Author Topic: Canonical WarShip, JumpShip & DropShip prefixes (Read 7117 times)

Frabby · « **on:** 15 February 2013, 16:57:25 »

For a Sarna article, we're looking for canonical prefixes used to identify spaceships of any sort. We want to know what nation uses what prefixes, and if they're catch-all or subdivided by ship type (WS/JS/DS).
(Link: Sarna article about Naval prefixes)

For examples see following list, ~~which I shall update as the thread progresses~~. Edit: I've given up on updating this list. The most up-to-date list is found at the above link to Sarna, and I suggest and request that you edit that page to add in any new finds. You don't need to be a registered user to edit Sarna.
Please provide a reference sample for each identified prefix.

AS - Western Alliance early spacecraft; Sample: AS Altair, DropShips and JumpShips, p. 6
CBS - Clan Blood Spirit WarShip; Sample: CBS Karianna Schmitt, The Wars of Reaving, p. 156
CCS - Clan Cloud Cobra WarShip; Sample: CCS Incense, The Wars of Reaving, p. 81
CCS - Clan Coyote Warship; Sample: CCS Solar Blaze, The Wars of Reaving p. 85
CCS - Capellan Confederation Warship; Sample: CCS Zhejiang, Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 85
CCSS - Capellan Confederation DropShip; Sample: CCSS Shen Zhen, MercSupp2, p. 50
CDS - Clan Diamond Shark WarShip; Sample: CDS Titanic, The Wars of Reaving, p. 137
CFM - Clan Fire Mandrill WarShip; Sample: CFM Anathema, The Wars of Reaving, p. 171
CGB - Clan Ghost Bear WarShip; Sample: CGB Rasalhague, Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 119
CGBS - Clan Ghost Bear WarShip; Sample: CGBS Bear's Den, Blitzkrieg: Ghost Bear's Lament I, p. 2
CGBS - Clan Ghost Bear DropShip; Sample: CGBS Sharp Claw, Blitzkrieg: Ghost Bear's Lament I, p. 2
CGS - Clan Goliath Scorpion DropShip; Sample: CGS Coup de Main, Fragments of History, p. 41
CHH - Clan Hell's Horses WarShip; Sample: CHH Black Knight, The Wars of Reaving, p. 71 (confirmed as a WarShip on p. 76)
CIH - Clan Ice Hellion WarShip; Sample: CIH Pack Leader, The Wars of Reaving, p. 175 (confirmed as a WarShip on p. 85)
CJF - Clan Jade Falcon WarShip; Sample: CJF Red Talon, BC Scenario Fire in the Dark
CPS = Calderon Protectorate WarShip; Sample: CPS Redemption, Field Manual:3085, p. 132, Calderon Protectorate
CSA - Clan Star Adder WarShip; Sample: CSA Absolute Truth, The Wars of Reaving, p. 137 (confirmed as a WarShip on p. 168)
CSF - Clan Sea Fox DropShip; Sample: CSF Charon, TRO 3145 Mercenaries, p. 52
CSR - Clan Snow Raven WarShip; Sample: CSR Ark Royal, JHS Terra, p. 95
CSV - Clan Steel Viper WarShip; Sample: CSV Perigard Zalman, The Wars of Reaving, p. 40
CSV - ComStar WarShip; Sample: CSV Invisible Truth, JHS Terra, p. 95
CSV - ComStar Dropship; Sample: CSV Sawakaze, The Fall of Terra, p. 21
CW - Clan Wolf WarShip; Sample: CW Stealthy Kill, JHS Terra, p. 95
CWS - Clan Wolf WarShip; Sample: CWS Rogue, Wars of Reaving, p. 175
CWS - Clan Wolf-in-Exile (?) vessel; WarShip?; Sample: CWS Blake's Vengeance, MerSuppU, p. 41
DCS - Draconis Combine WarShip; Sample: DCS Galedon II, BC Scenario Tactics of Desperation 1
DCS - Draconis Combine DropShip; Sample: DCS Nagoya, Explorer Corps, p. 27
DSS - Clan Diamond Shark WarShip; Sample: DSS Terror of the Deep, JHS Terra, p. 95
ECV - ComStar Explorer Corps vessel; JumpShip?; Sample: ECV Herschel, Explorer Corps, p. 6
FCSS - Federated Commonwealth JumpShip; Sample: FCSS Valiant Heart, Lost Destiny, p. 150
FCS - Federated Commonwealth DropShip; Sample: FCS Claymore, TRO3057, p. 12
FSDS - Federated Suns DropShip; Sample: FSDS Richard III, TRO3026r, p. 118
FSS - Federated Suns WarShip; Sample: FSS Vendetta, Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 56
FSS - Federated Suns DropShip; Sample: FSS Gray Paladin, BattleCorps ship profile
FWLN - Free Worlds League Warship; Sample: FWLN Sardis, Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 68
FWLS - Free Worlds League Warship; Sample: FWLS Janos Marik, Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 117
FWLS - Free Worlds League Dropship; Sample: FWLS Falcon’s Nest, Brush Wars, p. 21
FWS - Free Worlds League Warship; Sample: FWS Corinth, Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 127
IES - Interstellar Expeditions JumpShip; Sample: IES Kitty Hawk, Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions, p. 11
ISS = Task Force Serpent WarShip; Sample: ISS Invisible Truth, The Hunters (print edition), p. 132c
LAS - Lyran Alliance WarShip; Sample: LAS Fylgia, BC Scenario Fire in the Dark
LCS - Lyran Commonwealth WarShip; Sample: LCS Invincible, BC Scenario Tactics of Desperation 1
LCS - Lyran Commonwealth Jumpship; Sample: LCS Stringfire, House Steiner Sourcebook, p. 19
LCS - Lyran Commonwealth DropShip; Sample: LCS Layar, BC Scenario Tactics of Desperation 1
MCS - Magistracy of Canopus DropShip; Sample: MCS Danai Centrella, XTRO Periphery, p. 14
NCS - Clan Nova Cat WarShip; Sample: NCS Blade, JHS Terra, p. 95
ODS - Grand Duchy of Oriente WarShip; Sample: ODS Santorini, Jihad:Final Reckoning, p. 19
RPS - Regulus Principality WarShip; Sample: RPS Delos, Jihad:Final Reckoning, p. 23
RWRS - Rim Worlds Republic WarShip; Sample: RWRS Conquistador, TRO3026r, p. 120
RWS - Rim Worlds Republic WarShip; Sample: RWS Krait, BattleCorps ship profile
RWN - ? Rim Worlds Republic WarShip; Sample: RWN Dystopia, Masters & Minions, p. 218
SLS - Star League WarShip; Sample: SLS Zughoffer Weir, Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 119
SLS - Star League JumpShip; Sample: SLS Libyan Sands, Field Manual: SLDF, p. 50
SLS - Star League DropShip; Sample: SLS Ascendant, Era Report: 2750, p. 4
TAS - Terran Alliance WarShip; Sample: TAS Dreadnought, Star League, p. 12
TCS = Taurus Concordat WarShip; Sample: TCS Vendetta, Field Manual:3085, p. 132
TCS = Taurus Concordat JumpShip; Sample: TCS Jamestown, Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 90, Medusans
TCW - Taurus Concordat WarShip; Sample: TCW Vendetta, Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 56
THS - Terran Hegemony Navy WarShip; Sample: THS Repulse, BattleCorps ship profile
WBJS - Word of Blake JumpShip; Sample: WBJS Yoke of Purity, Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 109, "Star Seeds"
WBS - Word of Blake WarShip; Sample: WBS Blake's Sword, Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 119
WDWS - Wolf's Dragoons WarShip; Sample: WDWS Alexander, FMMercs p. 121
WoBS - Word of Blake Warship; Sample: WoBS Xanthos, Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 108
WoBS - Word of Blake Dropship; Sample: WoBS Knox, The Fall of Terra, p. 21

Frabby · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 February 2013, 16:57:37 »

A few initial observations that may need to be cleared up:

Clan Ghost Bear uses both "CGB" and "CGBS", both for WarShips and the latter also for DropShips

"CSV" is used for both Clan Steel Viper and ComStar WarShips

Clan Diamond Sharks WarShips use both "CDS" and "DSS" prefix

"CCS" is used for Clan Cloud Cobra, Clan Coyote and Capellan Confederation

Weirdo · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 February 2013, 17:01:19 »

TAS refers to the Terran Alliance, not the Terran Hegemony.

SLS - Star League JumpShip; Sample: SLS Libyan Sands, Field Manual: SLDF, p. 50
SLS - Star League DropShip; Sample: SLS Ascendant, Era Report: 2750, p. 4

Lorcan Nagle · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 February 2013, 17:11:27 »

Invisible Truth was referred to with the prefix ISS in some of the Task Force Serpent novels, but given they have a few editing/continuity issues that could well be an error

Nerroth · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 February 2013, 17:13:21 »

Does anyone know if there is a reference to the prefix used by Hansa JumpShips? (Or, if there is any, do they have one prefix for their entire fleet, or use a separate one for units operating as part of military forces like the CPF?)

martian · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 February 2013, 17:20:10 »

FWLS - Free Worlds League Warship; Sample: FWLS Janos Marik, Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 117
FWLS - Free Worlds League Dropship; Sample: FWLS Falcon’s Nest, Brush Wars, p. 21
CCS - Capellan Confederation Warship; Sample: CCS Zhejiang, Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 85

BrokenMnemonic · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 February 2013, 18:02:02 »

WBJS - Word of Blake JumpShip; Sample: WBJS Yoke of Purity, Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 109, "Star Seeds"
CCS - Clan Coyote WarShip; Sample: CCS Solar Blaze, Wars of Reaving, p. 81
CCSS - Capellan Confederation DropShip; Sample: CCSS Shen Zhen, Mercenaries Supplemental II, p. 50, Basilisk Assault Squadron
TCS = Taurian Concordat JumpShip; Sample: TCS Jamestown, Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 90, Medusans, TCS Ulysses Run, Historical: Reunification War, p. 67, Malagrotta
TCS = Taurian Concordat WarShip; Sample: TCS Vendetta, Field Manual:3085, p. 132, Calderon Protectorate; Sample: TCS Pinard, TCS Anaheim, TCS Cyrton, TCS New Karachi, Historical: Reunification War, p. 67, Malagrotta
CPS = Calderon Protectorate WarShip; Sample: CPS Redemption, Field Manual:3085, p. 132, Calderon Protectorate

Isanova · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 February 2013, 19:25:27 »

Interesting.

The Vendetta is the TCW Vendetta, where as the Vandenburg used to be the TCV (Taurian Concordat Vessel) Vandenburg. Anyone have Historicals: Reunification war? Also, was your page reference before or after the ship was turned over the Protectorate (mainly) control? Might just be a way to differentiate the two sides/nations...

BrokenMnemonic · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 February 2013, 04:34:11 »

Quote from: Isanova on 15 February 2013, 19:25:27

Interesting.

The Vendetta is the TCW Vendetta, where as the Vandenburg used to be the TCV (Taurian Concordat Vessel) Vandenburg. Anyone have Historicals: Reunification war? Also, was your page reference before or after the ship was turned over the Protectorate (mainly) control? Might just be a way to differentiate the two sides/nations...

Field Manual: 3085, p. 132:

"The report from the Federated Suns observers on the CPS Redemption (formerly the TCS Vendetta) about"

Looks like the prefixes aren't entirely consistent.

BrokenMnemonic · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 February 2013, 04:42:17 »

Quote from: Lorcan Nagle on 15 February 2013, 17:11:27

Invisible Truth was referred to with the prefix ISS in some of the Task Force Serpent novels, but given they have a few editing/continuity issues that could well be an error

Given the multinational nature of the task force and the emphasis on it being the united nations of the Inner Sphere against the Smoke Jaguars, ISS may refer to Inner Sphere Ship? But that's just wild guesswork on my part.

Lorcan Nagle · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 February 2013, 05:39:23 »

Quote from: BrokenMnemonic on 16 February 2013, 04:42:17

Given the multinational nature of the task force and the emphasis on it being the united nations of the Inner Sphere against the Smoke Jaguars, ISS may refer to Inner Sphere Ship? But that's just wild guesswork on my part.

I assumed it was Inner Sphere Ship at the time too. Most of my BT books are boxed up because I'm moving house soon, but I remembered that eARCs of the Task Force Serpent books are on BattleCorps.

So, in The Hunters, Invisible Truth and Ranger (the two ComGuard warships with scenes set aboard) are both given the prefix ISS during chapter headings, and during the text as well. Haruna isn't referred to with a prefix at all, even in headings.

In Sword and Fire, all TFS WarShips and DropShips have the prefix SLS during chapter headings, even though Sword and Fire picks up moments after The Hunters ends.

The eARCs are not the final print copies of the books, so there may have been changes made after this. But it does match up with what I remember of the time.

martian · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 February 2013, 06:49:39 »

LCS - Lyran Commonwealth Jumpship; Sample: LCS Stringfire, House Steiner Sourcebook, p. 19
WoBS - Word of Blake Warship; Sample: WoBS Xanthos, Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 108
WoBS - Word of Blake Dropship; Sample: WoBS Knox, The Fall of Terra, p. 21
CSV - ComStar Dropship; Sample: CSV Sawakaze, The Fall of Terra, p. 21
FWLN - Free Worlds League Warship; Sample: FWLN Sardis, Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 68
FWS - Free Worlds League Warship; Sample: FWS Corinth, Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 127

ODS - Grand Duchy of Oriente Warship; Sample: ODS Santorini, Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 19
RPS - Principality of Regulus Warship; Sample: RPS Delos, Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 23

Maelwys · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 February 2013, 08:16:05 »

MCS - Magistracy of Canopus DropShip; Sample: MCS Danai Centrella, XTRO Periphery, p. 14

As far as I know, no Magistracy WarShip has ever been named, so no idea if it follows the same naming convention. I thought a Jumpship was named in Double Blind but I didn't see it in a quick look through, so just the DropShip for now (though honestly, I doubt they're different).

The Hawk · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 February 2013, 14:32:13 »

Quote from: Frabby on 15 February 2013, 16:57:25

RWS - Rim Worlds Republic WarShip; Sample: RWS Krait, BattleCorps ship profile

RWRS is also attested; see the Model 96 "Elephant" Tug entries in TR3026r (p.120) and TR3075 (p. 196), both of which contain similar language referencing a Dart-class cruiser, RWRS Conquistador.

RWN makes an appearance in Masters and Minions, p. 218, where Gregory Zwick is said to have discovered the wreck of the Naga-class RWN Dystopia.

martian · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 February 2013, 14:59:15 »

FSDS - Federated Suns Dropship; Sample: FSDS Richard III, Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 118

Niopsian · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 February 2013, 16:47:41 »

In Lost Destiny there is a Federated Commonwealth JumpShip named the FCSS Valiant Heart.

Frabby · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 March 2013, 15:52:44 »

Finally found a minute to update the list.

Quote from: Niopsian on 16 February 2013, 16:47:41

In Lost Destiny there is a Federated Commonwealth JumpShip named the FCSS Valiant Heart.

Unfortunately I don't have an English language copy of this book. Can you provide a page reference?

Niopsian · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 March 2013, 16:26:56 »

Quote from: Frabby on 04 March 2013, 15:52:44

Finally found a minute to update the list.
Unfortunately I don't have an English language copy of this book. Can you provide a page reference?

According to Amazon, it's page 150 of the ROC reprint edition.

Nerroth · « **Reply #18 on:** 09 March 2013, 13:43:26 »

From ISP3:

IES - Interstellar Expeditions JumpShip; Sample: IES Kitty Hawk, Interstellar Players 3: Interstellar Expeditions, p. 11

Also, there is a reference to the Adean Dulcimer, a Bug Eye-class WarShip which had belonged to IE prior to its destruction in the Chainelane Isles. However, it is not explicitly listed as having had the IES prefix. (So far as I can tell, none of the DropShips mentioned in ISP3 have their prefixes given, either.)

Frabby · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 April 2013, 06:59:49 »

Updated with CGS and IES.

Weirdo · « **Reply #20 on:** 12 April 2013, 08:11:16 »

We got a new one!

CSF - Clan Sea Fox DropShip; Sample: CSF Charon, TRO 3145 Mercenaries, p. 52

BrokenMnemonic · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 April 2013, 06:14:21 »

CWS - Clan Wolf WarShip; Sample: CWS Rogue, Wars of Reaving, p. 175, "Clan Hell's Horses"

BrokenMnemonic · « **Reply #22 on:** 17 December 2013, 14:11:52 »

AS - Western Alliance... well, spaceship of some kind. Sample: AS Altair, AS Procyon, AS Columbia, DropShips and JumpShips, p. 6-7, "Rise of the Western Alliance"

Frabby · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 December 2013, 04:27:29 »

Updated. I've also put a link to the Sarna article into the top posting.

Jellico · « **Reply #24 on:** 18 December 2013, 05:23:57 »

May I suggest including dates with the prefixes. They change over time. Some Nova Cat ships have had 3 just in Nova Cat service.

Frabby · « **Reply #25 on:** 18 December 2013, 07:44:24 »

Quote from: Jellico on 18 December 2013, 05:23:57

May I suggest including dates with the prefixes. They change over time. Some Nova Cat ships have had 3 just in Nova Cat service.

I would only consider this extra work (which amounts to listing every single instance of any prefix being used) if it had any meaning - which unfortunately doesn't seem to be the case. Naval prefixes don't change in any recognizable pattern over time. Instead, the differences seem to depend on the products and authors, to the point of being inconsistent within the same source. Øystein or Herb admitted to there being no rhyme nor reason to the prefixes; they seem to be made up on the fly. There is no "master list".