What does USS stand for? It stands for United States Ship, the prefix placed before the name of a commissioned ship in the US Navy, as in USS Constitution. The letters tell you the vessel is an active warship or support ship that belongs to the Navy and is crewed by sailors.
The prefix is not part of the name forever. A ship gets it when the Navy formally commissions it, and loses it when the ship is decommissioned.
Quick facts
Stands for
United States ShipType
Initialism, said U S SUsed for
Commissioned US Navy shipsWritten as
USS before the name, with the name in italicsLook-alikes
USNS (United States Naval Ship), USCGC (Coast Guard cutter)Example
USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat
How a ship earns and loses the prefix
- Naming: the Navy announces a name for a ship being built. At this stage it is usually called "the future USS" plus the name, or written as PCU, for pre-commissioning unit.
- Launch and christening: the hull goes into the water, often with a sponsor breaking a bottle on the bow.
- Commissioning: in a formal ceremony the ship joins the fleet and becomes USS.
- Decommissioning: when the ship retires, it drops the prefix. Writers then often refer to it as "the former USS" or use "ex" before the name.
In a news story: "Sailors manned the rails as the destroyer was commissioned, becoming USS Harbor Light." Before that ceremony, the ship was not yet a USS.
Ship names repeat over time. To tell ships with the same name apart, the Navy also uses hull numbers, such as CVN for nuclear powered aircraft carriers.
USS compared with other ship prefixes
| Prefix | Stands for | Who operates it |
|---|---|---|
| USS | United States Ship | Commissioned Navy ships with military crews |
| USNS | United States Naval Ship | Navy owned support ships, mostly with civilian mariner crews |
| USCGC | United States Coast Guard Cutter | Coast Guard cutters |
| NOAAS | NOAA Ship | Research and survey ships of the ocean and weather agency |
Other navies have their own prefixes. HMS, for example, stands for His or Her Majesty's Ship in the British Royal Navy. More service terms, from JAG to MOS, sit together in our government and military acronyms roundup.
How to write a ship's name with USS
- Capitals, no periods: the Navy writes USS, not U.S.S. Older documents sometimes used periods.
- Italics for the name only: USS Arizona. The prefix and the hull number stay in regular type.
- Skip "the" right before the prefix: the Navy style is "USS Constitution sailed," not "the USS Constitution sailed." In everyday speech, adding "the" is very common and widely understood.
- Do not double up: "USS ship" repeats the word ship.
When you write the prefix with an article, use "a USS," since U is said "you."
Other meanings of USS
A few other uses exist. In the UK, USS is a large pension plan for university staff, the Universities Superannuation Scheme. In science fiction, writers often borrow the Navy style and put USS in front of imaginary starships. On a test or form about the Navy, though, USS means United States Ship. For why some short forms become spoken words and USS never did, read what is an acronym.
Questions people ask
Do all Navy ships have USS in their name?
Only commissioned ships carry it. Support ships with civilian crews use USNS, and ships still being built or already retired do not use USS.
Should you say the USS or just USS?
Navy style drops "the" before the prefix. In everyday speech and many news stories, "the USS" is common, and readers understand both.
What does USS mean on a submarine?
The same thing. Commissioned Navy submarines are ships too, so they also take the United States Ship prefix.
What happens to the USS when a ship is retired?
The ship loses the prefix at decommissioning. Writers often call it "the former USS" plus the name.
What is the difference between USS and USNS?
USS marks a commissioned warship crewed by Navy sailors. USNS marks a Navy owned support ship, such as a supply or hospital ship, crewed mostly by civilian mariners.