Editing Escort

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
[[Escort|E-class Escort]]s are vessels intended to protect and assist larger and smaller [[vessel]]s. 
* The majority of ''Escort''s are considered [[ACS]] craft between 100.0 to 2,499 [[ton]]s in displacement. 
* A few larger ''Escort''s are included in the [[BCS]] category from 2,500 to 249,999 [[ton]]s in displacement. 
* They are capable of independent action, but are usually assigned to support [[Battleship]]s, [[Cruiser]]s, convoys, battle squadrons, and the like.
* Many call them escorts or secondary combatants.
* The [[Supraclass]] designation is also known as [[Ship Mission]], [[Ship Mission Code]], Mission, or [[Ship Hull Designation]]. 
* It is a [[starship]] [[supraclass]].
[[File: Technical Data.jpg|right]]

=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br>
'''[[Starship]]:'''
{{:Referral-Tree-Starship-User-Types}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Advanced-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Basic-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Ships-by-Function}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Speed-of-Travel}}
 
== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
'''Escorts:''' Escorts are vessels intended to protect and assist larger vessels. They are capable of independent action, but are usually assigned to support [[battleship]]s and [[cruiser]]s. {{Page cite|name= Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium |page=5}} 

Small starships of up to 20,000 tons intended to be light support craft for larger ships, primarily [[cruiser]]s. Escorts are also widely used for convoy protection and commerce raiding roles.

=== Image Repository ===
'''[[Brigantine|Type EB Brigantine]]:'''
# No image yet available. 

'''[[Escort Corvette|Type EC Escort Corvette & Close Escort]]s:'''
# A side view of a [[Hatchet class Light Corvette]]. <br> [[File:J2 1000dT Light Corvette.jpg|400px]]
# A [[Gazelle class Close Escort]] on patrol. <br> [[File: Close-Escort-WH-Keith-MT-Imp-Encyclo-Pg-84 03-July-2018a.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Multipurpose Escort|Type EE Line Escort / Multipurpose Escort]]:'''
# A [[Droyne]] [[Type A7 class Cruiser]] on patrol in [[deep space]]. <br> [[file: A7-Cruiser-Third-Imperium-CT-RESIZE-Mike-Jackson-pg-6 11-Oct-2019b.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Missile Escort|Type EEM Missile Escort]]:'''
# A [[Valor class Missile Corvette]] preparing to go to battle readiness. <br> [[file: Valor-CT-RESIZE-FASA-WH-Keith-ACS-v1 14-Oct-2019b.jpg|400px]]
# A [[Malory Francis class Missile Corvette|''Malory Francis'' class Missile Corvette]] with its distinctive [[sensor]] booms. <br> [[File:J2 400dT Missile Corvette.jpg|500px]]

'''[[Destroyer Escort|Type DE Destroyer Escort]]:'''
# An [[Agrippa class Destroyer Escort|''Agrippa'' class Destroyer Escort]] on patrol in [[deep space]]. <br> [[File:Agrippa class Destroyer Escort.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Frigate|Type EF Frigate]]:'''
# No image yet available. 

'''[[Fleet Escort|Type EFE Fleet Escort]]:'''
# A [[P. F. Sloan class Fleet Escort|"Sloan"]] under transit within a [[Star System]]. <br> [[File: Sloan-class Challenge-25-Part-1 17-May-2019a.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Military Corvette|Type EG Military Corvette]]:'''
# The [[Oegveng class Gunned Corvette]] is a [[Vargr]] very light combatant known for having a dangerous punch. <br> [[file: Oegveng-CT-RESIZE-TD-7-J-Fugate 14-Oct-2019b.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Heavy Escort|Type EH Heavy Escort]]:'''
# No image yet available. 

'''[[Light Escort|Type EL Light Escort]]:'''
# A [[Cleaver class Close Escort]] in side view. <br> [[File:J2 1000dT Light Corvette.jpg|400px]] 

'''[[Medium Escort|Type EM Medium Escort]]:'''
# A [[Halaheike class Pocket Warship]] streaming through hostile space with all weapons blazing. <br> [[file: Haheike-MGT-RESIZE-Aslan-pg-134 14-Oct-2019b.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Sloop|Type ES Sloop]]:'''
# A [[Victrix class Multimission Sloop]] knocking out [[defensive satellite]]s before a surface mission. <br> [[File:Vicrtix-Multi-Sloop-TNE-B-McDevitt-RCEG-pg-138 14-Sept-2019h.jpg|400px]]

=== Escort Combatants (Secondary) - The Lightcraft Hierarchy ===
A number of [[smallcraft]] and [[ACS]] combatants exist: 
{{:Referral-Tree-Lightcraft-Hierarchy}}

=== Escort vs. Frigate vs. Cruiser? ===
''CONFUSING TERMINOLOGY:'' Escorts are small vessels; they aren't meant to duke it out in line combat situations like cruisers and battleships. They are meant to flexible vessels with strategic mobility, a sort of skirmisher combatant, not meant for the main line.

The term frigate can be used with different meanings. Most use it as a subset of the escort class of secondary combatants meant to be smaller than a cruiser or destroyer. Others have used it as a near-cruiser class that can weigh tens of thousands of tons. In most applications, it means an [[ACS]] or smaller [[BCS]]-sized vessel. 

Then there are ''Cruisers'' who lack size and hitting power, but typically possess speed and endurance. They ''cruise'' or move  speedily compared to larger capital ships.  These are often small, speedy vessels that hit over weight for their size class, but would stand next to no chance against a naval fleet sized slugger of a combatant. Vessels such as the [[Lightning class Frontier Cruiser]] or [[Broadsword class Mercenary Cruiser]] are this smaller, latter type, not the larger vessels of the line. In the same vein, man-powered surface vehicles called [[bicycle]]s are also called cruisers. They are ''cruisers'' in name only.

=== Strategy & Doctrine (Operations) ===
The mainstay of the escort fleet is the ED series. These [[escort destroyer]]s are typical of Imperial needs. The ED-13, derived from the ED-12, was relatively unsuccessful, and the [[naval architect]]s returned to the ED-12 for inspiration for the later ED-14. The EF-12 served as the design basis for two divergent ship types: the [[escort fleet]] (...and later [[escort strike]] designs) and the [[escort missile]] EM-13/-15.

They often serve on orbital patrols, police operations, garrison duties, and even limited strike missions.

=== Supraclass Roles ===
''Escort''s typically serve the following roles:

''[[Largecraft]] & [[Bigcraft]]:''
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| E-class Escort Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
|-
| [[Assault Gunship]] 
| (EG)
|-
| [[Attack Torpedo Boat]] 
| (EEM)
|-
| [[Brig]] 
| (EB)
|-
| [[Brigantine]] 
| (EB)
|-
| [[Close Escort]] 
| (EC)
|-
| [[Corvette]] 
| (EC) or (EG)
|-
| [[Destroyer Escort]] 
| (DE)
|-
| [[Escort]] 
| (E) (Namesake)
|-
| [[Escort Corvette]] 
| (EC)
|-
| [[Escort Destroyer]] 
| (DE)
|-
| [[Fast Escort]] 
| (EF)
|-
| [[Fast Attack Craft]] 
| (EFAC)
|-
| [[Fleet Escort]] 
| (EFE)
|-
| [[Frigate]] 
| (EF)
|-
| [[Gunned Escort]] 
| (EG)
|-
| [[Gunboat]] 
| (EG)
|-
| [[Gunship]] 
| (EG)
|-
| [[Ketch]] 
| (EL)
|-
| [[Light Fleet Corvette]] 
| (EG)
|-
| [[Line Escort]] 
| (EE)
|-
| [[Military Corvette]] 
| (EG)
|-
| [[Missile Corvette]] 
| (EEM)
|-
| [[Missile Escort]] 
| (EEM)
|-
| [[Missile Sloop]] 
| (EEM)
|-
| [[Multimission Sloop]] 
| (ES)
|-
| [[Multi-purpose Escort]] 
| (EE)
|-
| [[Multi-role Escort]] 
| (EE)
|-
| [[Patrol Cruiser]] 
| (HT)
|-
| [[Patrol Ship]] 
| (HT)
|-
| [[Pursuit Ship]] 
| (HT)
|-
| [[Rider Escort]] 
| (BRE)
|-
| [[Sampan]] 
| (ES)
|-
| [[Schooner]] 
| (ES)
|-
| [[Sloop]] 
| (ES)
|-
| [[Strike Escort]] 
| (ESE)
|-
| [[Superheavy Escort]] 
| (EU)
|-
| [[Torpedo Ship]] 
| (EEM)
|-
| [[Vanguard Escort]]
| (EF)
|-
| [[War Galley]] 
| (E)
|-
|}

==== Size-Class Roles for Lighter Vessels ====
# [[Utility Craft]] (U) (1 to 99 [[ton]]s)
# [[Light Escort]] (EL) (100 to 999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Medium Escort]] (EM) (1,000 to 1,499 [[ton]]s)
# [[Heavy Escort]] (EH) (1,500 to 2,499 [[ton]]s)
# [[Superheavy Escort]] (EU) (2,500 or larger [[ton]]s)
# [[Destroyer]] (D) (2,500 to 9,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Capital Ship]] (Various) (100,000 or larger [[ton]]s)

==== Military Subcraft ====
Military [[subcraft]] (...both [[smallcraft]] and [[bigcraft]]) are carried by some of these [[vessel]]s:
# [[Battle Rider]] (BR)
# [[Combat Barge]] (WBG)
# [[Combat Transport Smallcraft]] (UI)
# [[Fighter]]s (F)
# [[Militarized Utility Craft]] (UQ)

=== Supraclass Archetypal Roles ===
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- 
!colspan="5"| E-class Escort Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code 
! Exemplar
! Remarks
|- 
| [[Escort]]
| E (Namesake)
| [[Gazelle class Close Escort]]
| An Escort is an often used term for any ships whose primary focus is on providing escort duty to either military or civilian vessels. These ship range in the 200 to 5,000-[[ton]] category.  The classification of "Escort" is usually reserved for larger vessels of this class and is often commingled with that of "Fleet Escort", but they lack the ability to support longer term deployments of the later type.
* E = Escort
|-
| [[Brigantine]]
| EB
| [[Analex class Brig]]
| None
* E = Escort
* B = Brig, Brigantine, [[etc.]]
|-
| [[Corvette]]
| EC
| [[Ueghzgi class Corvette]]
| Standard Corvettes  are the smallest class of escort usually massing about 200 tons. Although they do possess jump capability they are more often used as an in system defense asset. Their jump capability gives them a little more flexibility then [[System Defense Boat|SDBs]] and some systems use them as armed couriers. 200 tons on average.
* E = Escort
* Corvette
|-
| [[Escort Corvette]]
| EC
| [[Fiery class Gunned Escort]]
| Escort Corvettes are at the other end of the spectrum from "Fleet Escorts" and only range about 200 - 500 tons.  They do not have much in the way of weapons, armor, or crew, but they are usually enough of a deterrent to most pirates, especially smaller ones, that they do fill a valued role in convoy duty. 200 to 5,000 tons.
* E = Escort
* C = Corvette  
|- 
| [[Close Escort]]
| ECE
| [[Gazelle class Close Escort]]
| Close escorts tend to be one of the smallest class of escort vessel and are primarily found in the 200 - 500 ton range.  They are considered to have low endurance and are tend to be cramped, uncomfortable vessels with small crews.  Although they are jump capable, they can conserve their resources by clamping to unoccupied hardpoints on other vessels when not in jump space.  This feature is source of their designation. 200 to 5,000 tons
* Originally, the close escort was designed and produced by the Imperium for fleet operations. The small, fast close escorts were committed as the flank screens for cruisers or small fleet task forces. Their speed and size also made them ideal for naval courier and personnel transfer duties. But ultimately, they found their true niche. Many close escorts have been assigned to specific star systems or groups of systems for commerce protection.
* Close escorts may be encountered in nearly any star system, including in amber and red coded zones, protecting local merchant traffic. Because of this duty, they may be expected to stop much of the local traffic for inspection of cargo and to determine the correctness of ship's papers.  Close escorts may also be encountered in nearly any star system in convoy with merchant ships or on naval operations in a task force with larger naval ships.

[[Close Escort]]s (ECE) are very small starships intended for anti-piracy operations in organised squadrons. An example is the [[Gazelle class Close Escort]].
* E = Escort
* C = Close 
* E = Escort
|- 
| [[Line Escort]]
| EE
| [[Type A7 class Cruiser]]
| None
* E = Escort
* E = Multipurpose, Line, [[etc.]]
|-
| [[Missile Escort]]
| EEM
| [[Ramrod class Missile Boat]]
| Escorts of any size whose primary weapon load is missiles.  These are not common vessels and they are usually pair up with other types of escort vessels.  When that is the situation, they can add an unsuspecting punch to an unwary opponent.
* E = Escort
* E = Multipurpose, Line, [[etc.]]
* M = Missile
|- 
| [[Destroyer Escort]]
| DE
| [[Chrysanthemum class Destroyer Escort]]
| None
* E = Escort
* D = Destroyer
* E = Escort
|-
| [[Frigate]]
| EF
| [[Rr'xighik'ker class Frigate]]
| None
* E = Escort
* F = Frigate
|-
| [[Fleet Escort]]
| EFE
| [[P. F. Sloan class Fleet Escort]]
| Fleet escorts are small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, usually in the 1,000 - 5,000 tonnage range.  The main difference between fleet escorts and others of the type of vessel is that they tend to be larger and be equipped with fuel scoops and purification plants.  They have the jump and maneuver performance to keep pace with the capital ships with which they are assigned. The goal for these vessels is to be able to support fleet deployments and pose the least burdens on fleet supply capabilities. Typical missions include protecting fleet refueling, assault or carrier operations from enemy strike elements. They are noted as necessary but not necessarily glamorous fleet assignments for officers. 200 to 5,000 tons.

[[Fleet Escort]]s (EFE) are the largest of the escorts. They are primarily designed to accompany Imperial fleets. However, some classes have often been sent on independent missions - gunboat diplomacy, showing the flag, orbital support of ground operations, transport of diplomats or refugees, fleet courier operations, and even [[flagship]] duty for some smaller squadrons. An example is the [[P. F. Sloan class Fleet Escort]].

These are relatively low displacement vessels (1-10,000tons) designed to support larger squadrons of ships. They are typically deployed for support and play a defensive role for the formation. The usually have the jump and maneuver performance to keep pace with the capital ships with which they are assigned. They might be tasked with protecting fleet refueling, assault, or carrier operations from enemy strike elements. They are noted as necessary but not necessarily glamorous fleet assignments for officers. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Ronald Kline, Jr.]] }}
* E = Escort
* F = Fleet, Combat Support, Strategic, [[etc.]]
|-
| [[Military Corvette]]
| EG
| [[Fiery class Gunned Escort]]
| None
* E = Escort
* G = Gunned
|-
| [[Heavy Escort]]
| EH
| [[Blade class Frigate]]
| A Heavy Escort is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh between 1,500 to 2,499 tons.
* E = Escort
* H = Heavy
|-
| [[Light Escort]]
| EL
| [[Ekawsiykua class Escort]]
| A Light Escort is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh between 100 to 999 tons. 
* E = Escort
* L = Light
|-
| [[Medium Escort]]
| EM
| [[Chrysanthemum class Destroyer Escort]]
| A Medium Escort is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh between 1,000 to 1,499 tons. 
* E = Escort
* M = Medium
|- 
| [[Sloop]]
| ES
| [[River class Sloop]]
| TBD
* E = Escort
* S = Sloop, Superheavy, Strike, [[etc.]] 
|-
| [[Superheavy Escort]]
| EU
| No exemplar yet available.
| TBD
* E = Escort
* U = s'''U'''perheavy
|-
| [[Patrol Cruiser]]
| HT
| [[Shivva class Patrol Frigate]]
| ''Patrol Ships'' (sometimes AKA Patrol Boats) are usually smaller vessels, lightly armed or unarmed, but generally with plenty of sensors, designed to maintain order in an area of space among people and ships who are inclined to be orderly in the first place.  They tend to be used for space-traffic, safety and compliance patrols in areas without a lot of armed threats; a Patrol Boat may have enough firepower to deter minor threats, but isn't usually employed in places where even minor threats are likely. 
* H = Security Vessel
* T = pa'''T'''rol 
|-
!colspan="4"| ''NOTES:'' There is semantic overlap between many of the classes and codes. Some codes organize by mission or capability, others by size and [[ton]]nage, and yet others by other characteristics.
|-
|}

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
Escorts are the smallest, capable warships that are still capable of viable interstellar force projection.

=== Selected Variant Types & Classes ===
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EB-Brig}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EC-Close-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EE-Line Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EEM-Missile-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-DE-Destroyer-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EF-Frigate}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EFE-Fleet-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EG-Military-Corvette}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EH-Heavy-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EL-Light-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EM-Medium-Escort}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-ES-Sloop}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-EU-Superheavy-Escort}}

=== Ship Summary List ===
Some of the most commonly used [[vessel]]s in this role or these roles include:
{{Ship summary list|name= Escort |tdes= E }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Brigantine |tdes= EB }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Close Escort / Escort Corvette |tdes= EC }}
* '''ED Escort Destroyer:''' Please see [[Destroyer Escort]] 
{{Ship summary list|name= Line  / Multipurpose Escort |tdes= EE}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Missile Escort |tdes= EEM}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Frigate |tdes= EF }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Fleet Escort |tdes= EFE }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Military Corvette |tdes= EG}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Heavy Escort |tdes= EH }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Light Escort |tdes= EL}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Medium Escort |tdes= EM }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Sloop |tdes= ES }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Superheavy Escort |tdes= EU }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Destroyer Escort |tdes= DE }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Patrol Cruiser |tdes= HT }}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Detail}}
{{Sources
|S1= This article is an amalgamation of many different materials published since 1977.
|S2= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships |page= TBD |version=Classic Traveller}} 
|S3= {{Ludography cite|name= Challenge 25 |page= TBD }}
|S4= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium |page= TBD }}
|S5= {{Ludography cite|name= Traders and Gunboats |page= TBD |version=Mongoose Traveller}} 
|S6= {{Ludography cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page= TBD }}
|S7= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
|S8= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]] 
}}


[[Category: Ship Organization]]
[[Category: Ship type definitions]]
[[Category: Supraclass]]
{{LEN|}}