Abbreviations
naval-history.net Known Abbreviations
Last revision: 17 July 2024

This list of known abbreviations has been accumulated by editors.
The abbreviations have been used in the official log-books of Royal Navy ships from the World War 1 era, and/or in the log-books of United States vessels from the mid 19th century onwards.

If you want to see something corrected, or add items to the list, drop me .


(a) after rating

Acting

A.A.

Anti-aircraft

A.B.

Able Seaman

Abm.

Abeam

A.B.S.

Armed boarding steamer

a/c

Altered course

a/c

Account

A.C. Co.

Alaska Commercial Company

A.C.S.

Air Construction Service, Royal Engineers

A.D.

Artificer Diver

A.D.C.

Aide-de-camp

Adm.

Admiral

Adv.

Advance

A.E.

Artificer Engineer

A.F.O.

Admiralty Fleet Order

A.G., ArmGrd

Armed guard

Ah.

Ahead

A.H.Q.

Army headquarters

Aide

Aide of Survey (USC&GS)

A.M.C.

Armed merchant cruiser

A+N code

Army and Navy signal code

AoF

Admiral of the fleet

A.O.L.

Absent over leave

A.P., Ast. Pay.

Assistant Paymaster

A.P.

Armour piercing

A.P.M.

Assistant Provost Marshal

A.R.

Aiming rifle

A.S.

Apprentice Seaman

A.S.C.

Admiralty Sailing Craft (dinghy)

A.S.C.

Army Service Corps

A.S.G.

Acting Seaman Gunner

A.S. Office

Admiral Superintendent Office

Asst.

Assistant of Survey (USC&GS)

A.T.F

Auxiliary Ocean Tug, Fleet

A.T.N.

Apparent time at noon

A. to N.

Aid to Navigation

A.T.P.

Authorised (or allowed) to proceed

A.T.S.

Apparent time at ship

A.W.

Above water

AWOL

Absent over leave