Fighting Ships

Code Ship Type Notes

BB Battleship Large surface capital warships, including older, slower ships and fast modern ships.

BC Battle Cruiser A variation of Battleships that traded protection for speed. Originally included ships
now classed as CB. By World War II, most of these had disappeared.

CA Heavy Cruiser Larger cruisers. “Heavy” designation indicates guns larger than 6.1”, not size of ship.

CB Large Cruiser Large, fast cruisers not of capital rank. Primarily for the US Alaska Class

CL Light Cruiser Cruisers equipped with smaller guns. Some of the modern “Light” cruisers were nearly
as large as “Heavy” cruisers. Note that the program AI will use size and speed of
cruisers when auto-assigning ships to Task Forces. Smaller, slower cruisers will be
assigned to subsidiary roles if possible (convoy escort, etc).
CLAA Anti-Aircraft Cruisers especially adapted for anti-aircraft roles, with AA guns as primary armament.
Cruiser
CM Minelaying Larger and faster ships primarily used for offensive minelaying or operations in
Cruiser dangerous waters.
CMc Coastal Minelayer Smaller and slower ships primarily used for defensive minelaying.

CS Aircraft Cruiser A large, faster ship specially adapted to carry and operate float-type aircraft. These
ships were generally capable of underway operation of their airgroups.

CV Aircraft Carrier Originally the designation for all aircraft carriers, by World War II this had evolved to
indicate large, fast, fleet carriers.

CVB Aircraft Carrier, Variation of CV for historical accuracy. Primarily for US Midway Class and other very
Battle large carriers. Used identically to CV by the AI.

CVE Escort Carrier A small, slow carrier for support use, including ASW Escort, Aircraft Ferry and
Replenishment Carrier, and invasion support.

CVL Aircraft Carrier, Smaller carriers capable of operating with the larger fleet carriers (CV).
Light
DD Destroyer General purpose fleet escort, varying in size and speed with age.

DE Escort Destroyer A variation of destroyer with reduced speed. Used to escort slower combat Task
Forces and transports
DM Destroyer A destroyer specifically modified to lay mines.
Minelayer
DMS Destroyer A destroyer specifically modified to sweep mines
Minesweeper
E Escort A Japanese navy designation used for several classes of warships that fell
somewhere between Patrol Craft and Destroyer Escort.
HDM Harbor Defense A variation of YP included specifically for the larger numbers of Fairmile Harbour
L Motor Launch Defense Motor Launches used world wide.
MGB Motor Gun Boat Small craft, in the same general size range as PTs, but armed only with guns.

ML Motor Launch A British designation, primarily used for Fairmile B Motor Launches. Used similarly to
SC. Note: previous ML designation of “Mine Layer” is now CM/CMc.
MTB Motor Torpedo Identical in usage to PT, included for historical accuracy.
Boat
PB Patrol Boat A Japanese designation historically covering a wide range of ships, from converted
destroyers to modified fishing trawlers. Effectively the same as Patrol Craft to the AI.
PC Patrol Craft A general purpose patrol ship of varying types, mostly for ASW.

PF Patrol Frigate A fast escort and patrol vessel. Primarily included for the British River Class and
variations.
PG Patrol Gunboat Smaller warships of several types, varying from small coastal vessels to large ocean
going warships.
PT Patrol, Torpedo Small fast craft armed with torpedoes and a few small guns.

SC Sub Chaser Smaller, short ranged ASW vessels.

SS Submarine Submersible warships generally armed with torpedoes and a few deck guns.

SSX Midget Submarine Primarily the Japanese Koryu series, does not include Kaiten. These are the units
used at Pearl Harbor, Sydney, and Diego Suarez and that could be carried by a few
larger I-Boats.
TB Torpedo Boat Smaller versions of Destroyers that resulted from a clause in the Naval limitation
treaties. Not as capable as Destroyers but sometimes assigned the same roles.
YP District Patrol A small patrol craft for local duties. Meant to include only the larger “Yard Patrol” craft
Craft of sufficient size to operate away from bases.
 Support and Transport Ships

Code Ship Type Notes

ACM Minefield Tender A small mine serving craft to repair and update large defensive minefields.
Presence of an ACM at a port will prevent decay of portions of the defensive
minefields at that port.
AD Destroyer Tender An auxiliary used to tend destroyer type ships, including repair and rearming.

AE Ammunition Ship A ship specially equipped to carry ammunition and to rearm other ships while
underway. Underway rearming is only available late in the war – until then AEs
function as AKE.
AG Miscellaneous A general purpose auxiliary with several uses. As a base ship, can tend small
Auxiliary craft – performing repair and rearming (not including torpedoes). Can also carry
cargo if used in cargo Task Forces. Note: previous AG is now LB.
AGC Command Ship An auxiliary specially modified to carry Amphibious Headquarters units and to
provide command and control functions during amphibious landings.
AGP Torpedo Boat A tender for PT type craft, capable of repairs and full rearming (including
Tender torpedoes).
AK Cargo Ship A ship specifically designed to carry cargo, including military equipment, supplies,
and resources. Designation meant for commissioned naval “AK” types.
AKA Attack Cargo Ship A cargo ship specially modified to land equipment and supplies during amphibious
landings. Carries large number of landing craft and can unload at an accelerated
rate during amphibious operations.
AKE Ammunition A ship specifically adapted to carry ammunition but not to perform underway
transport rearming. Can rearm other ships when in both ships are anchored at the same
location. Can also transfer cargo to Ammunition Ships (AE).
AKL Cargo Ship, Light A small cargo ship. The AI will not select AKL for major convoys, otherwise
identical to AK.
AKV Aircraft Transport A ship specifically designed to transport aircraft as cargo. Aircraft carried on AKV
are not disassembled and crated and therefore are not disabled when loaded.
AM Minesweeper A small, usually purpose build minesweeper. Previously MSW.

AMC Armed Merchant An Auxiliary Escort Cruiser converted from a faster merchant ship (usually an
Cruiser ocean liner). Capable of performing escort roles and of carrying troops and
supplies.
AMc Coastal A smaller, local service minesweeper. The AI will only select these ships for local
Minesweeper minesweeping duties.
AO Oiler A ship specially equipped to carry fuel and to refuel other ships while underway.
Note that many ships with the historical designation of Oiler were not capable of
underway replenishment and should be classified as Tanker (TK) in WITP.
AP Transport A ship specifically designed to transport troops. May also carry equipment and
cargo. Designation meant for commissioned naval “AP” types.
APA Attack Transport A transport ship specially modified to land troops and equipment during
amphibious landings. Carries large number of landing craft and can unload at an
accelerated rate during amphibious operations.
APc Coastal Transport A small, local service transport for coastal and inter-island usage. AI will not select
APc for Amphibious Operations but will add them to barge TFs.
APD Destroyer Transport A destroyer specially modified for transport of troops and light equipment.

AR Auxiliary Repair An auxiliary used to repair damage to other ships.

Ship
ARD Auxiliary Repair A floating drydock used to repair damage below the waterline. ARDs can only
Dock repair hull damage but do it much better than any other type of tender or repair
ship.
AS Submarine Tender An auxiliary used to tend submarines, including repair and rearming.

AV Aircraft Tender An auxiliary used to tend float planes and flying boats. Differs significantly from
CS in that AV type ships do no operate aircraft while underway and generally do
not carry aircraft themselves.
AVD Aircraft Tender, A destroyer modified to tend aircraft. Retains destroyer ASW capability.
Destroyer
AVP Aircraft Tender, Smaller converted and purpose-build aircraft tenders. Designation included for
Patrol historical accuracy.
LB Landing Barge General purpose landing barges of various types – primarily the Japanese
Daihatsu and similar vessels. Formerly AG
LCI Landing Craft, A beaching craft specifically designed to land troops directly onto shore. Note that
Infantry this type should be designed as Landing SHIPS, Infantry due to size but retained
the LCI designation to prevent confusion with larger British Landing Ships.
LCI(G) Landing Craft, An LCI modified to provide gunfire support during landings instead of landing
Infantry (Gun) troops.
LCI(M) Landing Craft, An LCI modified to provide mortar support during landings instead of landing
Infantry (Mortar) troops.
LCI(R) Landing Craft, An LCI modified to provide rocket support during landings instead of landing
Infantry, Rocket troops.
LCS(L) Landing Craft, A small craft modified to close inshore support of amphibious landings.
Support (Large)
LCT Landing Craft, Tank A beaching craft capable of landing one or more tanks directly onto shore.

LCVP Landing Craft, A small beaching craft capable of landing a single vehicle or small troop formation
Vehicle and directly onto shore.
Personnel
LSD Landing Ship, Dock A special purpose landing ship with a floodable dock. Capable of direct load of
troop into landing craft in the well deck prior to flooding. Carries large number of
landing craft and can unload at an accelerated rate during amphibious operations.
LSIL Landing Ship, A British designation, included for historical accuracy. Used identically to APA.
Infantry, Large
LSIM Landing Ship, A British designation, included for historical accuracy. Used identically to APA.
Infantry, Medium
LSIS Landing Ship, A British designation, included for historical accuracy. Used identically to APA.
Infantry, Small
LSM Landing Ship, A general purpose beaching craft for landing of troops and military equipment.
Medium
LST Landing Ship, Tank A large, slow ship designed to beach and land tanks and other military equipment
directly onto shore.
LSV Landing Ship, A cargo ship specially adapted to unload larger vehicles during an amphibious
Vehicle landing. Carries large number of landing craft and can unload at an accelerated
rate during amphibious operations.
SST Transport A submarine primarily used for transport of supplies instead of offensive/defensive
Submarine operations.
TK Tanker A ship specifically adapted to carry fuel or oil as cargo. Can not perform underway
replenishment but can refuel other ships when both ships are anchored in the
same port.
xAK Cargo Ship Civilian cargo ships, used to move goods, including military equipment, supplies,
and resources from port-to-port. Has no amphibious bonus.
XAKL Cargo Ship, Light A smaller civilian cargo ship, generally similar to xAK except for size.

xAP Transport Civilian passenger ships useful for carrying troops (and supplies) from port-to-
port. Has no amphibious bonus.
xAPc Coastal Transport Civilian Coastal Transport. Smaller inter-island ships.

YMS District A smaller, general service minesweeper. Official designation is “Yard

Minesweeper Minesweeper” but capable of world wide deployment.
YO District Oiler Although carrying the prefix “Y” for Yard, this is a district craft capable of operating
along the coast or between nearby islands. Effectively a light tanker, with all TK
abilities except will not be selected for tanker TFs by the AI.
 Hotkeys

[F2] Toggles display between not showing all computer-controlled TFs (auto-convoy
and others), not showing human TFs, and showing all TFs.
[F3] Toggle Plane Range Radius on/off
[F4] Toggle Task Force Move Radius on/off
[F5] Toggle combat animations on/off
[F6] Toggle hexside terrain detail on/off
[F7] Toggle Bad Weather (Clouds) Indicator on/off
[F8] Toggles combat summaries on/off, but will retain combat reports
[F9] Allow human players to enter the Orders Phase at next opportunity

[A] Bring up the List All Land Based Air Units Screen
[B] Bring up the List All Bases Screen
[C] Bring up the Combat Report Screen
[D] View aircraft, troop and vehicle Database
[E] End the Orders Phase
[F] Save the game
[G] Bring up the List All Ground/Land Based Units Screen
[H] Show the Auto Convoy System
[I] Bring up the Intelligence Reports Screen
[J] Industry Management Screen
[K] Bring up the Weather Report Screen
[L] Bring up the Signal Intelligence reports
[M] View Game Credits
[N] Bring up the List All Naval Air Units Screen
[O] Bring up the Operational Report Screen
[P] Bring up the Preference and Options Screen
[Q] Quit game
[R] Toggles Road networks on/off
[S] Bring up the List All Ships Screen
[T] Bring up the List All Task Forces Screen
[V] View Ship Database
[W] Display Hex/Hexside Ownership
[Y] Toggle Rail Network on/off
[Z] Display the Control Zone Map
Also – toggle Search Arcs on whole map
[1] Toggles text for terrain in each hex on the Tactical Map
[2] Toggles text for Zone Location in each hex on the Tactical Map
[3] Toggles hex weather forecast

[Ctrl] [a] Show the Large Strategic Map

[Ctrl] [j] Toggles the Jump Map on or off in the full Screen map mode
[Ctrl] [f] Reduce main message delay one increment
[Ctrl] [s] Increase main message delay one increment
[Ctrl] [p] Pause turn resolution

[?] Center map on Home Bases

[>] Next Task Force with Task Force Display
[.] Next Task Force without Task Force Display (unshifted “>”)
[<] Previous Task Force with Task Force Display
[,] Previous Task Force without Task Force Display (unshifted “<”)
[+] Next Base
[-] Previous Base

[Esc] Speeds up (in PBEM) or skips (vs. AI) the current animation