Post by kyrela on Jun 18, 2017 18:22:33 GMT
This is a very recent writing I was doing for another sci-fi setting I was briefly involved with...I'll just punt this here and see if it is usable here. In that setting the 'modern era' was essentially the last century and that assumption appears in the text--not being familiar with what the 'modern history' of Dragonstar actually looks like, that is one of many assumptions to be revisited in this writeup.
Star Navies of the Galaxy
Warships
The last 100 years has seen extraordinary development and proliferation of warships amongst the major navies of the galaxy. The following list of starship classification provides a baseline for understanding typical naval organization within the galaxy. Note, however, that these classifications are a relatively blurry concept with many designs straddling the divisions among; moreover, local variance in doctrine may define ship classes in ways unique from other areas of space. On top of this, the pace of technological advance and growing requirements among all types of military vessels has resulted in a trend towards greater tonnage. Tonnage alone is not a strong indicator of a warship's intended role as some modern ships classified as smaller types may be as large as many larger ship types from previous generations (eg. modern destroyers approaching the size of cruisers from a few decades before).
Patrol Ship
The patrol ship is the main point of visible interaction between civilians and the navies of the galaxy. No matter where in space, there is always a need for a limited armed presence to keep the peace and enforce the laws of commerce, and all recognize the need for specialized ships for meeting these specific objectives. The defining characteristics of the patrol ship are their short range, low cost, and low tonnage. Most don't even possess the speed to keep pace with much larger military vessels, as ships built specifically for customs duty have little need to maintain such speeds. Many don't even have FTL capability. Given the modest task, very little about a patrol ship is exceptional. A modest, but reliable array of sensors and communication are generally sufficient. If they encounter a ship transgressing territory or law that they are not equipped to overcome or overtake, more capable reinforcements are usually only one priority message away. While they may be a footnote to an admiral's defense strategy, they are a godsend to a traveler stricken by a spacing accident or pirate assault where the lowly patrol ship will likely be a first responder.
Most patrol ships are not designed to work in tandem with a war fleet, but some with sufficient speed may be used as pickets for a larger force. Ships of this type are sometimes called scout ships.
The hull classification symbol for the patrol ship is PC.
Attack Ship
The attack ship was for a long time the smallest possible platform that could perform FTL movement and carry offensive weapons able to damage a capital ship or installation. In classic doctrine, attack ships would frequently work in packs and conduct quick hit and fade attacks against a specified target. Attack ships being individually inexpensive, these were planned as attrition units that would, when deployed with appropriate military intelligence, inflict wounds far in excess of the cost in lost units. In practice such 'militarily efficient' strikes are rarely carried out and the tremendous advancements in the capabilities of starfighter technology in the last several decades has threatened to unseat the attack ship from having any unique role altogether.
The hull classification symbol for the attack ship is AC.
Corvette
Corvettes are small warships intended for more defensive duties ranging from area defense to convoy escorting. This type distinguishes itself from the patrol ship in that corvettes are generally larger and nearly always possess FTL capability, and the corvette is usually equipped with weapons and systems permitting it to engage a larger variety of threats. Light dual-purpose weapons are very common among the galaxy's corvette designs as they can be expected to engage both small warships and starfighters as they carry out their primary missions. The corvette, like the patrol ship, does not necessarily have the speed to keep pace with thoroughbred warships, but those that do are sometimes enlisted in war fleets to bolster available point defense resources and render aid to their larger sisters.
The hull classification symbol for the corvette is K.
Frigate
The frigate is, like the corvette, designed with protection missions in mind. Where frigates differ is their larger size and considerably larger mission radius. Most frigates are capable of operating independently for the entirety of even a long ranged escort assignment without 'parasiting' on the escort's charges as a corvette frequently would. The frigate is the more likely type of escort to be deployed in a military operation to protect naval assets such as stations and non-frontline ships. Consequently, the frigate is a more robust vessel than the corvette as in a wartime setting these assets are likely operating 'within the combat zone' and thus the frigate is more likely to see combat against true warships.
The hull classification symbol for the frigate is FF.
Destroyer
The classic definition of the destroyer is a small escort ship intended to operate as the smallest unit of a battle fleet; it has the capability to deter small hostiles and has the capability to threaten the largest warships. A century ago the role of the destroyer was in question an account of the latter clause concerning the threat to large ships. At the time the guided chemical missiles used as the principal close strike, high yield capacity of the destroyer were coming up against much improved laser point defenses that rendered them nearly impotent. The invention of the plasma torpedo changed all of this as soon as it was introduced. The destroyer was the optimal package for housing batteries of plasma torpedo tubes that when launched offered enormous close range damage potential. The destroyer's value as an escort keeps it in high demand both as a fleet asset and for adding additional firepower to the sorts of escort missions normally undertaken by frigates and corvettes.
The hull classification symbol for the destroyer is DD.
Stealth Ship
The stealth ship has steadily evolved over the last century from very modest beginnings into the silent killers of today. The capabilities of the stealth ship on paper seem quite meager no matter the era--the offensive firepower boils down to its alpha strike capability with plasma torpedo launchers. Any defensive weaponry is an afterthought; once a stealth ship is spotted and escorts are in the area, it will have a very hard time living to tell the tale. Regardless of the era, stealth systems require enormous compromises to a ship's maneuvering and defensive capabilities to effect the needed safeguards against detection. Maneuvers above the smallest fractions of full power risk revealing the ship, and the layers of sensitive disruption gear render the ship entirely unarmored. Sensor capabilities are also massively compromised as active sensors would give away a stealth ship like it were a beacon. Stealth ships depend upon powerful, frequently redundant arrays of passive sensors to carry out their missions. Even so, protection against stealth ships requires the utmost discipline (and appropriate gear) for a naval force. Failure in completing a defensive picket could leave a major fleet asset open to attack, and the full strike from any stealth ship is sufficient to cripple or destroy any capital ship if no countermeasures are taken.
Not all stealth ships are designed for such attacks, however, as naval powers have continued to experiment with stealth technology as it develops. Some stealth ships are equipped for covert missions such as spying and deploying special forces. Still others are armed with WMDs to become terrifying first strike weapons.
The hull classification symbol for the stealth ship is SS. The designations SSB and SSL indicate strategic weapons (bombardment) and troop deployment (landing) respectively.
Escort Carrier
As the starfighter has grown dramatically in capabilities and impact over the last few decades, planners have realized their effectiveness at quick strikes and sought means to mitigate potential starfighter opposition. One direct approach is to meet a starfighter threat with your own starfighters. To enhance the capability of an escort force with modest interceptor starfighter support, the escort carrier is a very economic solution. Escort carriers are frequently adaptations of transport vessels or older warships otherwise beyond their military usefulness. Light on defensive systems, protection, and offensive weaponry, the typical escort carrier is also modest on speed as it is only expected to keep pace with the vessels it is protecting. The array of interceptors offer the versatile punch that makes the vessel a welcome sight to a spacer. Equipped with appropriate launches, the escort carrier can also be a valuable asset in screening against stealth ships.
The hull classification symbol for the escort carrier is CVE.
Light Cruiser
While the design philosophies behind the cruiser may have changed a great deal in the past century, the core mission has remained relatively constant. Cruisers are built with endurance in mind as it is the cruiser that project naval power as a matter of routine--the solitary cruiser patrol is what maintains territorial integrity in all corners of the civilized galaxy. Light cruisers then differ from their larger sisters primarily in mission length and, to a lesser extent, armament and expense. Not all patrols call for the resource commitment of a heavy cruiser so many navies recognize the efficiency gains of having a light cruiser to undertake shorter patrols. In the context of fleet engagements the light cruiser is also a good choice for countering enemy pickets and destroyer attacks while being much more expendable than heavy cruisers or capital ships.
The hull classification symbol for the light cruiser is CL.
Heavy Cruiser
The heavy cruiser is the true workhorse of any navy of at least moderate strength. While heavier capital units may take all of the prestige, in most situations that call for a polity to 'show its flag', the heavy cruiser is more often than not the ship that arrives first. Heavy cruisers are usually equipped to carry out functions of state such as boarding dignitaries. While they don't mount capital scale weaponry, the heavy cruiser is very well armed, protected, and quite intimidating to any ship of lesser tonnage. These ships also generally designed to meet or exceed the provisioning of any other vessel so as to carry out the longest deep space patrols.
The hull classification symbol for the heavy cruiser is CA.
Galleon
The galleon is a class of ship nearly exclusive to the Akkadian Imperium. Intended to carry out the iron fisted policies of the imperial throne, the galleon is a large ship generally falling in a tonnage range between the heavy cruiser and the battleship, and typically carries cruiser-scale or perhaps intermediate weaponry. The design purpose of the galleon is to be a self-protecting hauler of imperial 'tribute' (read: loot) from subject realms. In practice it is a large ship with comparable combat abilities to a heavy cruiser, though it exchanges some speed for the added durability of its bulk. The extra mass is given over to spacious cargo areas. A hallmark of the galleon is its highly configurable nature; the cargo areas of most galleon types are easily converted to board troops to deploy in surface or boarding engagements, and in some they can be converted into hangars to allow the galleon to function as a carrier-cruiser hybrid.
The hull classification symbol for the galleon is G.
Monitor
Some assets are important enough to warrant a serious commitment of firepower to maintain, and it isn't always economical to requisition cruisers and capital ships to carry out such a duty. Enter the concept of the monitor. It is common practice both within the galactic empire and in Arandolians space to handle such missions by developing new monitors on an as-need basis to fulfill the specific requirements and budget for the protection task. More often than not the monitor is actually a retired or soon-to-be-retired cruiser or capital ship given a new lease on life by a significant overhaul to her systems. Weapons are modernized, but frequently mobility is restricted, deemed unnecessary as the ship will be protecting a static area, including removal of FTL systems, and much is done to increase the durability. Monitors have a reputation for being very tough ships since many of the older designs selected for this conversion are generally from an era that favored protection over mobility. There are some monitors designed from the ground up as new rather than being a refit of an older ship, but these classes are not produced in large numbers as the demand for monitors was never high and old hulls are frequently available.
The hull classification symbol for the monitor is M.
Battlecruiser
The term 'battlecruiser' covers a range of ships straddling the distinction between the heavy cruiser and the battleship. To some planners, there was merely a need to have a ship of capabilities and cost falling between a cruiser and a capital ship, but still others had a specific role in mind: the battlecruiser was to be a solitary hunter with firepower near or matching a full dreadnought, but with mobility to keep pace or overtake opposing cruisers. In concept, such a ship would be able to track down cruisers on patrol and overwhelm them with superior weaponry as their better range, weight of fire, and mobility would dictate the terms of the engagement. In practice, these ships were approaching the expense of the battleship and consequently, like the battleship, leaders are loathe to risk them in combat. Even so, battlecruisers have had opportunity to play their intended role in contested regions of space, and in those arenas the captains of lesser ships know to fear them all the same.
The battlecruiser concept is one that has evolved considerably since its inception. Some designs show clear lineage to related heavy cruiser designs but were scaled up to mount intermediate or battleship-scale weapons. Still others are derivative of battleship designs and simply exchange armor and defensive systems for additional speed.
The hull classification symbol for the battlecruiser is BC.
Battleship
The battleship, or dreadnought, was the unrivaled symbol of military power in the galaxy for hundreds of years and this status has only recently been called into question by the rapid development of starfighter technology that has propelled the fleet carrier into the center of naval planning. Even so, there is still a need for a ship to represent the last word in firepower. The defining characteristics of the battleship is it's use of the largest, most powerful offensive weapon systems available for ship to ship combat, plus the highest standard in defensive systems to match an opponent so similarly armed. The result is a mobile fortress surviving repeated nuclear and high velocity attack while continuing to dispense its own withering havoc. Earlier generations of battleships traded speed for firepower and protection, though more modern designs have higher top speeds as well; the need to keep pace with a battle fleet built around faster fleet carriers pressured designers to overcome the 'impossible trifecta' of speed, firepower, and protection and produce designs without compromises. Incidentally, this recent development has started to muscle the battlecruiser out of having a distinct role within the fleet.
The hull classification symbol for the battleship is BB.
Assault Ship
Any bulk freighter can be fitted to barrack troops and ground assault vehicles, but depending upon them to carry out a ground invasion is at best inefficient and at worst foolhardy. An assault ship is a purpose built military vessel for initiating, supporting, and acting as the command and control center for a planetary incursion. A typical modern assault ship is capable of embarking a full division of ground troops with all the requisite supporting assault vehicles and a full wing of landing craft capable of rapidly deploying the ship's contingent to a planetary surface in short order. In a sustained campaign, the assault ship serves as the nerve center of an assault force made up of a few assault ships and military freighters bringing to bear overwhelming force against; its landing craft complement delivering wave after wave of reinforcements from supporting freighters and strategically redeploying forces until ground resistance is broken. Most assault ships have integral roles beyond initial invasion as their command and control and troop movement abilities are well suited to maintaining control of an occupied world.
The hull classification symbol for the assault ship is LV.
Fleet Carrier
Since the earliest starfighters were developed it was well understood that there would be a need for a dedicated vessel able to deploy them in some numbers and maintain pace with a full fledged war fleet. The fleet vessel is the result of that requirement. Few ship classes are so clearly built with such a narrow purpose in mind at the expense of other capabilities; the standard fleet carrier is essentially a mobile hangar able to maintain, arm, launch, and recover starfighters as quickly as possible. While equipped with some point defense weaponry, it is dependent upon a supporting fleet for protection from hostile forces. Secure in an able fleet, though, the fleet carrier is capable of dishing out considerable destruction at extreme ranges. Modern micronized interstellar drives on the newest fighters are a force multiplier for these ships, thereby rendering it the undeniable last word in the war fleet's offensive power.
The hull classification symbol for the fleet carrier is CV.
Battlecarrier
The very latest advances in construction technologies have enabled a new class of vessels considerably larger than the previous generation of dreadnoughts and fleet carriers. Naval planners across several nations have arrived at similar conclusions on how to apply this new technology: an entirely new class of ship that combines the vast strategic striking power of the fleet carrier with the durability and heavy guns of the dreadnought. A few examples of this class have emerged in the galaxy and each an exemplar of the most prestigious and intimidating expressions of military power. In theory they are unrivaled beasts of interstellar warfare as their design characteristics exceed the constituent parts of their carrier and battleship pedigrees, but it is not yet known how that theory maps to reality as none have been deployed in actual combat yet.
The hull classification symbol for the battlecarrier is CVB.
Launches
If recent developments in warships are considered rapid, then advances in launch design are blistering. The advent of sufficiently compact FTL drives have even blurred the line between warships and the smaller launch vessels they carry.
Escape Pod
Work Pod
Drop Pod
Pinnace
Shuttle
Scout Launch
Drop Shuttle
Interceptor
Fighter
Bomber
Support Ships
While weapon-laden warships and lightning fast starfighters may take the prestige and make up the image of the galaxy's great navies, it is the tireless work of countless support ships that make these weapons of war able to carry out their missions. This list highlights major types of supporting vessels but is by no means all encompassing.
FTL Courier
Rescue Cutter
Freighter
Fleet Oiler
Fleet Tug
Troop Transport
Hospital Ship
Technical Weapon Carrier
Auxiliary Warship
Mobile Dry Dock
Star Navies of the Galaxy
Warships
The last 100 years has seen extraordinary development and proliferation of warships amongst the major navies of the galaxy. The following list of starship classification provides a baseline for understanding typical naval organization within the galaxy. Note, however, that these classifications are a relatively blurry concept with many designs straddling the divisions among; moreover, local variance in doctrine may define ship classes in ways unique from other areas of space. On top of this, the pace of technological advance and growing requirements among all types of military vessels has resulted in a trend towards greater tonnage. Tonnage alone is not a strong indicator of a warship's intended role as some modern ships classified as smaller types may be as large as many larger ship types from previous generations (eg. modern destroyers approaching the size of cruisers from a few decades before).
Patrol Ship
The patrol ship is the main point of visible interaction between civilians and the navies of the galaxy. No matter where in space, there is always a need for a limited armed presence to keep the peace and enforce the laws of commerce, and all recognize the need for specialized ships for meeting these specific objectives. The defining characteristics of the patrol ship are their short range, low cost, and low tonnage. Most don't even possess the speed to keep pace with much larger military vessels, as ships built specifically for customs duty have little need to maintain such speeds. Many don't even have FTL capability. Given the modest task, very little about a patrol ship is exceptional. A modest, but reliable array of sensors and communication are generally sufficient. If they encounter a ship transgressing territory or law that they are not equipped to overcome or overtake, more capable reinforcements are usually only one priority message away. While they may be a footnote to an admiral's defense strategy, they are a godsend to a traveler stricken by a spacing accident or pirate assault where the lowly patrol ship will likely be a first responder.
Most patrol ships are not designed to work in tandem with a war fleet, but some with sufficient speed may be used as pickets for a larger force. Ships of this type are sometimes called scout ships.
The hull classification symbol for the patrol ship is PC.
Attack Ship
The attack ship was for a long time the smallest possible platform that could perform FTL movement and carry offensive weapons able to damage a capital ship or installation. In classic doctrine, attack ships would frequently work in packs and conduct quick hit and fade attacks against a specified target. Attack ships being individually inexpensive, these were planned as attrition units that would, when deployed with appropriate military intelligence, inflict wounds far in excess of the cost in lost units. In practice such 'militarily efficient' strikes are rarely carried out and the tremendous advancements in the capabilities of starfighter technology in the last several decades has threatened to unseat the attack ship from having any unique role altogether.
The hull classification symbol for the attack ship is AC.
Corvette
Corvettes are small warships intended for more defensive duties ranging from area defense to convoy escorting. This type distinguishes itself from the patrol ship in that corvettes are generally larger and nearly always possess FTL capability, and the corvette is usually equipped with weapons and systems permitting it to engage a larger variety of threats. Light dual-purpose weapons are very common among the galaxy's corvette designs as they can be expected to engage both small warships and starfighters as they carry out their primary missions. The corvette, like the patrol ship, does not necessarily have the speed to keep pace with thoroughbred warships, but those that do are sometimes enlisted in war fleets to bolster available point defense resources and render aid to their larger sisters.
The hull classification symbol for the corvette is K.
Frigate
The frigate is, like the corvette, designed with protection missions in mind. Where frigates differ is their larger size and considerably larger mission radius. Most frigates are capable of operating independently for the entirety of even a long ranged escort assignment without 'parasiting' on the escort's charges as a corvette frequently would. The frigate is the more likely type of escort to be deployed in a military operation to protect naval assets such as stations and non-frontline ships. Consequently, the frigate is a more robust vessel than the corvette as in a wartime setting these assets are likely operating 'within the combat zone' and thus the frigate is more likely to see combat against true warships.
The hull classification symbol for the frigate is FF.
Destroyer
The classic definition of the destroyer is a small escort ship intended to operate as the smallest unit of a battle fleet; it has the capability to deter small hostiles and has the capability to threaten the largest warships. A century ago the role of the destroyer was in question an account of the latter clause concerning the threat to large ships. At the time the guided chemical missiles used as the principal close strike, high yield capacity of the destroyer were coming up against much improved laser point defenses that rendered them nearly impotent. The invention of the plasma torpedo changed all of this as soon as it was introduced. The destroyer was the optimal package for housing batteries of plasma torpedo tubes that when launched offered enormous close range damage potential. The destroyer's value as an escort keeps it in high demand both as a fleet asset and for adding additional firepower to the sorts of escort missions normally undertaken by frigates and corvettes.
The hull classification symbol for the destroyer is DD.
Stealth Ship
The stealth ship has steadily evolved over the last century from very modest beginnings into the silent killers of today. The capabilities of the stealth ship on paper seem quite meager no matter the era--the offensive firepower boils down to its alpha strike capability with plasma torpedo launchers. Any defensive weaponry is an afterthought; once a stealth ship is spotted and escorts are in the area, it will have a very hard time living to tell the tale. Regardless of the era, stealth systems require enormous compromises to a ship's maneuvering and defensive capabilities to effect the needed safeguards against detection. Maneuvers above the smallest fractions of full power risk revealing the ship, and the layers of sensitive disruption gear render the ship entirely unarmored. Sensor capabilities are also massively compromised as active sensors would give away a stealth ship like it were a beacon. Stealth ships depend upon powerful, frequently redundant arrays of passive sensors to carry out their missions. Even so, protection against stealth ships requires the utmost discipline (and appropriate gear) for a naval force. Failure in completing a defensive picket could leave a major fleet asset open to attack, and the full strike from any stealth ship is sufficient to cripple or destroy any capital ship if no countermeasures are taken.
Not all stealth ships are designed for such attacks, however, as naval powers have continued to experiment with stealth technology as it develops. Some stealth ships are equipped for covert missions such as spying and deploying special forces. Still others are armed with WMDs to become terrifying first strike weapons.
The hull classification symbol for the stealth ship is SS. The designations SSB and SSL indicate strategic weapons (bombardment) and troop deployment (landing) respectively.
Escort Carrier
As the starfighter has grown dramatically in capabilities and impact over the last few decades, planners have realized their effectiveness at quick strikes and sought means to mitigate potential starfighter opposition. One direct approach is to meet a starfighter threat with your own starfighters. To enhance the capability of an escort force with modest interceptor starfighter support, the escort carrier is a very economic solution. Escort carriers are frequently adaptations of transport vessels or older warships otherwise beyond their military usefulness. Light on defensive systems, protection, and offensive weaponry, the typical escort carrier is also modest on speed as it is only expected to keep pace with the vessels it is protecting. The array of interceptors offer the versatile punch that makes the vessel a welcome sight to a spacer. Equipped with appropriate launches, the escort carrier can also be a valuable asset in screening against stealth ships.
The hull classification symbol for the escort carrier is CVE.
Light Cruiser
While the design philosophies behind the cruiser may have changed a great deal in the past century, the core mission has remained relatively constant. Cruisers are built with endurance in mind as it is the cruiser that project naval power as a matter of routine--the solitary cruiser patrol is what maintains territorial integrity in all corners of the civilized galaxy. Light cruisers then differ from their larger sisters primarily in mission length and, to a lesser extent, armament and expense. Not all patrols call for the resource commitment of a heavy cruiser so many navies recognize the efficiency gains of having a light cruiser to undertake shorter patrols. In the context of fleet engagements the light cruiser is also a good choice for countering enemy pickets and destroyer attacks while being much more expendable than heavy cruisers or capital ships.
The hull classification symbol for the light cruiser is CL.
Heavy Cruiser
The heavy cruiser is the true workhorse of any navy of at least moderate strength. While heavier capital units may take all of the prestige, in most situations that call for a polity to 'show its flag', the heavy cruiser is more often than not the ship that arrives first. Heavy cruisers are usually equipped to carry out functions of state such as boarding dignitaries. While they don't mount capital scale weaponry, the heavy cruiser is very well armed, protected, and quite intimidating to any ship of lesser tonnage. These ships also generally designed to meet or exceed the provisioning of any other vessel so as to carry out the longest deep space patrols.
The hull classification symbol for the heavy cruiser is CA.
Galleon
The galleon is a class of ship nearly exclusive to the Akkadian Imperium. Intended to carry out the iron fisted policies of the imperial throne, the galleon is a large ship generally falling in a tonnage range between the heavy cruiser and the battleship, and typically carries cruiser-scale or perhaps intermediate weaponry. The design purpose of the galleon is to be a self-protecting hauler of imperial 'tribute' (read: loot) from subject realms. In practice it is a large ship with comparable combat abilities to a heavy cruiser, though it exchanges some speed for the added durability of its bulk. The extra mass is given over to spacious cargo areas. A hallmark of the galleon is its highly configurable nature; the cargo areas of most galleon types are easily converted to board troops to deploy in surface or boarding engagements, and in some they can be converted into hangars to allow the galleon to function as a carrier-cruiser hybrid.
The hull classification symbol for the galleon is G.
Monitor
Some assets are important enough to warrant a serious commitment of firepower to maintain, and it isn't always economical to requisition cruisers and capital ships to carry out such a duty. Enter the concept of the monitor. It is common practice both within the galactic empire and in Arandolians space to handle such missions by developing new monitors on an as-need basis to fulfill the specific requirements and budget for the protection task. More often than not the monitor is actually a retired or soon-to-be-retired cruiser or capital ship given a new lease on life by a significant overhaul to her systems. Weapons are modernized, but frequently mobility is restricted, deemed unnecessary as the ship will be protecting a static area, including removal of FTL systems, and much is done to increase the durability. Monitors have a reputation for being very tough ships since many of the older designs selected for this conversion are generally from an era that favored protection over mobility. There are some monitors designed from the ground up as new rather than being a refit of an older ship, but these classes are not produced in large numbers as the demand for monitors was never high and old hulls are frequently available.
The hull classification symbol for the monitor is M.
Battlecruiser
The term 'battlecruiser' covers a range of ships straddling the distinction between the heavy cruiser and the battleship. To some planners, there was merely a need to have a ship of capabilities and cost falling between a cruiser and a capital ship, but still others had a specific role in mind: the battlecruiser was to be a solitary hunter with firepower near or matching a full dreadnought, but with mobility to keep pace or overtake opposing cruisers. In concept, such a ship would be able to track down cruisers on patrol and overwhelm them with superior weaponry as their better range, weight of fire, and mobility would dictate the terms of the engagement. In practice, these ships were approaching the expense of the battleship and consequently, like the battleship, leaders are loathe to risk them in combat. Even so, battlecruisers have had opportunity to play their intended role in contested regions of space, and in those arenas the captains of lesser ships know to fear them all the same.
The battlecruiser concept is one that has evolved considerably since its inception. Some designs show clear lineage to related heavy cruiser designs but were scaled up to mount intermediate or battleship-scale weapons. Still others are derivative of battleship designs and simply exchange armor and defensive systems for additional speed.
The hull classification symbol for the battlecruiser is BC.
Battleship
The battleship, or dreadnought, was the unrivaled symbol of military power in the galaxy for hundreds of years and this status has only recently been called into question by the rapid development of starfighter technology that has propelled the fleet carrier into the center of naval planning. Even so, there is still a need for a ship to represent the last word in firepower. The defining characteristics of the battleship is it's use of the largest, most powerful offensive weapon systems available for ship to ship combat, plus the highest standard in defensive systems to match an opponent so similarly armed. The result is a mobile fortress surviving repeated nuclear and high velocity attack while continuing to dispense its own withering havoc. Earlier generations of battleships traded speed for firepower and protection, though more modern designs have higher top speeds as well; the need to keep pace with a battle fleet built around faster fleet carriers pressured designers to overcome the 'impossible trifecta' of speed, firepower, and protection and produce designs without compromises. Incidentally, this recent development has started to muscle the battlecruiser out of having a distinct role within the fleet.
The hull classification symbol for the battleship is BB.
Assault Ship
Any bulk freighter can be fitted to barrack troops and ground assault vehicles, but depending upon them to carry out a ground invasion is at best inefficient and at worst foolhardy. An assault ship is a purpose built military vessel for initiating, supporting, and acting as the command and control center for a planetary incursion. A typical modern assault ship is capable of embarking a full division of ground troops with all the requisite supporting assault vehicles and a full wing of landing craft capable of rapidly deploying the ship's contingent to a planetary surface in short order. In a sustained campaign, the assault ship serves as the nerve center of an assault force made up of a few assault ships and military freighters bringing to bear overwhelming force against; its landing craft complement delivering wave after wave of reinforcements from supporting freighters and strategically redeploying forces until ground resistance is broken. Most assault ships have integral roles beyond initial invasion as their command and control and troop movement abilities are well suited to maintaining control of an occupied world.
The hull classification symbol for the assault ship is LV.
Fleet Carrier
Since the earliest starfighters were developed it was well understood that there would be a need for a dedicated vessel able to deploy them in some numbers and maintain pace with a full fledged war fleet. The fleet vessel is the result of that requirement. Few ship classes are so clearly built with such a narrow purpose in mind at the expense of other capabilities; the standard fleet carrier is essentially a mobile hangar able to maintain, arm, launch, and recover starfighters as quickly as possible. While equipped with some point defense weaponry, it is dependent upon a supporting fleet for protection from hostile forces. Secure in an able fleet, though, the fleet carrier is capable of dishing out considerable destruction at extreme ranges. Modern micronized interstellar drives on the newest fighters are a force multiplier for these ships, thereby rendering it the undeniable last word in the war fleet's offensive power.
The hull classification symbol for the fleet carrier is CV.
Battlecarrier
The very latest advances in construction technologies have enabled a new class of vessels considerably larger than the previous generation of dreadnoughts and fleet carriers. Naval planners across several nations have arrived at similar conclusions on how to apply this new technology: an entirely new class of ship that combines the vast strategic striking power of the fleet carrier with the durability and heavy guns of the dreadnought. A few examples of this class have emerged in the galaxy and each an exemplar of the most prestigious and intimidating expressions of military power. In theory they are unrivaled beasts of interstellar warfare as their design characteristics exceed the constituent parts of their carrier and battleship pedigrees, but it is not yet known how that theory maps to reality as none have been deployed in actual combat yet.
The hull classification symbol for the battlecarrier is CVB.
Launches
If recent developments in warships are considered rapid, then advances in launch design are blistering. The advent of sufficiently compact FTL drives have even blurred the line between warships and the smaller launch vessels they carry.
Escape Pod
Work Pod
Drop Pod
Pinnace
Shuttle
Scout Launch
Drop Shuttle
Interceptor
Fighter
Bomber
Support Ships
While weapon-laden warships and lightning fast starfighters may take the prestige and make up the image of the galaxy's great navies, it is the tireless work of countless support ships that make these weapons of war able to carry out their missions. This list highlights major types of supporting vessels but is by no means all encompassing.
FTL Courier
Rescue Cutter
Freighter
Fleet Oiler
Fleet Tug
Troop Transport
Hospital Ship
Technical Weapon Carrier
Auxiliary Warship
Mobile Dry Dock