Editing Ship Classification

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
[[Ship Classification]] is a way of organizing ship fleets by various characteristics, whether [[Civilian Ship|civil]], [[Paramilitary Ship|paramilitary]], or [[Military ship|military]] in nature.
* While the civilian-paramilitary-military spectrum (user spectrum) is one way to classify ships, there are a number of other factors such as role (...a letter classification A to Z), size (...[[ton]]nage), drive type ([[NAFAL]] vs. [[FTL]]), and others.
* It is considered vital within the organized spacefaring organizations of the many societies of [[Charted Space]], is but often overlooked by actual ship captains and the general public.  
* The [[Suprapolities]] of the [[Major Race]]s all use a generally similar system of ship classification based on the traditions of the [[Vilani Imperium]] and [[Ziru Sirka]] that have been tried and tested for thousands of years.
* While the smaller [[Polities]] of [[Minor Race]]s sometimes use different systems, everyone has a decent understanding how the forces of the [[Third Imperium]] envision the [[Ship Mission|mission]]s, [[Ship Type|type]]s, [[Ship Class|classe]]s, and other levels of organization for spacefaring vessels.
[[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]]) ==
''Imperial Ship Classification'' has changed many times over the centuries and millennia, sometimes tending towards Vilani preferences, others Terran preferences, and even absorbing other ideas as well. 

=== Imperial Ship Classification Synopsis ===
The basic system of ship classification and organization for ships within [[Charted Space]] and particularly within [[Imperial Space]] works on a simple hierarchy of mission (generalized use), type (specific use), class (very specific use), model (technological level), and lot or bloc (production run):
The basic system of ship classification and organization for ships within [[Charted Space]] and particularly within [[Imperial Space]] works on a simple hierarchy of mission (generalized use), type (specific use), class (very specific use), model (technological level), and lot or bloc (production run):
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="5"| 'Imperial Ship Classification
|-
! #
! Level
! Designation
! Synopsis
! Example/s
|-
| 1.
| [[Ship Mission Code]]s 
| [[Ship Mission|SUPRACLASS]] 
| MISSION 
| [[Free Trader]] AKA [[Merchant]] 
* It is also known as [[Ship Mission]], [[Ship Mission Code]], Mission, [[Ship Hull Designation]], or Supraclass.
|-
| 2.
| [[Ship Type Code]]s 
| [[Ship Type|SUPERCLASS]] 
| TYPE 
| [[Type A class Free Trader]] 
* It is also known as [[Ship Type]], Superclass, [[Ship Type Code]], [[Craft Type Code]], or simply Type.
|-
| 3.
| [[Ship Class Code]]s 
| [[Ship Class|CLASS]] 
| CLASS 
| [[Beowulf class Free Trader]]
* It designation is also known as [[Ship Class]], [[Ship Class Code]], or simply Class.
|-
| 4.
| Ship Model Codes 
| [[TL|MODEL]] 
| TL & Model 
| TL-14 Beowulf Build
* Models aren’t always mentioned, but if they are, they are usually referred to by a TL designation.
|-
| 5.
| Ship Bloc Codes 
| LOT or BLOC 
| Named Ship 
| “The Lonesome Wolf” of ‘Bloc 312-1115d’
* Ship Lots or Bloc Codes are rarely used except by naval shipyards, patrol craft, and the like. They are recorded in the ship’s computer as well as a number of places on the hull. 
|-
|}

=== Overview of Imperial Ship Classification ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|+ 'Imperial Ship Classification
|-
! #
! Level
! Example
! Remarks
|-
| 1.
| Supraclass (Function)
| [[Dreadnought]]
| It’s the largest organizational grouping by a generalized function or mission. For instance, [[battleship]]s and [[cruiser]]s have different generalized missions although they can perform many of the same jobs.
|-
| 2.
| Type (Superclass)
| Type BB class Dreadnought
| It’s a larger type grouping by a specific function or mission. Different kinds of battleships or types may perform different yet broadly similar missions. 
|-
| 3.
| Class (Ship)
| [[Tigress class Dreadnought]]
| The ship itself is synonymous with a class. The first produced version becomes the class namesake under most practices. It has an even more specific mission that the craft type code (type) or superclass.
|-
| 4.
| Model (Version)
| TL-15 Tigress Model 1105-Q3-9PR
| This classification may include incremental improvements often as a result of [[TL]] advances. Some classes of ships can be built at several different [[TL]]’s. For instance, the ubiquitous Beowulf [[Free Trader]] has builds from [[TL-10]] to [[TL-15]].
|-
| 5.
| Lot (Block)
| Block 365-1105 Reg-A-4702-4826-9931
| This classification is also known as a Production Bloc. Blocs may have differences from lot to lot. Sometimes aftermarket or post-production modification (customization) may yield very different ships from the originally manufactured ship class.
|-
|}

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
Every [[polity]] since time memorial builds [[artifact]]s, [[device]]s, [[vehicle]]s, [[spacecraft]], and eventually [[starcraft]]. And as is the nature of [[technology]], bigger, better and more capable technologies are constantly being developed and applied to technological objects. Fleets of [[ship]]s need to be constantly upgraded and improved to either keep up with or, more hopefully, a maintain a  technological edge over their enemies. In order to keep track of all of the constant and reoccurring changes, most [[sophont]] species develop elaborate schemes of ship classification and terminology. {{Unpublished cite|author=[[Maksim-Smelchak]]}}

=== The Vilani Imperium and Ziru Sirka ===
The first of the [[Humaniti|human races]] to reach the [[star]]s was the [[Vilani]]. They launched [[Generation Ship|crude sublight interstellar exploration and colonization missions]] starting in about [[-10000|-10,000]] [[IC]] (5482 BCE). {{Page cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page= 16 |article= A Brief History of the Universe}}

[[Tauri (world)|Tauri]], a mere two [[light year]]s from [[Vland]], was the first [[system]] they visited. Over the course of the next five hundred years, the [[Vilani]] created a [[Vilani Imperium|small interstellar community]] of six [[system]]s, each with its own colonies and scientific stations. {{Page cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page= 16 |article= A Brief History of the Universe}}

About [[-9300|-9,300]] [[IC]] (4,792 BCE), an exploratory expedition to a nearby [[system]] discovered [[Sophont|intelligent life]], a race of [[Tahavi|aquatic mantas]]. Soon thereafter a colonial expedition to another discovered [[Khulan|archeological evidence of a human civilization which had died out]] several thousand years before. {{Page cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page= 16 |article= A Brief History of the Universe}}

About [[-9200|-9,200]] [[IC]] (-4682 BCE), routine experiments in energy storage led to the discovery of the [[Jump Drive]]: the key to [[FTL]] [[Faster-Than-Light]] travel. The Vilani were empowered and transformed. They alone, of everyone they visited, had the secret of fast interstellar travel. They kept their [[technology]] a monopoly and used it to dramatically expand their territory, which ultimately became a star-spanning empire: the [[Ziru Sirka]]. {{Page cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page= 16 |article= A Brief History of the Universe}}

After those first [[Vilani]] [[Starship|jump ships]] began conquering their corner of the [[Galaxias]], it became increasingly important for the Vilani fleets to be well organized, equipped, maintained, and continually upgraded. And thus were the first systems of [[Vilani]] ship classification developed. Variations on these fleet organization systems are used by nearly every [[sophont]] species within [[Charted Space]]. {{Unpublished cite|author=Maksim-Smelchak}}

=== Ship Tonnage & Organizational Schema ===
A number of Basic Ship [[Size-Role Classification]]s are based upon the relative size of a ship in [[ton]]nage terms:
* [[Adventure Class Ship]] ([[ACS]])
* [[Battle Class Ship]] ([[BCS]])
* [[Fleet Class Ship]] ([[FCS]])
* [[World Class Ship]] ([[WCS]])

But this is problematic, because by the end of every three [[tech level]]s (...or [[tech epoch]]), the maximum of minimum size of [[naval architecture]], these parameters change. The [[Imperial Navy]] and the [[Imperial Interstellar Scout Service]] have employed a system based upon rough standards based on [[tech epoch]]s over its many centuries of experience.

==== TL:13-15 Tonnage Standards ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| Tonnage Standards by Tech Epoch: [[TL:13-15]]  
|-
! Size-Class
! [[Tech Epoch]]
! Tonnage
! Remarks
|-
| [[ACS]]
| [[TL:13-15]]
| 100 to 2,499 tons 
| These [[vessel]]s can be operated by small [[crew]]s, supported by minor [[organization]]s, and serviced at almost any major [[shipyard]] or [[starport]].
* They vessels tend to conduct the lion's share of private and commercial activity for any given [[sophont]]ic [[society]] at this [[tech epoch]].
|-
| [[BCS]]
| [[TL:13-15]]
| 2,500 to 249,999 tons 
| These [[vessel]]s require significant [[shipyard]]s to construct and represent large-scale investment of funds, personnel, and [[resource]]s.
* They conduct all of paramilitary and military missions of a major [[polity]]. 
|-
| [[FCS]]
| [[TL:13-15]]
| 250,000 to 999,999 tons 
| Around 500k tonnage is considered the largest practical size in terms of cost-time benefit.
* Only a limited number of these vessels may be built so only major combatants, very serious industrial & scientific applications, or major government projects will build ships in this size range. 
|-
| [[WCS]]
| [[TL:13-15]]
| 1,000,000 tons or larger 
| Such [[vessel]]s are beyond expensive and represent [[suprapolity]]-level investment in many, many [[RU]]'s that take years to manufacture and sometimes decades.
* These ships are almost impossibly large for their time and take several generations of leaders and a focused society to construct. They are only built for immensely important missions. 
|-
|}

==== TL:10-12 Tonnage Standards ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| Tonnage Standards by Tech Epoch: [[TL:10-12]]  
|-
! Size-Class
! [[Tech Epoch]]
! Tonnage
! Remarks
|-
| [[ACS]]
| [[TL:10-12]]
| 100 to 1,999 tons
| These [[vessel]]s can be operated by small [[crew]]s, supported by minor [[organization]]s, and serviced at almost any major [[shipyard]] or [[starport]].
* They vessels tend to conduct the lion's share of private and commercial activity for any given [[sophont]]ic [[society]] at this [[tech epoch]].
|-
| [[BCS]]
| [[TL:10-12]]
| 2,000 to 199,999 tons
| These [[vessel]]s require significant [[shipyard]]s to construct and represent large-scale investment of funds, personnel, and [[resource]]s.
* They conduct all of paramilitary and military missions of a major [[polity]]. 
|-
| [[FCS]]
| [[TL:10-12]]
| 200,000 tons to 749,999 tons
| Around 250k tonnage is considered the largest practical size in terms of cost-time benefit.
* Only a limited number of these vessels may be built so only major combatants, very serious industrial & scientific applications, or major government projects will build ships in this size range. 
|-
| [[WCS]]
| [[TL:10-12]]
| 750,000 tons or larger
| Such [[vessel]]s are beyond expensive and represent [[suprapolity]]-level investment in many, many [[RU]]'s that take years to manufacture and sometimes decades.
* These ships are almost impossibly large for their time and take several generations of leaders and a focused society to construct. They are only built for immensely important missions. 
|-
|}

==== TL:7-9 Tonnage Standards ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| Tonnage Standards by Tech Epoch: [[TL:7-9]]  
|-
! Size-Class
! [[Tech Epoch]]
! Tonnage
! Remarks
|-
| [[ACS]]
| [[TL:7-9]]
| 100 to 999 tons
| These [[vessel]]s can be operated by small [[crew]]s, supported by minor [[organization]]s, and serviced at almost any major [[shipyard]] or [[starport]].
* They vessels tend to conduct the lion's share of private and commercial activity for any given [[sophont]]ic [[society]] at this [[tech epoch]].
|-
| [[BCS]]
| [[TL:7-9]]
| 1,000 to 149,999 tons
| These [[vessel]]s require significant [[shipyard]]s to construct and represent large-scale investment of funds, personnel, and [[resource]]s.
* They conduct all of paramilitary and military missions of a major [[polity]]. 
|-
| [[FCS]]
| [[TL:7-9]]
| 150,000 to 499,999 tons
| Around 100k tonnage is considered the largest practical size in terms of cost-time benefit.
* Only a limited number of these vessels may be built so only major combatants, very serious industrial & scientific applications, or major government projects will build ships in this size range. 
|-
| [[WCS]]
| [[TL:7-9]]
| 500,000 tons or larger
| Such [[vessel]]s are beyond expensive and represent [[suprapolity]]-level investment in many, many [[RU]]'s that take years to manufacture and sometimes decades.
* These ships are almost impossibly large for their time and take several generations of leaders and a focused society to construct. They are only built for immensely important missions. 
|-
|}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Advanced}}
{{Sources
|S1= {{Ludography cite|name= Starships |page=17-20 |version= Classic Traveller}}
|S2= {{Ludography cite|name= High Guard |page= 20 |version= Classic Traveller}}
|S3= {{Ludography cite|name= Referee's Manual |page= TBD}}
|S4= {{Ludography cite|name= Starship Operator's Manual |page= TBD}}
|S5= {{Ludography cite|name= Traveller: The New Era |page= TBD}}
|S6= {{Ludography cite|name= Starships |page= TBD |version= Marc Miller's Traveller}}
|S7= {{Ludography cite|name= Naval Architect's Manual |page= TBD}}
|S8= {{Ludography cite|name= The Traveller's Handbook |page= TBD}}
|S9= {{Ludography cite|name= Gateway to Destiny |page= TBD}}
|S10= {{Ludography cite|name=Core Rulebook|version=Mongoose Traveller|page= 105 |version= Mongoose Traveller}}
|S11= {{Ludography cite|name= High Guard |page= TBD |version= Mongoose Traveller}}
|S12= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships |page= TBD |version= Mongoose Traveller}}
|S13= {{Ludography cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page= 330 |article= A Brief History of the Universe}}
|S14= {{Ludography cite|name=High Guard | version=Mongoose 2nd |page=}}
|S15= {{Ludography cite|name= High Guard: Aslan |page= TBD |version= Mongoose 2nd}}
|S16= {{Ludography cite|name= Starter Set |page= TBD |version= Mongoose 2nd}}
}}
 

[[Category: Ship Organization]]
{{LEN|}}