Editing Ship Class Code

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
A [[Ship Class Code]] or [[Starship Class]] usually represents one or more production runs of the same [[starship]] design. Ships within a class are usually given similar names.
* For a detail of the Classes of Starships see the description in the individual  [[Military Starship Types]] and [[Civilian Starship Types]].
* This hierarchical designation is also known as [[Ship Class]], [[Ship Class Code]], or simply Class.
[[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]]) ==
A class is usually named after the lead ship, the namesake; that is, the first ship of that class. This is usually the ship with the lowest hull number, but may also be the first ship in commission.
* A class should not be confused with a type (see [[Military Starship Types]] and [[Civilian Starship Types]]). A type of starship (e.g. Battleship) will have several different classes or designs made that fit that type. Some confusion in terminology is in common use, e.g. when referring to a "Battleship class" ship (…strictly speaking this is an error).

=== 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):
{| 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]]) ==
There are literally thousands upon thousands of [[Ship Class Code]]s in existence, from small single digit runs to ships that number in the tens of thousands. In a world where many, many [[Class A [[Starport]]s exist, many fully capable [[Shipyard]]s and certified [[Naval Architect]]s, all it takes to design a new ship class is a lot of money, and patience. Larger [[polities]] and [[suprapolities]] regularly commission new designs as needed. However, the savings from using existing designs is considerable so only the adventurous commission new designs where and when needed. 

=== Ship Class Standardization ===
''Ship Classes:'' Once a ship is built, a certain familiarity with the requirements of construction is gained by the building crews, and a shipyard can then produce such ships more rapidly and with greater efficiency. Additional identical ships built following the initial ship in a class can be completed in 80% of the original time at 80% of the original construction cost. {{Page cite|name= High Guard |page= 20 |version= Classic Traveller}}

=== Ship Class Namesakes ===
''Namesakes:'' Ships of a class are named to show this relationship. For example, the first ship in a series of small, swift escort vessels might be called the Gazelle, prompting the formation of the Gazelle class of close escorts. Other ship names in the class could be Reindeer, Kudie (for Kudebeck's Gazelle), Antelope, Unicorn, Pinto, as well as any of the many other names for swift herbivores. {{Page cite|name= High Guard |page= 20 |version= Classic Traveller}}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{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|Ship type definitions}}