This page lists all of the ship classes used during World War II. This list does not include individual ships that were part of a class. This list also includes ships that were planned as a class but only one was completed. The list may also inlcude several ships commissioned before World War II.
List of ships by country
Kriegsmarine (Germany)
Kriegsmarine (Germany) Aircraft carriers
Battleships and battle cruisers
The German battleship KMS Bismarck.
- Bismarck-class battleship
- Deutschland-class battleship
- Scharnhorst-class battle cruiser
Cruisers
- Deutschland-class heavy cruiser
- Hipper-class heavy cruiser
- K-class light cruiser
- Leipzig-class light cruiser
Destroyers
- Zerstörer 1934-class destroyer
- Zerstörer 1934A-class destroyer
- Zerstörer 1936-class destroyer
- Zerstörer 1936A-class destroyer
- Zerstörer 1936B-class destroyer
Submarines
- Type I subamrine
- Type II submarine
- Type VII submarine
- Type IX submarine
- Type X submarine
- Type XIV submarine
- Type XVII submarine
- Type XXI submarine
- Type XXIII submarine
Patrol and torpedo boats
- S-100 Schnellboote
- Elbing-class Type 1939 torpedo boat
- F-class escort ship
- TA-class torpedo boat
- Type 1923 torpedo boat
- Type 1924 torpedo boat
- VP Boat
Armed merchantmen
- Atlantis
- Coronel
- Hansa
- Komet
- Kormoran
- Michel
- Orion
- Pinguin
- Sperrbrecher
- Stier
- Thor
- Widder
Minesweepers
- M-class minesweeper
- R boat
Landing and amphibious ships
- Marinefährprahm
- Siebelfähre
Aircraft carriers
USS Bon Homme Richrd (CV-31).
- Bogue-class escort carrier
- Casablanca-class escort carrier
- Charger-class escort carrier
- Commencement Bay-class escort carrier
- Essex-class aircraft carrier
- Independence-class aircraft carrier
- Lexington-class aircraft carrier
- Long Island-class escort carrier
- Midway-class aircraft carrier
- Saipan-class aircraft carrier
- Sangamon-class escort carrier
- Yorktown-class aircraft carrier
Battleships and battle cruisers
- Alaska-class large cruiser
- Colorado-class battleship
- Florida-class battleship
- Iowa-class battleship
- Montana-class battleship
- New Mexico-class battleship
- New York-class battleship
- Nevada-class battleship
- North Carolina-class battleship
- Pennsylvania-class battleship
- South Dakota-class battleship
- Tennessee-class battleship
- Wyoming-class battleship
Cruisers
- Atlanta-class light cruiser
- Baltimore-class heavy cruiser
- Brooklyn-class light cruiser
- Cleveland-class light cruiser
- New Orleans-class heavy cruiser
- Northampton-class heavy cruiser
- Omaha-class light cruiser
- Pensacola-class heavy cruiser
- Portland-class heavy cruiser
- St. Louis-class light cruiser
- USS Wichita (CA-45)
Destroyers and frigates
USS Fletcher.
- Bagley-class destroyer
- Benham-class destroyer
- Benson-class destroyer
- Buckley-class escort destroyer
- Butler-class escort destroyer
- Caldwell-class destroyer
- Cannon-class escort destroyer
- Clemson-class destroyer
- Edsall-class escort destroyer
- Evarts-class escort destroyer
- Fletcher-class destroyer
- Farragut-class destroyer
- Gearing-class destroyer
- Gleaves-class destroyer
- Gridley-class destroyer
- Mahan-class destroyer
- Porter-class destroyer
- Ashville-class frigate (Actually River-class frigate)
- Rudderow-class escort destroyer
- Sims-class destroyer
- Smith-class destroyer
- Somers-class destroyer
- Sumner-class destroyer
- Tacoma-class frigate
- Wickes-class destroyer
Submarines
- Balao-class submarine
- Cachalot-class submarine
- Gato-class submarine
- Mackerel-class submarine
- O-class submarine
- Porpoise-class submarine
- R-class submarine
- S-class submarine (United States)
- Salmon-class submarine
- Sargo-class submarine
- Tambor-class submarine
- Trench-class submarine
- V-boat
- USS Argonaut (SM-1)
- USS Dolphin (SS-169)
Escort and patrol craft
Attack transports
- Arthur Middleton-class attack transport
- Doyen-class attack transport
- Harris-class attack transport
- Haskell-class attack transport
- Heywood-class attack transport
- McCawley-class attack transport
- Ormsby-class attack transport
- President Jackson-class attack transport
- Windsor-class attack transport
Logistics vessels
- Achelous-class repair ship
- Bagaduce-class fleet tug
- Barnegat-class seaplane tender
- Casa Grande-class dock landing ship
- Casco-class seaplane tender
- Crosley-class high speed transport
- Diver-class rescue and salvage ship
- Dixie-class destroyer tender
- Fulton-class submarine tender
- General G. O. Squier-class transport ship
- Haven-class hospital ship
- Mount Hood-class ammunition ship
- Mount McKinley-class command ship
- Osage-class vehicle landing ship
Cargo ships
- Aldebaran-class stores ship
- Andromeda-class attack cargo ship
- Artemis-class attack cargo ship
- Arcturus-class attack cargo ship
- Crater-class cargo ship
- Liberty ship
- Tolland-class attack cargo ship
- Type C1-class cargo ship
- Type C2-class cargo ship
- Type C3-class cargo ship
- Type C4-class cargo ship
- Victory ship
Oilers
_off_the_Solomons_1942.png){kind=link}
USS Platte (AO-24), a Cimarron-class oiler.
- Chicopee-class oiler
- Chiwawa-class oiler
- Cimarron-class oiler
- Escambia-class oiler
- Kennebec-class oiler
- Mission Buenaventura-class fleet oiler
- Patoka-class oiler
- Suamico-class oiler
- T2 tanker
Minesweepers
- Admirable-class minesweeper
- Auk-class minesweeper
- Hawk-class minesweeper
- Lapwing-class minesweeper
- Raven-class minesweeper
- YMS-1-class minesweeper
Landing and amphibious ships
Coast Guard vessels
- Active-class patrol boat
- Cactus-class sea going buoy tender
- Diver-class rescue and salvage ship
- Iris-class bouy tender
- Lake-class cutter
- Mesquite-class sea going buoy tender
- Owasco-class cutter
- Tallapoosa-class cutter
- Treasury-class cutter
- Wind-class icebreaker
Royal Navy (Great Britain)
Royal Navy (Great Britain) Aircraft carriers
- Attacker-class escort carrier
- Avenger-class escort carrier
- Colossus-class aircraft carrier
- Courageous-class aircraft carrier
- Illustrious-class aircraft carrier
- Implacable-class aircraft carrier
- Nairana-class escort carrier
- Ruler-class escort carrier
- HMS Activity (D94)
- HMS Archer (D78)
- HMS Argus (I49)
- HMS Audacity (D10)
- HMS Ark Royal (91)
- HMS Eagle
- HMS Hermes (95)
- HMS Indomitable (92)
- HMS Pretoria Castle (F61)
- HMS Unicorn (72)
Battleships and battle cruisers
- King George V-class battleship
- Lion-class battleship
- Nelsonclass battleship
- Queen Elizabeth-class battleship
- Renown-class battle cruiser
- Revenge-class battleship (Also known as the Royal Sovereign-class battleship)
Cruisers
- Arethusa-class light cruiser
- C-class light cruiser
- Caledon-class light cruiser
- Capetown-class light cruiser
- County-class heavy cruiser
- Crown Colony-class light cruiser
- Danae-class light cruiser
- Dido-class light cruiser
- Emerald-class light cruiser
- Fiji-class heavy cruiser
- Hawkins-class heavy cruiser
- Leander-class light cruiser
- Minotaur-class light cruiser
- Town-class light cruiser
- York-class heavy cruiser
Destroyers and frigates
- 24-class sloop
- A-class destroyer
- Battle-class destroyer
- Banff-class sloop
- Bay-class frigate
- Bittern-class sloop
- Black Swan-class sloop
- Bridgewater-class sloop
- Captain-class frigate
- Colony-class frigate
- D-class destroyer
- E-class destroyer
- Egret-class sloop
- F-class destroyer
- G/H''class destroyer
- Grimsby-class sloop
- Hastings-class sloop
- Havant-class destroyer
- Hunt-class destroyer
- I-class destroyer
- J-class destroyer
- K-class destroyer
- Kingfisher-class sloop
- L-class destroyer
- Loch-class frigate
- M-class destroyer
- N-class destroyer
- O-class destroyer
- P-class destroyer
- Q-class destroyer
- R-class destroyer
- River-class frigate
- Shoreham-class sloop
- S-class destroyer
- T-class destroyer
- Thornycroft-class destroyer
- Town-class destroyer
- Tribal-class destroyer
- U-class destroyer
- V-class destroyer
- W-class destroyer
- Z-class destroyer
- HMS Amazon (D39)
- HMS Ambuscade (D38)
Submarines
- Amphion-class submarine
- Grampus-class submarine
- H-class submarine
- L-class submarine
- Odin-class submarine
- Oruç Reis/P611-class submarine
- Parthian-class submarine
- Rainbow-class submarine
- River-class submarine
- S-class submarine (British)
- T-class submarine
- U-class submarine
- V-class submarine
- X-class submarine
- XE-class submarine
Corvettes
- Castle-class corvette
- Flower-class corvette
Armed merchantmen
- HMS Jervis Bay
Tenders
- HMS Albatross
- HMS Pegasus
Minesweepers and minelayers
- HMS Adventure (M23)
Imperial Japanese Navy (Japan)
Imperial Japanese Navy (Japan) Aircraft carriers
- Chitose-class aircraft carrier
- Hiyō-class aircraft carrier
- Shimane Maru-class escort carrier
- Shōkaku-class aircarft carrier
- Sōryū-class aircraft carrier
- Taiyō-class escort carrier
- Unryū-class aircraft carrier
- Zuihō-class aircraft carrier
- HIJMS Akagi
- HIJMS Akitsu Maru
- HIJMS Hōshō
- HIJMS Kaga
- HIJMS Kaiyo
- HIJMS Kumano Maru
- HIJMS Ryūhō
- HIJMS Ryūjō
- HIJMS Shinano (Converted from Yamato-class battleship)
- HIJMS Shinyo
- HIJMS Taihō
- HIJMS Yamashio Maru
Battleships
- Fusō-class battleship
- Ise-class battleship
- Kongō-class battleship
- Nagato-class battleship
- Yamato-class battleship
Cruisers
- Agano-class light cruiser
- Aoba-class heavy cruiser
- Furutaka-class heavy cruiser
- Ibuki-class heavy cruiser
- Izumo-class heavy cruiser
- Katori-class light cruiser
- Kuma-class light cruiser
- Mogami-class heavy cruiser
- Myōkō-class heavy cruiser
- Nagara-class light cruiser
- Sendai-class light cruiser
- Takao-class heavy cruiser
- Tenryū-class light cruiser
- Tone-class heavy cruiser
- HIJMS Ōyodo
- HIJMS Yakumo
- HIJMS Yūbari
Destroyers
- Akatsuki-class destroyer
- Akizuki-class destroyer
- Asashio-class destroyer
- Fubuki-class destroyer
- Hatsuharu-class destroyer
- Kagerō-class destroyer
- Kamikaze-class destroyer
- Matsu-class destroyer
- Minekaze-class destroyer
- Momi-class destroyer
- Mutsuki-class destroyer
- Shiratsuyu-class destroyer
- Tachibana-class destroyer
- Wakatake-class destroyer
- Yūgumo-class destroyer
- HIJMS Shimakaze
Submarines
- Ha-101-class submarine
- Ha-201-class submarine
- I-121-class submarine
- I-201-class submarine
- I-351-class submarine
- Junsen-class submarine
- Kaichū-class submarine
- Kaidai-class submarine
- Kairyu-class midget submarine
- Ko-hyoteki-class midget submarine
- Ro-100-class submarine
- STO-class submarine
- Mara Yu-class submarine
- Type A-class submarine (Also known as the Kō-class submarine)
- Type B-class submarine (Also known as the Otsu-class submarine)
- Type C-class submarine (Also known as the Hei-class submarine)
- Type D-class submarine (Also known as the Tei-class submarine)
- Type L-class submarine
Torpedo boats
- Chidori-class torpedo boat
- Ōtori-class torpedo boat
Tenders
- Akitsushima-class seaplane tender
- Jingei-class submarine tender
Marine Nationale (France)
Marine Nationale (France) Aircraft carriers
- Béarn
Battleships
- Bretagne-class battleship
- Courbet-class battleship
- Dunkerque-class battleship
- Richelieu-class battleship
Cruisers
- Duguay-Trouin-class light cruiser
- Duquesne-class heavy cruiser
- La Galissonnière-class light cruiser
- Suffren-class heavy cruiser
- Algérie
- De Grasse
- Émile Bertin
- Jeanne d'Arc
Destroyers
- Adroit-class destroyer
- Aigle-class destroyer
- Bourrasque-class destroyer
- Chacal-class destroyer
- Fantasque-class destroyer
- Guépard-class destroyer
- Hardi-class destroyer
- La Melpoméne-class light destroyer (Also classified as torpedo boats)
- La Pomone-class destroyer
- Mogador-class destroyer
- Vauquelin-class destroyer
Submarines
- Aurore-class submarine
- Circé-class submarine
- Minerve-class submarine
- Redoutable-class submarine
- Requin-class submarine
- Saphir-class submarine
- Sirène-class submarine
- Surcouf (NN3)
Tenders
- Commandant Teste
Minelayers
- Pluton
Other ships
- Bougainville-class aviso
Regia Marina (Italy)
Regia Marina (Italy) Aircraft carriers
- Aquila
Battleships
- Andrea Doria-class battleship
- Conte di Cavour-class battleship
- Littorio-class battleship
Cruisers
- Trento-class heavy cruiser
- Zara-class heavy cruiser
- Capitani Romani-class light cruiser
- Condottieri-class light cruiser
- Etna-class light cruiser
Destroyers and frigates
- Comandanti Medaglie d'Oro-class destroyer (Never completed)
- Curtatone-class destroyer
- Folgore-class destroyer
- Freccia-class destroyer
- Generali-class destroyer
- Leone-class destroyer
- Maestrale-class destroyer
- Navigatori-class destroyer
- Oriani-class destroyer
- Palestro-class destroyer
- Sauro-class destroyer
- Sella-class destroyer
- Soldati-class destroyer
- Turbine-class destroyer
- Eritrea
Corvettes
- Gabbiano-class corvette
Submarines
- Acciaio-class submarine
- Adua-class submarine
- Archimede-class submarine
- Argo-class submarine
- Argonauta-class submarine
- Balilla-class submarine
- Bandiera-class submarine
- Bragadin-class submarine
- Brin-class submarine
- Calvi-class submarine
- Cagni-class submarine
- CA-class midget submarine
- CB-class midget submarine
- CC-class midget submarine
- CM-class midget submarine
- Flutto-class submarine
- Foca-class submarine
- Glauco-class submarine
- Liuzzi-class submarine
- Marcello-class submarine
- Marconi-class submarine
- Mameli-class submarine
- Perla-class submarine
- Pietro Micca-class submarine
- Pisani-class submarine
- R-class submarine (Italian)
- Settembrini-class submarine
- Sirena-class submarine
- Squalo-class submarine
- Ettore Fieramosca
Torpedo boats
- Ariete-class torpedo boat
- Ciclone-class torpedo boat
- Orsa-class torpedo boat
- Spica-class torpedo boat
Hospital ships
- Ramb IV
Armed merchantmen
- Ramb I
- Ramb II
- Ramb III
Finnish Navy (Finland)
Finnish Navy (Finland) Coastal defence ships
- Väinämöinen-class coastal defence ship
Submarines
- Vetehinen-class submarine
- Saukko
- Vesikko
Gunboats
- Turunmaa-class gunboat
- Uusimaa-class gunboat
- VTV-1
Torpedo and patrol boats
- Hurja-class torpedo boat
- Isku-class torpedo boat
- Jymy-class torpedo boat
- Sisu-class torpedo boat
- Syöksy-class torpedo boat
- Taisto-class torpedo boat
- VMV-class patrol boat
Minelayers
- Pukkio-class minelayer
- Ruotsinsalmi-class minelayer
- Teplokhod-class minelayer
- Louhi
Minesweepers
- Ahven-class minesweeper
- Ajonpää-class minesweeper
- Kuha-class minesweeper
- Rautu-class minesweeper
- SM-class minesweeper
Red Fleet (USSR)
Red Fleet (USSR) Battleships and battle cruisers
- Gangut-class battleship
- Sovetsky Soyuz-class battleship
- Kronstadt-class battle cruiser (cancelled)
- Arkhangelsk (Formerly HMS Royal Sovereign (05))
Cruisers
- Admiral Nakhimov-class cruiser
- Chapayev-class cruiser
- Kirov-class cruiser
- Svetlana-class cruiser
- Petropavlovsk/Talinn (ex-German cruiser Lutzow)
- Komintern
- Murmansk (ex-USS Milwaukee CL-5))
Destroyers
- Derzky-class destroyer
- Orfey-class destroyer
- Izyaslav-class destroyer
- Fidonisy-class destroyer
- Leningrad-class destroyer
- Tashkent-class destroyer
- Gnevny-class destroyer
- Soobrazitelny-class destroyer
- Opytny-class destroyer
- Ognevoy-class destroyer
- Yakov Sverdlov
Guard Ships
- MO-class guard ship
- Uragan-class guard ship
- Yastreb-class guard ship
Torpedo Boats
- D3-class torpedo boat
- G-5-class torpedo boat
- Sh-4-class torpedo boat
Submarines
- American Holland-class submarine
- Dekabrist-class submarine
- Kalev-class submarine
- K-class submarine
- Leninets-class submarine
- M-class submarine
- Pravda-class submarine
- Ronis-class submarine
- Shchuka-class submarine
- S-class submarine (USSR)
- U-class submarine (Transferred from Royal Navy)
- V-1 (Formerly HMS Sunfish (81S))
Dutch Navy (Netherlands)
Dutch Navy (Netherlands) Cruisers
- Java-class cruiser
- Tromp-class cruiser
- HNLMS De Ruyter
Coastal defence ships
- HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck
- HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën
Destroyers and frigates
- Admiralen-class destroyer
- Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer
- K-class sloop
- Van Galen-class destroyer
- Van Ghent-class destroyer
- HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau
- HNLMS Van Kinsbergen
Gunboats
- Brinio-class gunboat
- Flores-class gunboat
Submarines
- O9-class submarine
- O12-class submarine
- O19-class submarine
- O21-class submarine
- K V-class submarine
- K VIII-class submarine
- K XI-class submarine
- K XIV-class submarine
- HNLMS O16
Minelayers
- Douwe Aukes-class minelayer
- Hydra-class minelayer
- Prins van Oranje-class minelayer
Minesweepers
- A-class minesweeper
- Jan van Amstel-class minesweeper
- M-class minesweeper (Dutch)
- Type-MMS minesweeper
Polish Navy (Poland)
Polish Navy (Poland) Cruisers
- Danae-class light cruiser (Lent by Royal Navy)
Destroyers
- Bourrasque-class destroyer (Lent by French Navy)
- G/H-class destroyer (Lent by Royal Navy)
- Grom-class destroyer
- Hunt-class destroyer (Lent by Royal Navy)
- Improved Grom-class destroyer
- M-class destroyer (Lent by Royal Navy)
- N-class destroyer (Lent by Royal Navy)
- Wicher-class destroyer
Gunboats
- Vodorez-class gunboat
Submarines
- Orzeł-class submarine
- S-class submarine (British) (Lent by Royal Navy)
- U-class submarine (Lent by Royal Navy)
- Wilk-class submarine
Minelayers
- Gryf-class minelayer
Minesweepers
- Jaskółka-class minesweeper
Hellenic Navy (Greece)
Hellenic Navy (Greece) Cruisers
- Georgios Averoff
- Elli (Also known as Helle)
Destroyers
- Dardo-class destroyer (Modified Italian Freccia-class destroyer)
- Hunt-class destroyer (Transferred from Royal Navy)
- Kondouritis-class destroyer
- G/H-class destroyer
- Niki-class destroyer
- Thyella-class destroyer
- Wild Beast-class destroyer
Corvettes
- Flower-class corvette (Transferred from Royal Navy)
Torpedo boats
- Alkyoni-class torpedo boat
- Kydonia-class torpedo boat
- Kyzikos-class torpedo boat
Submarines
- Katsonis-class submarine
- Protefs-class submarine
- V-class submarine (Leased from Royal Navy)
- Matrozos (Y-7) (Captured Italian Perla-class submarine)
Royal Norwegian Navy (Norway)
Royal Norwegian Navy (Norway) Coastal defence ships
- Eidsvold-class coastal defence ship
- Tordenskjold-class coastal defence ship
Destroyers
- Draug-class destroyer
- Odin-class destroyer
- Sleipner-class destroyer
Torpedo boats
- Trygg-class torpedo boat
Submarines
- A-class submarine (Norway)
- B-class submarine (Norway)
Royal Australian Navy (Australia)
Royal Australian Navy (Australia) Corvettes
- Bathurst-class corvette
Brazilian Navy (Brazil)
Brazilian Navy (Brazil) Cruisers
- Bahia-class cruiser
Destroyers
- Acre-class destroyer
- B-class destroyer (Brazil)
- Marcilio Dias-class destroyer
Royal Danish Navy (Denmark)
Royal Danish Navy (Denmark) Submarines
- C-class submarine (Denmark)
- D-class submarine (Denmark)
- Ægir-class submarine
- H-class submarine (Denmark)
Minesweepers
- Søbjørnen-class minesweeper
Romanian Navy (Romania)
Romanian Navy (Romania) Destroyers
- Mărăşti-class destroyer
- Regele Ferdinand-class destroyer
Gunboats
- Naluca-class gunboat
Torpedo boats
- Sborul-class torpedo boat
Yugoslav Navy (Yugoslavia)
Yugoslav Navy (Yugoslavia) Destroyers
- Yarrow-class destroyer