Ships of the Prussian and Imperial German names used SMS as a prefix. The Nazi and Post-WWII Navies used no prefix.
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Ships of the Modern are named by pennet number which is sometimes followed by a name. The pennet number includes a letter and a 3 digit number. The Nazi's used a similar system for smaller craft while larger craft had just a name with no prefix or pennent number. Small craft may have only a pennet number and no name.
	<B>Examples</B><UL>
		<LI>F219 Sachsen  (Modern Frigate)
		<LI>A511 Elbe	(Modern Auxiliary)
		<LI>S181 U31	(Modern Submarine)
		<LI>Z22 Anton Schmitt	(Nazi Destroyer)
		<LI>Z23	(Nazi Destroyer of the same class as Z22 Anton Schmitt but with no name)
		<LI>U-2501 (Nazi Submarine)
	</UL>