List of "official" non-canon starship classes

[Unicron]

On the other hand, the Excelsior 2000s may well have been ordered prior to the Federation 2100s, but since the 2100s were using well established technology, they went together quite quickly, while the experimental nature of Excelsior demanded much much more time. It could have been on the boards for 15 years or more before finally being realized as a functional vessel.

I just now thought of an idea that I kinda like: Suppose they authorized the 2000s and the 2100s at the same time as two classes of ships which were meant to have similar capabilities. The 2000 series would be there to be the next generation bigger/faster/stronger class and operate much more efficiently than the current generation, but they knew that it would take a long time so they authorized the 2100 series to do roughly the same thing, using well-known extant technology, which won't be nearly as efficient as what's on the drawing board, but can be built next year. This would make the Dreadnaughts a stop-gap between the concept of the Excelsior and the realization of it. It would also explain why there were evidently so few dreadnaughts (just one mentioned on-screen) but so many Excelsiors over the years.

Let's not forget that Sternbach's TNG Technical Manual tells us that the E-D took something like 20 years to put together.

On the other hand, FJ already gives us an Excelsior, a Bonhomme Richard-class Heavy Cruiser NCC-1718, though there is no NCC-2000 anywhere listed... However, if you go with the Mastercom idea that most of the FJ ships were authorized but never actually built, then maybe NCC-1718 was one of those that ended up on the chopping block, but the name ended up being applied to previously unnamed experimental platform NX-2000.

--Alex

This is one reason I like to treat registries as "batch" numbers that aren't necessarily meant to be sequential, but to be based in some measure on the specific ship design or similar factor. Interestingly, I think it also fits well with FASA's TNG-era take on the fleet captain, who would have been a flag officer between admiral and commodore whose job would be to oversee specific ship developments or special projects, such as the Excelsior and the Galaxy.

 

[JES]

On the other hand, the Excelsior 2000s may well have been ordered prior to the Federation 2100s, but since the 2100s were using well established technology, they went together quite quickly, while the experimental nature of Excelsior demanded much much more time. It could have been on the boards for 15 years or more before finally being realized as a functional vessel.

I just now thought of an idea that I kinda like: Suppose they authorized the 2000s and the 2100s at the same time as two classes of ships which were meant to have similar capabilities. The 2000 series would be there to be the next generation bigger/faster/stronger class and operate much more efficiently than the current generation, but they knew that it would take a long time so they authorized the 2100 series to do roughly the same thing, using well-known extant technology, which won't be nearly as efficient as what's on the drawing board, but can be built next year. This would make the Dreadnaughts a stop-gap between the concept of the Excelsior and the realization of it. It would also explain why there were evidently so few dreadnaughts (just one mentioned on-screen) but so many Excelsiors over the years.

Let's not forget that Sternbach's TNG Technical Manual tells us that the E-D took something like 20 years to put together.

On the other hand, FJ already gives us an Excelsior, a Bonhomme Richard-class Heavy Cruiser NCC-1718, though there is no NCC-2000 anywhere listed... However, if you go with the Mastercom idea that most of the FJ ships were authorized but never actually built, then maybe NCC-1718 was one of those that ended up on the chopping block, but the name ended up being applied to previously unnamed experimental platform NX-2000.

--Alex

I don't think I could've put it any better myself.

I myself favor the idea that the U.S.S. Excelsior (NCC-1718) had a tragically short career, and that the NX-2000 was renamed in her honor. You yourself said that it could have been 15 years between her getting from the drawing board to out of drydock. The previous Excelsior could've been built, commissioned, and lost in that time.

 

[CharlieZardoz]

The Belknap design was a great concept also the perimeter action ships from fasa and Knox class always looked pretty sweet to me.

 

[JES]

I agree. I consider the Belkap, Akyazi, and Knox in my own personal canon.

 

[Tim Walker]

There is the idea that seldom seen classes were actually prototypes/test beds.

(Unless it was a time of Crisis, and any usable hull was thrown into battle).

It occurred to me, for example, that the Norway class seems aerodynamic-to test a starship that could fly through an atmosphere?

 

[Tim Walker]

On the other hand, the Excelsior 2000s may well have been ordered prior to the Federation 2100s, but since the 2100s were using well established technology, they went together quite quickly, while the experimental nature of Excelsior demanded much much more time. It could have been on the boards for 15 years or more before finally being realized as a functional vessel.

The 2000 series would be there to be the next generation bigger/faster/stronger class and operate much more efficiently than the current generation, but they knew that it would take a long time so they authorized the 2100 series to do roughly the same thing, using well-known extant technology, which won't be nearly as efficient as what's on the drawing board, but can be built next year. This would make the Dreadnaughts a stop-gap between the concept of the Excelsior and the realization of it. It would also explain why there were evidently so few dreadnaughts (just one mentioned on-screen) but so many Excelsiors over the years.

Let's not forget that Sternbach's TNG Technical Manual tells us that the E-D took something like 20 years to put together.


--Alex

Perhaps there were several classes of stopgap vessels, with improved but not radically new technology. To supplement aging classes of vessels.

In the case of the Dreadnaughts, I think their purpose would be to bolster defenses.

 

[Timo]

It occurred to me, for example, that the Norway class seems aerodynamic-to test a starship that could fly through an atmosphere?

We have never heard of a ship that couldn't, though. The old NX-01 did just fine in atmospheric flight, Kirk's TOS ship did just fine, the battle section of the E-D did fine, the Voyager and the Equinox and the Defiant did fine...

Then again, the Norway has these fancy pylons that appear to allow the nacelles to slide forward and aft. And the nacelles have a series of holes atop, perhaps so that plasma can flow in and out no matter which of the (apparently nine) nacelle positions is chosen. Is this a means of manipulating the warp field (although supposedly you'd have to stop every time you slide the nacelles to a new position and route the plasma through a new hole), or of balancing the ship for landing? Perhaps with various and variable loads held between the engine booms, much like a barge carrier today might adjust her ballast when delivering individual barges?

In the case of the Dreadnaughts, I think their purpose would be to bolster defenses.

It would be easy to speculate that the reason we never see Dreadnoughts in battle is because they are "pierside queens", ships designed for "fleet in being" deterrence value and not intended to be used operationally until called to perform a first strike or a retaliatory strike. They'd have just about zero endurance, but would pack an unhealthy amount of weaponry in those spaces a more "useful" ship would dedicate to vital supplies and reserves...

Any and all gaps in registry schemes could be covered by assuming that such "reserve" or "deterrent" ships have them painted on yet never sail out to show them!

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Tim Walker]

Speculation regarding the Niagra class. The rebuilding into a test bed resembles the Yak 15.

 

[Tim Walker]

Interesting comparison between Akula and beefed up Okinawa designs. I think the Okinawa based design could illustrate where a stopgap might come from.

 

[Tim Walker]

Regarding the Prime timeline, post Dominion War....

In addition to pulling 23rd century ships out of mothballs, it occured to me that the Frankenstein fleet might be retained as stop gap vessels.

 

[Ithekro]

If Starfleet still needs those numbers of ships, they will need all they can get. If a lot of that was simply to fight the war, rather than their usual patrols and exploration missions, than they will retire a lot of ships even with the massive losses of the War.

 

[Tim Walker]

I can imagine revival of the Akyazi perimeter action ships.

At least for internal policing.