[Melian]

Lone Palm, forgive my ignorance, but why are some vessels called USS, some USNS, some USA etc.? Size?

[LonePalm]

USS stands for United States Ship. This means that this is a Commissioned ship.

USNS stands for United States Naval Ship. This is for non-commissioned ships like the hospital ships Comfort and Mercy.

USCGC stands for United States Coast Guard Cutter.

There is no USA as a ship name prefix.

WWG1WGA

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)