Hull Classification Symbol

The HCS, or Hull Classification Symbol is an identifying symbol given to each ship in the UNSC. After the symbol is a number. Each ship of that class gets a different number. This way, the Hull Classification Symbol is a sort of numerical identification system for ships, other than their names.

Due to the sheer number of variance of ship classes in the UNSC, the navy needed a way to identify each type more specifically. Following on from the navies in the 20th and 21st Century, a symbol beginning with "FF" generally denotes a Frigate, "DD" a Destroyer, "CC" a Cruiser, "CV" a Carrier, and "BB" a Battleship. The rest of the letters vary depending on the type of vessel. There can be dozens of types of each class of vessel.

Known Symbols

 * AE: Ammunition Ship


 * C: Halcyon-class light cruiser


 * CA: Marathon-class heavy cruiser


 * CFM: Springhill-class mining vessel


 * CFV: Phoenix-class colony ships


 * DDA: Freighters


 * DD: Destroyers
 * EPO: Epoch-class Heavy Carriers


 * FFG: Frigates


 * INF: Infinity-class ships


 * ODA: Orbital Defense Platforms


 * PRO: Prowlers/Other stealth ships
 * VAC: Valiant-class super heavy cruisers