Surface combatant

**Surface combatants** are ships which are armed and designed to directly participate in combat operations. They typically are the core vessels of a navy.

## Surface combatant types

* **Anti-submarine destroyers** (DDK) are destroyers with armament and sensors specialized for anti-submarine warfare.
* **Armored troop carriers** (ATC) are modified landing craft with added guns and armor.
* **Battleships** (BB) carry large artillery and are heavily armored.
* **Coast Guard high-endurance cutters** (WHEC) are long-range craft designed primarily for law enforcement and security tasks.
* **Coast Guard medium-endurance cutters** (WMEC) are medium-range craft designed primarily for law enforcement and security tasks.
* **Coast Guard patrol gunboats** (WPG) are patrol craft designed primarily for law enforcement and security tasks.
* **Coastal minehunters** (MHC) are equipped to detect mines.
* **Coastal minesweepers** (MSC) are specialized in keeping coastal sea lanes and harbor access clear of mines.
* **Coastal patrol boats** (PC) are patrol boats only suitable for coastal operations.
* **Command battleships** (BBC) are battleships with flag command facilities added.
* **Corvettes** (FFL) are light frigates usually tailored for a specific mission set.
* **Cruisers** (C) are large, long-range surface combatants with diverse capabilities.
* **Destroyers** (DD) are medium-sized multi-role surface combatants.
* **Destroyer minelayers** (DM) are destroyers with significant mine carrying and laying facilities.
* **Escort destroyers** (DE) are smaller destroyers specialized in provided escort for convoys and non-combatant vessels.
* **Fast guided missile patrol craft** (PCFG) are high-speed missile-armed patrol boats.
* **Fast patrol craft** (PCF) are patrol boats optimized for high speed.
* **Frigates** (FF) are small multi-role surface combatants.
* **Guided missile battleships** (BBG) are battleships armed with guided missiles.
* **Guided missile cruisers** (CG) are cruisers armed with guided missiles.
* **Guided missile destroyers** (DDG) are destroyers armed with guided missiles.
* **Guided missile escort destroyers** (DEG) are escort destroyers armed with guided missiles.
* **Guided missile frigates** (FFG) are frigates armed with guided missiles.
* **Guided missile helicopter cruisers** (CGH) are guided missile cruisers with a large helicopter capacity as well.
* **Heavy cruisers** (CA) are cruisers with heavier artillery and armor.
* **Heavy guided missile cruisers** (CAG) are heavy cruisers with significant missile armament.
* **Helicopter battleships** (BBH) are battleships with a large helicopter deck and hangar.
* **Helicopter destroyers** (DDH) are destroyers with a large helicopter deck and hangar.
* **Hydrofoil torpedo boats** (PHT) are high-speed boats with torpedo armament.
* **Inshore minesweepers** (MSI) are small minesweepers for keeping inshore estuaries and other waterways clear of mines.
* **Large cruisers** (CB) are heavy cruisers approaching battlecruisers in firepower and armor.
* **Large guided missile cruisers** (CBG) are large cruisers with significant missile armament.
* **Light anti-aircraft cruisers** (CLAA) are light cruisers with armament and sensors specialized for air defense.
* **Light cruisers** (CL) are cruisers designed for speed
* **Light destroyers** (DL) are destroyers with less displacement than standard classes.
* **Light guided missile cruisers** (CLG) are light cruisers with missile armament.
* **Light guided missile destroyers** (DLG) are light destroyers with missile armament.
* **Light helicopter cruisers** (CLH) are light cruisers with large helicopter facilities.
* **Mine countermeasures ships** (MCM) are equipped to detect and disable mines.
* **Minelayers** (ML) carry and can place large numbers of mines.
* **Minesweeper tenders** (MST) provide support for smaller minesweepers.
* **Missile gunboats** (PGM) are patrol boats armed with guns and missiles.
* **Missile hydrofoils** (PHM) are hydrofoil patrol boats armed with missiles.
* **Motor torpedo boats** (MTB) are small short-range craft armed with torpedoes.
* **Nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers** (CGN) are guided missile cruisers with nuclear propulsion.
* **Ocean minesweepers** (MSO) are large minesweepers capable of ocean-going operations.
* **Offshore patrol vessels** (OPV) are long-range frigates optimized for patrolling distant waters.
* **Patrol boats** (PB) are small, lightly-armed craft used for general patrol duties.
* **Patrol frigates** (PF) are high-endurance frigates optimized for general patrol duties.
* **Patrol gunboats** (PG) are patrol craft armed with large quantities of smaller guns.
* **Patrol torpedo boats** (PT) are patrol craft armed with torpedoes.
* **Radar picket destroyers** (DDR) are destroyers with enhanced sensors designed to maintain a long-range radar perimeter.
* **Radar picket escort destroyers** (DER) are escort destroyers specialized in long-range radar operation.
* **Radar picket ships** (AGR) are converted cargo vessels equipped with powerful radar systems.
* **Steel-hull fleet minesweepers** (MSF) are specialized minesweepers.
* **Submarine chasers** (SC) are light patrol craft designed to locate and pursue submarines.
* **Submarine chaser escorts** (PCE) are high-endurance patrol craft capable of escorting merchants and convoys.