How to properly categorise your ship

[Gary Phaserman 0]

So, you are a starship designer? how well do you categorise your ships? Can you tell the difference between a Battleship and a Battlecruiser? How about a cruiser and a destroyer? Or an explorer from a cruiser?

 

One of the most common misconceptions comes in the first example, Battleships and Battlecruisers. Most people generally think a Battlecruiser is simply a larger more powerful cruiser. That idea isn't exactly wrong, but it's not right, either. A Battlecruiser, by definition, has the same size and weapons capacity as a Battleship. So, why's it a Battlecruiser and not a Battleship?

 

Battleships are SLOW! They are large warships that combine heavy armament with heavy armor or shields. this adds alot of extra wieght or mass. A Battlecruiser trades that protection (Generally several thousand tons of Armor) for speed. a Battlecruiser is the ultimate in hybrid warships. the speed of a cruiser with the hitting power of a Battleship. the problem is, it's also got the Armor protection of a cruiser, and sometimes even less, because you are trading away the armor for the speed.

 

A cruiser is generally a mid-sized starship with a good balance of weapons, speed, and protection. it is generally a very balanced vessel, capable of good speed, and has decent firepower. An Akira class would be a good example. a fast, menueverable ship, that has decent protection, but also has good weapons. It is also the all-around specialist. It is a multi-role starship.

 

A destroyer is smaller than a cruiser in length generally, and has fewer weapons. Destroyers are usually mission-specific ships, capable of doing ONE job very well and a number of other jobs only mediocre. A good example of a Destroyer would be an Intrepid class starship.

 

A frigate is essentially the Destroyer's little brother. the same formula for a destroyer is used, except on a smaller ship. These are generally among the fastest starships on the front lines, capable of harrasing other capitol ships, and dealing with Fighters. not very well suited for handling larger ships, though. a Miranda class starship is a frigate.

 

The Corvette is the smallest of your capitol ships. Corvettes are fast and meneuverable, but pay for it in the number and size of their weapons and defenses. these ships cannot afford to be wieghed down by too much of either. They generally serve as escorts to convoys, as well as a long-range scout for a fleet. Defiant class starships generally could be considered a Corvette, but they have a heavier armor load than normal.

 

In-between categories...

 

So, what's a Light Cruiser, or a Heavy Cruiser, or an Attack Cruiser, or a Destroyer-Escort?

 

A Heavy Cruiser is larger than a standard cruiser, with heavier weapons and armor, but doesn't yet qualify to be a Battlecruiser or a Battleship.

 

A Light cruiser is like a Destroyer Plus or a Cruiser Minus. they are generally smaller than a cruiser but larger than a destroyer, have the same armor as a destroyer, and the weapons of a Cruiser.

 

a Destroyer escort is the mid-way point on the fleet charts between a Frigate and a Destroyer. Not big enough and powerful enough to be a Destroyer, but too large and powerful (and slow) to be a Frigate.

 

Most of the filler categories are compromises. You want the speed of this type with the firepower of that type.

 

And what's an explorer for pete's sake?

 

An explorer is a starship that has a primary mission to explore new areas of Space. generally a longer-ranged ship than others of the same size, they can operate far away from support facilities for a long time without replenishment of supplies. they generally also have defensive and offensive capabilities of a ship two categories smaller. EI: A 600 meter Explorer qualifies as a Cruiser by size, but may be armed as a Frigate or a Destroyer Escort. the space where weapons would be on these ships is occupied by scientific instruments and supplies (cargo holds) Explorers may also carry civilians aboard, including family members, while warships NEVER do.