Hull Markings
Displayed prominently on both sides of her bow, the Puget Sound bore a large white "D" followed by the numbers "38". As with most ships in the US Navy, the first letter of the ship's hull number was dropped when painted on the side of the bow.
In the Puget Sound's hull number "AD-38", the 'A' stands for 'Auxiliary'. She was not a fighting ship, rather a support ship. The 'D' stands for 'destroyer tender', as opposed to submarine tenders (AS). Finally, the "38" is her designation number separating her from other ships that are of the same type.
Painted across the stern on the third deck fantail, or the rear portion of the ship on the deck lowest to the water, was her name Puget Sound.
Read more about this topic: USS Puget Sound (AD-38)