What are the real starship classes a star fleet would need?

I was thinking today about the analogies between Navy fleets on 2-D water and the starship fleets in 3-D space we see in science fiction (in particular, Star Trek, though all science fiction, from Star Wars to Babylon 5, qualifies)...

What I was pondering was this question: "What are the real starship classes a star fleet would need?" My knowledge on Navy fleets are limited, so I'm hoping for some ATS/BTS help from members who can enlighten me!

Here's what I've come up with so far --

1. Fighter class -- the smallest of ships, they are basically one man fighters... the space equivalent of fighter jets in the air or tanks on land. Examples include "Danube" class shuttles in Star Trek, and X-Wings and Tie Fighters in Star Wars.

2. Escort class -- like the "Defiant" class ships in Star Trek, they are good for both fighting and protecting larger ships when the space equivalent of a 'carrier group' moves.

3. Cruiser class -- Cruiser and Battleship classes are basically the same size; however, Cruiser class ships transport people and cargo. The closest examples I can think of are "Nebula" class and "Galaxy" class ships in Star Trek.

4. Battleship class -- basically, a Cruiser class ship that has the space that was used for transport of people or cargo stocked with weapons. The Battleship class ships are the backbone of any space fleet, for both war and defense. The closest examples I can think of are "Prometheus" and "Excelsior" class ships in Star Trek.

5. Carrier class -- the largest class of ship, like a "Galaxy" class or "Sovereign" class ship in Star Trek, or a Star Destroyer in Star Wars. Although the writers in Star Trek never took advantage of this, ships as large as the USS Enterprise-D and USS Enterprise-E would make excellent carriers, if many of their decks were used to house Fighter class ships that could be launched on command, instead of housing units for families or promenades

Well, that's what I've come up with so far. For example, I could see a 'carrier group' in the Star Trek universe (24th Century) being composed of one Sovereign class ship (with about a dozen Danube class ships docked inside it), a couple of Prometheus class ships, a couple of Nebula and Galaxy class ships, and about a dozen Defiant class ships. This would ensure safe transport of people and cargo from one planet, moon, or starbase to another planet, moon, or starbase. Also, if the Cruiser class ships are replaced with Battleship class ships, you'd also have a 'carrier group' quite capable of going into battle!

What do you think? This is just the rough draft of my ideas -- I'd love your input and ideas to add to this!

There are some carrier type vessels in Star Fleet but they were not seen much and never really described.

You missed out the scientific research ships like the Reliant

I don't recall anyone mentioning the fictional analog in any of the books or series, but a valuable class of ship are the covert electronic intelligence gathering vessels. The infamous "trawler" ships that lurk off the coasts eavesdropping on the enemy would need to be represented, as would spyplanes and satellites (probes). Surely Starfleet Intelligence runs such an operation. And the Romulans? Please...

Fun post, ThunderCloud.

Originally posted by Pisky
You missed out the scientific research ships like the Reliant

Good point! But I was thinking, couldn't you take a Cruiser class ship and modify it for scientific experimentation? After all, Cruiser class ships are made to transport people and cargo (scientists and scientific equipment), so I would think it would be covered.

Basically, I'm looking for practicality. Why in the Star Trek Universe (24th Century) does the Federation have 30 some odd classes of starships? One would think it would be easier to have, say, 7 basic classes of starships, and then make modifications to those 7 basic classes of starships as needed for whatever purposes they're being sent out for...

I think you may be confusing the type of ship with the class of a ship.

When a new design is approved, and a batch of identical ships are built, all are known as belonging to the class of the first ship's name.

Example: Spruance-class destroyers and Burke-class destroyers.

Both are destroyers, however each was built from a different design, and each was the first of many built from that design. Hence all Destroyers built identical (using same plans) to the Spruance or the Burke are said to belong to their respective class.

Other example:
Type: Ballistic Missile Submarine
Classes: George Washington Class, Lafayette Class, Benjamin Franklin Class, Ohio Class

Just MYHO: US Navy already operates in 3-D (i.e. submarines, air wings).

[Edited on 5-7-2004 by BOHICA]

Originally posted by BOHICA
I think you may be confusing the type of ship with the class of a ship...
When a new design is approved, and a batch of identical ships are built, all are known as belonging to the class of the first ship's name.

Hey, you're right! However, my question is still a good one... just replace Fighter, Escort, Cruiser, Battleship, and Carrier "class" with "type" in my original question above. So, are those 5 types of star ships the only 5 types a star fleet would truly need for all practical intents and purposes?