Galaxy & Sovereign-class designations

[C.E. Evans]

The idea of a multi-mission starship really could fit the Galaxy-class as well if we only went with onscreen material. Likewise, there's nothing that really says the Sovereign-class can't be assigned to multi-year exploration missions.

[Captain_Amasov]

C.E. Evans wrote:

---

"Explorer" came from the TNG Technical Manual for the vehicle type of the Galaxy-class. "Explorer type-2" for the Sovereign-class comes from several fan sites...
http://www.lcarscom.net/1701e.htm

I actually got "Explorer Type 2" from this poster made at the time "First Contact" was released:

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...way_poster.jpg

Thanks for the replies guys!

[ProwlAlpha]

From what we saw on screen, I have always gathered that the Galaxy-class was equivalent to the RN's Admiral-class battlecruiser (HMS Hood). They are both large and well equipped as flagships and they represent the pinnacle of each generation, however, they had fatal flaws that were exploited fatally in battle.

The Galaxy-class was designed and built during a turbulent time in UFP history, difficulties with the Klingons, the Cardassian Wars, the Tzenkethi War, and the Galen Border Conflicts were fought in the 2340s and 2350s, yet, they were nearly ended or in the process of ending in early 2360s, and so the Enterprise and her sisters were converted to a more peaceful role, the explorer.

I see the Sovereigns as the UFP equivalent to the USN Iowa-class battleship. They are fast, they are able to take a pounding, and can deliver one too. They were designed in the mid-2360s and they got to see the rise of the Romulans, the Borg, aggressive Klingon factions, and the Maquis insurgency.

[Marcus Porcius Cato]

ProwlAlpha wrote:

---

From what we saw on screen, I have always gathered that the Galaxy-class was equivalent to the RN's Admiral-class battlecruiser (HMS Hood). They are both large and well equipped as flagships and they represent the pinnacle of each generation, however, they had fatal flaws that were exploited fatally in battle.

The Galaxy-class was designed and built during a turbulent time in UFP history, difficulties with the Klingons, the Cardassian Wars, the Tzenkethi War, and the Galen Border Conflicts were fought in the 2340s and 2350s, yet, they were nearly ended or in the process of ending in early 2360s, and so the Enterprise and her sisters were converted to a more peaceful role, the explorer.

I see the Sovereigns as the UFP equivalent to the USN Iowa-class battleship. They are fast, they are able to take a pounding, and can deliver one too. They were designed in the mid-2360s and they got to see the rise of the Romulans, the Borg, aggressive Klingon factions, and the Maquis insurgency.

Maybe, maybe not. After all the Hood's armor and structural defect were known even when she was finishing the construction. Jutland had shown that the Royal Navy's Battlecruisers had insufficient armors and Hood was over stressed in structure. Moreover Hood herself was due for refit for many years by 1941 which was deferred for one reason or another.

Screen and background material seems to show that Galaxy-Class was given more periodic upgrade. And if the TNG Tech manual is correct was never imagined as a front line warship (which Starfleet is not really supposed to have until lunching of the Defiant in 2370) in a way that Sovereign Class seems to be designed from the beginning.

[ProwlAlpha]

Well the Hood was considered by their standards, the pinnacle of RN shipbuilding and so received little in the upgrading the forward magazine.

Hate to say it but the TNG tech manual says very little in regards to the political atmosphere of that class' time period in which Trek has shown to be very turbulent and violent. Besides the time table presented would make the Galaxy obsolete upon commissioning.

[Timo]

The process seemed to be "dynamic", though: even if planning began decades before launch, there was major engine development work going on fairly late, or else the young Leah Brahms could not have been responsible for it. (The same with Larry Marvick in TOS.)

So the class could still have been quite up to date at launch. Things like hull shape apparently don't matter in the end, as evidenced by the variety of shapes we see, and the longevity of certain examples of them.

Timo Saloniemi

[JessDD]

The Galaxy class must have been designed for much more than exploring though. Taking a look at Voyager, it had something like 1/8th the crew of the Enterprise and was less than half the size, and yet it was classified as a deep-space explorer (at least to my recollection it was).

I would argue the Galaxy class ships were originally designed for battle and/or tactical operations, and exploring just happened to be a happy by-product of its design.

[Infern0]

JessDD wrote:

---

The Galaxy class must have been designed for much more than exploring though. Taking a look at Voyager, it had something like 1/8th the crew of the Enterprise and was less than half the size, and yet it was classified as a deep-space explorer (at least to my recollection it was).

I would argue the Galaxy class ships were originally designed for battle and/or tactical operations, and exploring just happened to be a happy by-product of its design.

I have heard in the past, the term "Mobile Starbase" thrown around in regards to the Galaxy, in general I think it was designed to do whatever Starfleet needed at the time, huge and versatile featuring the best of everything.