

Naval Aircraft Factory

Paper designation for NC- boats

..

-

..

-

..

Later redesignated WV-

..

-

Later redesignated RS-

..

-

..

-

..

..

.

..

.

-

..

.

-

..

.

-

Later redesignated PBY-

..

.

P-4

Later redesignated PB4Y-

..

-

..

-

..

Patrol-Bomber 1923 - 1962

-

..

-

Alternative source of PBY-

..

..

-

..

-

Later redesignated JRM-

..

-

Alternative source of PBY-

..

-

..

-

..

-

Alternative source of PBY-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

P4Y- redesignated

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

RC-

-

Curtiss Kingbird

JC- redesignated

..

-

Curtiss - skiped -

..

-

..

-

..

C-46

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

..

..

C-118

..

-

..

-

..

-

Also known as R2L-

..

-

Also known as R2K-

..

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

..

-

Later redesignated R6V-

..