{{Short description|Reference work for US Navy vessels}} {{Infobox book | name=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | translator= | image=Danfs.jpg | image_size = 150px | caption= | author=James Longuemare Mooney | illustrator= | cover_artist= | country= | language= | series= | subject= | genre= | publisher=Navy Dept., Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division | release_date=1959–1991 | english_release_date = | media_type= | pages= | isbn= | oclc=2794587 | preceded_by= | followed_by= }}
The '''''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships''''' ('''''DANFS''''') is the official reference work for the basic facts about ships used by the United States Navy.
When the writing project was developed the parameters for this series were designed to cover only commissioned US Navy ships with assigned names. If the ship was not assigned a name it was not included in the histories written for the series.<ref Name="lsm">{{cite web | title =LSM and LSM(R) Histories | work =DANFS | publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command, US Navy | url =http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lsm-lsmr.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150615043803if_/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/lsm-lsmr.html | archive-date =2015-06-15 | url-status =dead }}</ref> In addition to the ship entries, ''DANFS'' and the online links have been expanded to include appendices on small craft, histories of Confederate Navy ships, and various essays related to naval ships.
==Forewords and introductions== Foreword and introduction passages for many editions were written by big names from naval command history from Arleigh Albert Burke<ref name="DANFS1991I—A">{{citation | surname1 = Mooney | given1 = James Longuemare | author-link1 = Openlibrary:authors/OL6926119A | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015024791587?urlappend=%3Bseq=12 | contributor-surname = Burke | contributor-given = Arleigh Albert | contributor-link = Arleigh Burke | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | page = viii | volume = I—Part A | hdl = 2027/mdp.39015024791587 | year = 1991 | isbn = 9780160020551 | lccn = 91028049 | oclc = 2475490 | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094755/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-date= 2015-06-13 | url-status = live}}</ref> to Elmo Russell Zumwalt Jr.<ref name="DANFS1976V">{{citation | surname1 = Mooney | given1 = James Longuemare | author-link1 = Openlibrary:authors/OL6926119A | surname2 = Bowen-Hassell | given2 = Everett Gordon | author-link2 = Everett Gordon Bowen-Hassell | surname3 = Devlin | given3 = Robert J. | surname4 = Loughlin | given4 = Mary F. | surname5 = Morison | given5 = Samuel Loring | author-link5 = Samuel Loring Morison | surname6 = Patton | given6 = John M. | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015081726344?urlappend=%3Bseq=9 | contributor-surname = Zumwalt | contributor-given = Elmo Russell | contributor-link = Elmo Zumwalt | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | page = v | volume = V | hdl = 2027/mdp.39015081726344 | year = 1976 | isbn = 9780160020551 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 2475490 | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094755/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-date= 2015-06-13 | url-status = live}}</ref> and others.
==Authors== {{columns-list|colwidth=35em| * Richard P. Slaymaker (vol. I 1959)<ref name="DANFS1959I">{{citation | surname1 = Slaymaker | given1 = Richard P. | author-link1 = Richard P. Slaymaker | surname2 = Sullivan | given2 = John P. | author-link2 = John P. Sullivan (USN) | surname3 = Smiley | given3 = Walter P. | author-link3 = Walter P. Smiley | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015081726351?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 | contributor-surname = Burke | contributor-given = Arleigh Albert | contributor-link = Arleigh Burke | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = I | hdl = 2027/mdp.39015081726351 | year = 1959 | isbn = 9780160020551 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 769804820 | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094755/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-date= 2015-06-13 | url-status = live}}</ref> * John P. Sullivan (USN) (vol. I 1959)<ref name="DANFS1959I"/> * Walter P. Smiley (vol. I 1959)<ref name="DANFS1959I"/> * Esther Handelman Vail (vol. II 1963)<ref name="DANFS1963II">{{citation | surname1 = Vail | given1 = Esther Handelman | surname2 = Lawrence | given2 = Alma R. | surname3 = Hazard | given3 = Roberta L. | author-link3 = Roberta L. Hazard | surname4 = Thomas | given4 = Jesse B. | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015040299755?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 | contributor-surname = Anderson | contributor-given = George Whelan | contributor-link = George Whelan Anderson Jr. | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = II | hdl = 2027/mdp.39015040299755 | year = 1963 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 769804820 | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094755/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-date= 2015-06-13 | url-status = live}}</ref> * Alma R. Lawrence (vol. II 1963)<ref name="DANFS1963II"/> * Roberta L. Hazard (vol. II 1963)<ref name="DANFS1963II"/> * Jesse B. Thomas (vol. II 1963)<ref name="DANFS1963II"/> * Clayton F. Johnson (vol. III 1968)<ref name="DANFS1968III">{{citation | surname1 = Johnson | given1 = Clayton F. | surname2 = Roberts | given2 = John C. | surname3 = Iwanowski | given3 = Raymond J. | surname4 = Stewart | given4 = James V. | surname5 = Schrader | given5 = Joan A. | surname6 = Reilley | given6 = John C. | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.35007004873851?urlappend=%3Bseq=9 | contributor-surname = Nitze | contributor-given = Paul Henry | contributor-link = Paul Nitze | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = III | hdl = 2027/uva.35007004873851 | year = 1968 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 861247907 | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094755/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-date= 2015-06-13 | url-status = live}}</ref> * John C. Roberts (vol. III 1968)<ref name="DANFS1968III"/> * Raymond J. Iwanowski (vol. III 1968)<ref name="DANFS1968III"/> * James V. Stewart (vol. III 1968, vol. IV 1969)<ref name="DANFS1968III"/><ref name="DANFS1969IV"/> * Joan A. Schrader (vol. III 1968)<ref name="DANFS1968III"/> * John C. Reilley, Jr. (vol. III 1968, vol. VI 1976, vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1968III"/><ref name="DANFS1976VI"/><ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * James L. Mooney <!-- Q101084532 --> (vol. IV 1969, vol. V 1976, vol. VI 1976, vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981, vol. I-A 1991)<ref name="DANFS1991I—A"/><ref name="DANFS1976V"/><ref name="DANFS1969IV">{{citation | surname1 = Mooney | given1 = James Longuemare | author-link1 = Openlibrary:authors/OL6926119A | surname2 = Stewart | given2 = James V. | surname3 = Loughlin | given3 = Mary F. | surname4 = Schrader | given4 = Joan A. | surname5 = Morison | given5 = Samuel Loring | author-link5 = Samuel Loring Morison | surname6 = Devlin | given6 = Robert J. | surname7 = Suran | given7 = Frank | surname8 = Sorenson | given8 = Priscilla | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015040299771?urlappend=%3Bseq=9 | contributor-surname = Moorer | contributor-given = Thomas Hinman | contributor-link = Thomas Hinman Moorer | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = IV | hdl = 2027/mdp.39015040299771 | year = 1969 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 313519467 | url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150613094755/http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html | archive-date= 2015-06-13 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="DANFS1976VI">{{citation | surname1 = Mooney | given1 = James Longuemare | author-link1 = Openlibrary:authors/OL6926119A | surname2 = Loughlin | given2 = Mary F. | surname3 = Mann | given3 = Raymond A. | surname4 = Reilley | given4 = John C. | surname5 = Kennerly | given5 = Roland S. | surname6 = Townsend | given6 = Christopher | surname7 = Morison | given7 = Samuel Loring | author-link7 = Samuel Loring Morison | editor = Naval History Division | editor-link = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer06wash/page/n8/mode/1up | contributor-surname = Holloway | contributor-given = James L. | contributor-link = James L. Holloway III | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = VI | year = 1976 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 861247578 | url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer06wash }}</ref><ref name="DANFS1981VII">{{citation | surname1 = Cressman | given1 = Robert J. | author-link1 = Openlibrary:authors/OL28887A | surname2 = Kennedy | given2 = Christopher N. | surname3 = Kennerly | given3 = Roland S. | surname4 = MacFarlane | given4 = Suzanne | surname5 = Mann | given5 = Raymond A. | surname6 = Parsons | given6 = Luann | surname7 = Ponsolle | given7 = Barbara | surname8 = Reilley | given8 = John C. | surname9 = Schuster | given9 = Theresa M. | editor-last = Mooney | editor-first = James Longuemare | editor-link = Openlibrary:authors/OL6926119A | editor2 = Naval History Division | editor-link2 = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer07wash/page/n8/mode/1up | contributor-surname = Hayward | contributor-given = Thomas Bibb | contributor-link = Thomas B. Hayward | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = VII | year = 1981 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 861247578 | url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer07wash }}</ref><ref name="DANFS1981VIII">{{citation | surname1 = Cressman | given1 = Robert J. | author-link1 = Openlibrary:authors/OL28887A | surname2 = Kennedy | given2 = Christopher N. | surname3 = Kennerly | given3 = Roland S. | surname4 = MacFarlane | given4 = Suzanne | surname5 = Mann | given5 = Raymond A. | surname6 = Parsons | given6 = Luann | surname7 = Ponsolle | given7 = Barbara | surname8 = Reilley | given8 = John C. | surname9 = Schuster | given9 = Theresa M. | editor-last = Mooney | editor-first = James Longuemare | editor-link = Openlibrary:authors/OL6926119A | editor2 = Naval History Division | editor-link2 = Naval History and Heritage Command | contribution = Foreword | contribution-url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer08wash/page/n8/mode/1up | contributor-surname = Hidalgo | contributor-given = Edward | contributor-link = Edward Hidalgo | title = Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | location = Washington, D.C. | volume = VIII | year = 1981 | lccn = 60060198 | oclc = 313519630 | url = https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer08wash }}</ref> * Mary F. Loughlin (vol. IV 1969, vol. V 1976, vol. VI 1976)<ref name="DANFS1969IV"/><ref name="DANFS1976V"/><ref name="DANFS1976VI"/> * Joan A. Schrader (vol. IV 1969)<ref name="DANFS1969IV"/> * Samuel Loring Morison (vol. IV 1969, vol. V 1976, vol. VI 1976)<ref name="DANFS1969IV"/><ref name="DANFS1976V"/><ref name="DANFS1976VI"/> * Robert J. Devlin (vol. IV 1969, vol. V 1976)<ref name="DANFS1969IV"/> * Frank Suran (vol. IV 1969)<ref name="DANFS1969IV"/> * Priscilla Sorenson (vol. IV 1969)<ref name="DANFS1969IV"/> * Everett Gordon Bowen-Hassell <!-- Q101073901 --> (vol. V 1976)<ref name="DANFS1976V"/> * John M. Patton (vol. V 1976)<ref name="DANFS1976V"/> * Raymond A. Mann (vol. VI 1976, vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1976VI"/><ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Roland S. Kennerly (vol. VI 1976, vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1976VI"/><ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Christopher Townsend (vol. VI 1976)<ref name="DANFS1976VI"/> * Robert J. Cressman (vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Christopher N. Kennedy (vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Suzanne MacFarlane (vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Luann Parsons (vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Barbara Ponsolle (vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> * Theresa M. Schuster (vol. VII 1981, vol. VIII 1981)<ref name="DANFS1981VII"/><ref name="DANFS1981VIII"/> }}
==Publication data== {{clear right}} {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0; font-size:95%; text-align:center; width:22em;" |- ! Volume ! Date ! Ships ! Notes |- | I || 1959 || A–B || Out of print |- | II || 1963 || C–F || Out of print |- | III || 1968 || G–K || Out of print |- | IV || 1969 || L–M || |- | V || 1970 || N–Q || Out of print |- | VI || 1976 || R–S || |- | VII || 1981 || T–V || |- | VIII || 1981 || W–Z || Out of print |- | I-A || 1991 || A || Out of print |- |colspan="2"| [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/ Hazegray] || A–Z |align="left"| Histories end at dates above |- |colspan="2"| [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html Naval History and Heritage Command] || A–Z |align="left"| Histories being brought up to date |} ''DANFS'' was published in print by the Naval Historical Center (NHC) as bound hardcover volumes, ordered by ship name, from Volume I (A–B) in 1959 to Volume VIII (W–Z) in 1981. Several volumes subsequently went out of print. In 1991 a revised ''Volume I Part A'', covering only ship names beginning with A, was released. Work continues on revisions of the remaining volumes.
Volunteers at the Hazegray website undertook to transcribe the ''DANFS'' and make it available on the World Wide Web. The project goal is a direct transcription of the ''DANFS'', with changes limited to correcting typographical errors and editorial notes for incorrect facts in the original. In 2008 the NHC was re-designated as the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). It has developed an online version of ''DANFS'' (see External links section below) through a combination of optical character recognition (OCR) and hand transcription. The NHHC is slowly updating its online ''DANFS'' to correct errors and take into account the gap in time between the print publication and the present date. NHHC prioritizes updates as follows: ships currently commissioned, ships commissioned after the original volume publication, ships decommissioned after original volume publication, and finally updates to older ships.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 |title= Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships – Editorial Note |access-date= 2006-10-29 |archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100411125655/http%3A//www%2Ehistory%2Enavy%2Emil/danfs/ |archive-date= April 11, 2010 }}</ref> The NHHC has begun a related project to place Ship History and Command Operations Reports online at their site.
==Reference use== thumb|A complete eight-book set of the dictionary at a college library {{Unreferenced section|date=October 2022}} As the ''DANFS'' is a work of the U.S. government, its content is in the public domain, and the text is often quoted verbatim in other works. Many websites organized by former and active crew members of U.S. Navy vessels include a copy of their ships' ''DANFS'' entries.
The ''Dictionary'' limits itself largely to basic descriptions and brief operational notes, and includes almost no analysis or historical context.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs.html Naval History and Heritage Command - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships] {{columns-list|colwidth=35em|* Scanned copies: **[https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015081726351 I (A–B)] **[https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015024791587 I-A (A)] **[https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015040299755 II (C–F)] **[https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fuva.35007004873851 III (G–K)] **[https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015040299771 IV (L–M)] **[https://hdl.handle.net/2027%2Fmdp.39015081726344 V (N–Q)] **[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer06wash VI (R–S)] **[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer07wash VII (T–V)] **[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofamer08wash VIII (W–Z)]}}
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Category:1959 non-fiction books Category:Encyclopedias of the military Dictionary Category:United States Navy publications Category:Naval History and Heritage Command