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A class of starship is a term referring to the design of a group of vessels built to the specifications, capabilities, modification or type arrangement and outfitting. Many cultures name separate series or classes based on these qualities. A starship classification is usually used to refer to the general abilities of a vessel, but a specific class designation refers to its shape or layout in differing degrees, according to how specific species and cultures use the term. (*1)
I've seen many lists of people classifying ships based on anything from A to Z. Yet somehow there is yet no truly definitive system of classification and class. Why? Because each ship made does not nessecarily fit into a predetermined 'specific' field. Every ship is made uniquely, with different ideas and different concepts. There is not any predetermined requirements aside from the needs of the ship, so there is no guidelines to actually put forward a classification to.
This in mind, what we 'do' think of when it comes to differing ships is their relation to our real world counterparts (both air and land), and how they fit into the scheme of things. The beauty of a ship is that while it is designed for one thing, it may be more effective at something completely different. Thus, ships are made adaptable, to service multiple problems.
So today, I'll be outlining both basic and advanced ship 'types'. While not defining any ship to any specific category, as both the US Military and online sources note classifications as "subjective based on a ships capabilities and armament".
Now as we begin, I'd like to point out that to start off with,there is not really going to be too many advanced classifications in here. The only exceptions being subtypes that significantly function or achieve different roles than the primary type. For now we're going to stick to the basics, and work our way into subtypes from there.
So, to start out with we'll name the basic classes that we know of when it comes to ships:
As you can see, these classes are archetypes. They encompass quite literally every ship you can imagine, from your smallest peashooter to your largest super dreadnought. The challenge that people are coming across is properly fitting their ship into a specific subtype. When it comes down to it, every ship that you have ever made fits into one of these categories. Every single one. Now, the thing here is knowing just what classifications there are in each category.
As you know, each ship is designed to fulfill a specific role; so saying a Destroyer absolutely 'has' to have missles doesn't make any sense. Nor does giving it a size requirement. A ship with the capability of a destroyer is, subjectively, a destroyer. It could be the largest ship you've ever seen, but if its capability is limited to the level of a destroyer; it's just a really big destroyer (and a giant fire magnet).
So, now that we've cleared that out of the way, we're going to start adding generalized subtypes based on US Military terminology. As you can see, many of the archetypes listed have been present in the real world; so we can roughly base subtypes off of base capabilites of vessels fitting into various categories.
So, here were are with the rough listing of known subtypes.
Capital
Flagship : A command and control (CNC) ship of significant size and varying degree of armament. Generally lightly armored but well shielded.
Battleship : A frontline warship of significant size, primarily favoring turrets and generally thick hulled, relying more on heavy armor than shielding.
Carrier : A rearline support ship of varying size, intended to carry, maintain, and provide CNC for smaller crafts of varying roles.
Cruiser
Light Cruiser : A mid-line support ship generally specializing in light, quick firing armaments well suited for taking out smaller craft or other support based weaponary.
Heavy Cruiser : A mid to front-line offensive support ship with mid-level weaponary effective against other cruisers. May be equipped with auxilary weaponry designed to counter smaller craft.
Battle Cruiser : A front-line flanking warship with heavy weaponary. Generally harasses enemy fleets and ships with hit and run tactics. Hunter Killer of carriers.
Missle Cruiser : A mid to rear-line tactical support ship heavily armed with missles. Generally provides both direct and indirect long range fire support on large ships, stations, and planets.
Destroyer
Light Destroyer : A multirole small to mid-sized skirmishing vessel with lighter, long ranged weaponary. Generally avoids direct contact with the enemy.
Escort Destroyer : A multirole small to mid-sized combat vessel with weaponary specializing in the destruction of smaller craft. Generally maneuverable.
Missle Destroyer : A specialized small to mid-sized support vessel primarily armed with long range guided missles designed to counter larger craft.
Frigate
Recon Frigate : A small sized vessel generally lightly armed and armored, focusing heavily on manueverability. Generally favors jamming and cloaking.
Escort Frigate : A small sized vessel generally moderately armed and armored, focusing heavily on close range skirmishing. Often known to carry a small scout craft.
Missle Frigate : A small sized vessel generally moderately armed and lightly armored. Focuses heavily on short range, rapid fire missles.
Corvette
Fighter
Attack Fighter : A small craft armed with both anti-fighter and anti-ground weaponary.
Interceptor : A small craft armed with anti-fighter/bomber weaponary.
Pursuit Fighter : A small craft armed with anti-fighter/bomber weaponary, more heavily shielded or armored to pursue hostile craft into congested space.
Heavy Fighter : A small craft armed with anti-fighter/bomber weaponary as well as heavier shielding and armor. Less manueverable but more survivability.
Bomber
Attack Bomber : A small craft armed with anti-ship/ground weaponary. Favors quantity over precision.
Light Bomber : A small craft armed with anti-ground weaponary.
Tactical Bomber : A small craft armed with anti-ship weaponary.
Strategic Bomber : A small to medium sized craft armed with precision anti-ground/ship weaponary.
Recon
Freighter
Transport
Civilian
Specialty
Alright. Now, as I've said before, these are all subjective. That said, if you have questions, comments, additional subtypes to add, or whatever may be the case; post below and it will be reviewed and added if nessecary.
*1: Source: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Category:Starship_classes
I've seen many lists of people classifying ships based on anything from A to Z. Yet somehow there is yet no truly definitive system of classification and class. Why? Because each ship made does not nessecarily fit into a predetermined 'specific' field. Every ship is made uniquely, with different ideas and different concepts. There is not any predetermined requirements aside from the needs of the ship, so there is no guidelines to actually put forward a classification to.
This in mind, what we 'do' think of when it comes to differing ships is their relation to our real world counterparts (both air and land), and how they fit into the scheme of things. The beauty of a ship is that while it is designed for one thing, it may be more effective at something completely different. Thus, ships are made adaptable, to service multiple problems.
So today, I'll be outlining both basic and advanced ship 'types'. While not defining any ship to any specific category, as both the US Military and online sources note classifications as "subjective based on a ships capabilities and armament".
Now as we begin, I'd like to point out that to start off with,there is not really going to be too many advanced classifications in here. The only exceptions being subtypes that significantly function or achieve different roles than the primary type. For now we're going to stick to the basics, and work our way into subtypes from there.
So, to start out with we'll name the basic classes that we know of when it comes to ships:
- Capital
- Cruiser
- Destroyer
- Frigate
- Corvette
- Fighter
- Bomber
- Recon
- Freighter
- Transport
- Civilian
- Specialty
As you can see, these classes are archetypes. They encompass quite literally every ship you can imagine, from your smallest peashooter to your largest super dreadnought. The challenge that people are coming across is properly fitting their ship into a specific subtype. When it comes down to it, every ship that you have ever made fits into one of these categories. Every single one. Now, the thing here is knowing just what classifications there are in each category.
As you know, each ship is designed to fulfill a specific role; so saying a Destroyer absolutely 'has' to have missles doesn't make any sense. Nor does giving it a size requirement. A ship with the capability of a destroyer is, subjectively, a destroyer. It could be the largest ship you've ever seen, but if its capability is limited to the level of a destroyer; it's just a really big destroyer (and a giant fire magnet).
So, now that we've cleared that out of the way, we're going to start adding generalized subtypes based on US Military terminology. As you can see, many of the archetypes listed have been present in the real world; so we can roughly base subtypes off of base capabilites of vessels fitting into various categories.
So, here were are with the rough listing of known subtypes.
Capital
Flagship : A command and control (CNC) ship of significant size and varying degree of armament. Generally lightly armored but well shielded.
Battleship : A frontline warship of significant size, primarily favoring turrets and generally thick hulled, relying more on heavy armor than shielding.
Carrier : A rearline support ship of varying size, intended to carry, maintain, and provide CNC for smaller crafts of varying roles.
Cruiser
Light Cruiser : A mid-line support ship generally specializing in light, quick firing armaments well suited for taking out smaller craft or other support based weaponary.
Heavy Cruiser : A mid to front-line offensive support ship with mid-level weaponary effective against other cruisers. May be equipped with auxilary weaponry designed to counter smaller craft.
Battle Cruiser : A front-line flanking warship with heavy weaponary. Generally harasses enemy fleets and ships with hit and run tactics. Hunter Killer of carriers.
Missle Cruiser : A mid to rear-line tactical support ship heavily armed with missles. Generally provides both direct and indirect long range fire support on large ships, stations, and planets.
Destroyer
Light Destroyer : A multirole small to mid-sized skirmishing vessel with lighter, long ranged weaponary. Generally avoids direct contact with the enemy.
Escort Destroyer : A multirole small to mid-sized combat vessel with weaponary specializing in the destruction of smaller craft. Generally maneuverable.
Missle Destroyer : A specialized small to mid-sized support vessel primarily armed with long range guided missles designed to counter larger craft.
Frigate
Recon Frigate : A small sized vessel generally lightly armed and armored, focusing heavily on manueverability. Generally favors jamming and cloaking.
Escort Frigate : A small sized vessel generally moderately armed and armored, focusing heavily on close range skirmishing. Often known to carry a small scout craft.
Missle Frigate : A small sized vessel generally moderately armed and lightly armored. Focuses heavily on short range, rapid fire missles.
Corvette
Fighter
Attack Fighter : A small craft armed with both anti-fighter and anti-ground weaponary.
Interceptor : A small craft armed with anti-fighter/bomber weaponary.
Pursuit Fighter : A small craft armed with anti-fighter/bomber weaponary, more heavily shielded or armored to pursue hostile craft into congested space.
Heavy Fighter : A small craft armed with anti-fighter/bomber weaponary as well as heavier shielding and armor. Less manueverable but more survivability.
Bomber
Attack Bomber : A small craft armed with anti-ship/ground weaponary. Favors quantity over precision.
Light Bomber : A small craft armed with anti-ground weaponary.
Tactical Bomber : A small craft armed with anti-ship weaponary.
Strategic Bomber : A small to medium sized craft armed with precision anti-ground/ship weaponary.
Recon
Freighter
Transport
Civilian
Specialty
Alright. Now, as I've said before, these are all subjective. That said, if you have questions, comments, additional subtypes to add, or whatever may be the case; post below and it will be reviewed and added if nessecary.
*1: Source: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Category:Starship_classes
