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Starship Classes For Phase World / Three Galaxies:

In general ships in the Three Galaxies fall into various class due to their sizes. This list shows the various class of ships and how they are defined by size. These are not hard and fast rules but a general standard that the Major powers use to judge their vessels and compare them to others. In addition, there may be overlap in some cases between classes. One should consider mass to generally be more important with regard to class sizes than their length.

Some navies may use different designations with regards to various designs. “Scout Carrier” is commonly used to designate tiny carriers while others use the term “Escort Carriers” for them. Other forces use the term escort carriers for carriers which are converted from merchant designs.

There are two basic roles with regards to warships which are carriers and non-carriers. Carriers are designed to launch fighters from beyond energy weapon or missile range of other warships. Other warships are designed to engage in direct combat with either energy weapons or missiles. Some classes are especially missile heavy or especially heavy wih regards to direct fire weapons. Non-Carriers might still embark some fighters, especially larger vessels.

The Trans-Galactic Empire operates a number of warships which might be considered hybrid designs. These carry significant weaponry to engage in close range or missiles combat while still embarking large fighter compliments. Most navies however prefer to keep the two roles separate.

These classes are not meant to be comprehensive and there may be designs that are not included. In addition, there are some designs that simply do not fit within these lists of class including both specialized vessels and “One Off” designs. In addition, these categories may not fit ship designs from Robotech, Mutants in Orbit, Macross, and any of the various conversions from other universes.

Notes:

Battle Cruiser / Light Battleship: Some navies use the term “Battle Cruiser” for all warships smaller than battleships but larger than heavy cruisers. Others use the term only for warships which are larger than heavy cruisers which are fast but lack heavy armor. In some cases navies prefer the term “Light Battleship” for ships between heavy cruiser and battleship classes.

Corvettes: In some cases corvettes may include designs more akin to large fighters while in other cases may be much larger ships which are more like small destroyers / frigates.

Destroyer Leader: Warships usually smaller than a light cruiser or scout cruiser but still larger than most destroyers. Some navies consider them to simply be large destroyers. Only a few navies operate Destroyer Leaders.

Scout Cruiser: Scout cruisers are often flagships of destroyers although they may also be operated as heavy scout forces for larger warships. In some cases there is also bleed with regards to mass between light cruisers and scout cruisers. Similar to Destroyer Leaders, only a few navies operate Scout Cruisers. Even fewer operate both.

Notes:

Assault Carrier: This term is usually used for warships which perform planetary assault roles, roughly equivalent to modern amphibious carriers. They tend to carry relatively small fighter compliments for their size while carrying troops, ground vehicles, and assault shuttles. Assault carriers come in various classes from small vessels to huge fleet vessels. Some are also converted from merchant designs and can be considered a sub-class of “Escort Carriers.”

Battle Carrier: These are carrier with heavy armor and shielding, some with heavy weapons as well. They are designed to be able to survive heavy combat while most carriers are expected to avoid combat and rely on speed. Most tend to be larger carriers and often carry battleship class shields. Many considered the Kreeghor Doombringer class Dreadnought to be a Battle Carrier.

Escort Carrier: While there are some exceptions, most escort carriers are either converted from merchant hulls or are designed using merchant hulls in their basic design. Escort Carriers tend to be lighter armored than conventional carriers but are far cheaper to build. Many also are far slower than conventional carriers but there are some exceptions. There are a few navies that use the term “Escort Carrier” to mean smaller purpose built carriers but most prefer the term “Scout Carrier.”

Fleet Carriers: Only a few major powers operate full sized Fleet Carriers. Most smaller powers instead prefer to operate Light Fleet Carriers.

Scout Carrier: Scout Carriers tend to be the smallest carriers with relatively small fighter compliments. Many also have limited support facilities for the fighters with regards to repair and maintenance. Some use the term “Escort Carriers” instead for these smaller carriers. Only a comparatively small number of fleets operate Scout Carriers.

Other Classes:

Assault Cruiser / Battleship: These are warships, usually heavy cruisers or battleships converted to help support planetary assault missions. In many cases some of the missile battery or shorter ranged energy weapon battery is stripped to make room for assault personnel / equipment.

Mine Sweeper: These are vessel designed to clear mines and usually carry powerful sensor arrays and long range missile arrays. Some are smaller vessels, destroyers or scout cruiser classed, while others are larger, cruiser or even battleship classed. Many are converted from warships.

Monitor: These ships are generally cruiser sized vessels designed for system defense. They usually lack faster than light drives but pack heavier firepower than normal for a warship of their size class.

Q-Ship: These are vessels that appears to be a standard merchant vessel but is actually armed. Often operated in the anti-piracy role. Some also operate as pirate vessels. With regards to construction, some may be purpose built while others are converted from merchant ships.

System Defense Boat: These are vessels which are usually around destroyer sized. As with monitors, they usually lack faster than light drives and operate in the system defense role. As one might expect, they are more heavily armed than most destroyers of their size class. Some may be closer to corvette sized.

Common Organizational Units:

Division: About 4 ships - usually larger warships.

Squadron: About 8 ships - usually large or medium warships.

Flotilla: About 16 ships - usually medium or smaller warships.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 1998 & 2016, Kitsune. All rights reserved.

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