TechMemo:Starship Types

Star Fleet Engineering
Bureau of Starship and Starcraft Technology

Star Fleet Ship Types

Most vessels used in ASR are under Star Fleet registry and fall into the following classifications. These classifications, strictly speaking, can encompass all hull types in the Federation. However, many civilian vessels like corporate transports and the largest superfreighters are not in Star Fleet service and would not use the same classification system.

BB - Battleship/Dreadnought

The battleship is the ultimate combat vessel in service with Starfleet. No starship is more regal or more romanticized than the heavily armed and armored dreadnoughts. Boasting an impressive combination of speed, stability, and endurance, no other class of ship can endure longer when the situation goes bad.

CV - Shuttle Carrier

Shuttle carriers see limited use in the Starfleet. They are more generally used by Starfleet for local support and emergency rescue missions when the ability to land large numbers of shuttlecraft can be an asset. However, when a large area of space needs to be patrolled and less sophisticated marauders or pirates contained the large number of fighters or Runabouts that a CV can carry often prove invaluable.

CC - Command Battlecruiser (Also CBC)

Large tactical command ships are large cruisers which use their additional space to carry special advanced equipment that can be used to coordinate and track operations of a large number of starships, including shuttlecarrier flight groups if needed. They typically carry less armament than a battlecruiser, trading firepower for computer gear, sensor arrays, and other equipment needed to orchestrate large scale fleet operations or planetary landing missions.

BC - Battlecruiser

The battlecruisers are the steel fist within Starfleets velvet glove. When force is called for, these fast, well armored, and agile ships (for their size at least and definitely relative to BB's) are ready to answer the call.

CA - Heavy Cruiser (Cruiser, Armored)

CL - Light Cruiser

There are two main types of cruiser - heavy and light. This does not refer to weight (though most CA's are larger than CL's) but to the size and power of the weapons arrays. Light cruisers typically have a greater power to mass ratio that other cruisers and, hence, are genrally more maneuverable and faster on acceleration even if top speeds of the large, heavy, and light cruisers are generally similar.

CVE - Escort Carrier

Smaller, cruiser-sized shuttle carriers used to bring a much large number of shuttles -- including combat shuttles that are not part of most starship's standard shuttle complement -- into an area of operations. Because they are relatively cost-effective to operate than their larger fleet carrier cousins, they do see somewhat more, if still limited, use. They are more generally used by Starfleet for local support and emergency rescue missions when the ability to land large numbers of shuttlecraft can be an asset. However, when a large area of space needs to be patrolled and less sophisticated marauders or pirates contained the large number of fighters or Runabouts that a CV can carry often prove invaluable.

DD - Destroyer

Destroyer are small, fast, and and highly maneuverable. They are flexible starships capable of carrying out multiple types of missions. While not having the range or endurance for extended solo missions of cruisers, they are nonetheless a invaluable part of the fleet. Many different types of ships, some with specific modifications for certain types of mission fall under the classification of DD. Long range destroyers are DD's which have been configured to carry additional provisions, supplies, and fuel stores for missions to distant regions.

DE - Escort Destroyer

Escort destroyer are small, fast, and and highly maneuverable. They are built for combat and do not have the flexibility of normal destroyers. They generally have better range than multi-mission destroyers because of their dedication to a single puropose, but do not having the range or endurance of cruisers, they are nonetheless a invaluable part of the fleet.

FF - Frigate

Frigates evolved from small destroyers modified for escort duty are specially designed and outfitted for convoy defence. They are, usually, smaller than destroyers.

FR - Radar Picket Ship

Radar picket ships are used extensively in patrols. Though they clearly no longer use the radar detection systems of their wet navy counterparts of old, the formal designation has remained. Picket ships substitute advanced high resolution long range sensor equipment for weaponry. These ships are intended to be the first early warning line in case of invasion. In peacetime their sensors can provide data to planetary or ship-based command centers that can be invaluable in coordinating ship traffic. They carry nominal defensive armament, but in a fight these ships are as good as a coffin.

FL - Corevette (Frigate, Light)

Corevettes are small, fast, lightly armed ships. They are often referred to as "light frigates." They are typically used for in-system defence and typically have only limited warp capability.

Other Vessels

LA - Assault Ship (Landing ship, assault)

Assault ships which carry troops, vehicles, equipment, supplies, attack shuttles, and dropships used in invasions or large-scale Marine actions. Their secondary role is in-atmosphere air supremacy with their attack shuttles.

LS - Assault Transport Ship (Landing ship)

Assault ships which do not carry attack shuttles for atmospheric combat are classified under this designartion.

LC - Landing Craft

Landing craft include a number of modified shuttles including Marine troop and vehicle dropships. When transporter use is not appropraite, LC's carry troops and vehicles from ships to planet.

PT - Patrol vessel

Light system patrol craft, smaller than FL, capable of being docked in ships of DD-size or larger (and possibly in FF series).

Auxilliaries

AD - Destroyer tender

Warp-capable repair ships outfitted to provide survice and supply to destroyers and smaller ships.

AT - Warp tug

Warp tugs are used to take damaged starships under low warp tow to repair facilities. These vessels are constructed to allow high warp velocity towing than would be possible using other starships.

AK - Cargo ship

Cargo ships are used for general purpose cargo transport and resupply.

APF - Personnel transport ship

Fast personnel transport ships are used for long-haul transport of large groups of personnel. They have high warp capabilities and generally carry more than 100 passengers and their equipment. They are frequently used by military transport command for moving large new personnel drafts to new bases or colony areas. Many older transports have been sold to civilian use and refit as more luxrious ships with smaller passenger complements.

AH - Hospital ship

Hospital ships provide mobile, highly advanced, sickbay facilities comparable to many starbases and exceeding those of all other ship types.

Support

FD - Free-floating spacedock

IX - Unclassified Miscellaneous

YC - Cargo Space Barge

YR - Repair Space Barge

YT - Sublight Tug

YU - Utility Craft

Barges are not self-propelled, requiring a YT or other means of propulsion. They are commonly used in-system as less expensive means of transporting equipment and cargo than full-fledged ships, while providing significantly more carrying capacity than various smaller craft.

All other material Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â© copyright by the Star Fleet Engineering Staff: Jeffrey Jenkins, Edward Bell, D'Maris Coffman, Alton Reich, and Scott Freligh or retired SFE Staff: Jason Bostjancic, Jeffrey Finocchiaro, Mark Fox, Paul Gilbertson, and Kristopher Kolman unless otherwise noted. SFE Credits

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