What Class Was 1701?

[Wingsley]

There is a school of thought that TOS is in its own Universe, and the movies and series that followed are probably each in their own Universes, only loosely related, just as the 2009 movie could itself be in another alterniverse.

This notion isn't shared by everybody, but it can be useful in reviewing the origins of concepts in TREK.

 

[Noname Given]

Through most of TOS proper - it was Starship Class

In the circa 1975 Star Trek Tech Manual, it was refered to as a Constitution Class starship.

When TMP hit the screens, Constitution Class became canon from that point forward.

^^^
All the above FWIW.

 

[Keith1701]

The Enterprise is FIRST CLASS!

I agree!!!!

 

[Vance]

Because folks are trying to figure out when it was established or likely considered as such.

Way back on August 9, 1967 by the fucking people who made the fucking show. In fact, it's solidified by a published letter between Bob Justman and Gene Roddenberry.

Can we settle this stupidity now?

 

[Shaw]

Because folks are trying to figure out when it was established or likely considered as such.

Way back on August 9, 1967 by the fucking people who made the fucking show. In fact, it's solidified by a published letter between Bob Justman and Gene Roddenberry.

Can we settle this stupidity now?

Just FYI... the name Constitution didn't appear in that letter (nor the previous letter by someone using the pseudonym of D. C. Fontana). When the name Constitution was first introduced isn't actually known.

 

[Vance]

Just FYI... the name Constitution didn't appear in that letter (nor the previous letter by someone using the pseudonym of D. C. Fontana). When the name Constitution was first introduced isn't actually known.

Oddly it appears in the very next piecee of correspondence, as a 'settled' name already in use. The MoST er.. novel? ... actually refers to her as a Constitution class ship at one point.. so the name goes back to 1968.

The Star Trek Concordance , from 1968, also makes the connection with the name and class, with Bjo Trimble citing Roddenberry as the source for this information.

The BoGP, of course, from 1973 says the class name explicitly and was personally signed by Roddenberry on every single page. The tech manual would be two years later, in 1975.

 

[Shaw]

The next part in TMoST after the Justman letter discussing the established starships is commentary by Poe. As a reference source, I've taken the time to highlight memos/letters/documents in TMoST so that I can distinguish them from Poe's interpretations of events.

The name Constitution didn't appear in either of those memos, but did appear in a graphic used in The Trouble with Tribbles (aired in December 1967) and Poe's commentary in TMoST (published in September 1968). Of course according to Gerrold, the filming of The Trouble with Tribbles took place in late August of 1967 (a week or two after the Justman letter), so some time in mid August of 1967 would be when the name Constitution (and the term Constitution Class) was first introduced in TOS production (but we still don't have a specific day).

 

[Maurice]

Through most of TOS proper - it was Starship Class

In the circa 1975 Star Trek Tech Manual, it was refered to as a Constitution Class starship.

When TMP hit the screens, Constitution Class became canon from that point forward.

^^^
All the above FWIW.

Where in TMP is the ship referred to as Constitution Class?

 

[Warped9]

Because folks are trying to figure out when it was established or likely considered as such.

Way back on August 9, 1967 by the fucking people who made the fucking show. In fact, it's solidified by a published letter between Bob Justman and Gene Roddenberry.

Can we settle this stupidity now?

Excuse me, but I was responding to Tiberius' question and I don't recall giving you any attitude.

 

[Green Shirt]

Can we settle this stupidity now?

This is Trek BBS, we don't settle stupidity here. We cause it.


Anyway, if the power that were decided to change the class from Starship to Constitution some time during 19xx, that was their privilege. A ship's dedication plaque was created using the designation "Starship", then someone later used the word "Constitution", and it apparently stuck.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Can we settle this stupidity now?

This is Trek BBS, we don't settle stupidity here. We cause it.

Anyway, if the power that were decided to change the class from Starship to Constitution some time during 19xx, that was their privilege. A ship's dedication plaque was created using the designation "Starship", then someone later used the word "Constitution", and it apparently stuck.

We do not allow such truths to be spoken here.

Away with thee!

 

[T'Girl]

Where in TMP is the ship referred to as Constitution Class?

The bridge set in that movie had no dedication plate, so it didn't come from that.

 

[Vance]

Where in TMP is the ship referred to as Constitution Class?

The bridge set in that movie had no dedication plate, so it didn't come from that.

The graphics of the Technical Manual were on screen... but that's the only reference I can think of off of the top of my head.

 

[Green Shirt]

We do not allow such truths to be spoken here.

Away with thee!

Frak, I have much more truth to share.

 

[Rojixus]

I say the true color of the command tunics is yellow and anyone who disagrees with me can rot in Rura Penthe! Seriously though, I personally think that before the late 23rd century, Starfleet didn't have ship classes as we know them. Instead I think "starship-class" refers to its designation (i.e. cruiser, destroyer, battleship, etc.).

I don't follow your argument exactly, but the TOS Enterprise is a "heavy cruiser."

Where does it say that? In any event, it may well be that Starfleet underwent a reorganization after the end of the original series to align itself with the navies of the Federation's member states so that the Enterprise was reclassified as a Constitution-class heavy cruiser instead of a Starship-class vessel of the Constitution series or something to that effect.

It has just occurred to me, perhaps Constitution-class was originally the designation given to the Enterprise by the Earth Starfleet (or UESPA or whatever you want to call it, Earth's National Guard) and Starship-class the designation given to it by the Federation Starfleet. After the Original Series, the Federation Starfleet may have reorganized itself to better align with the Earth Starfleet, giving their ships new designations (cruiser, destroyer, frigate, etc.) and naming ship classes like other navies (Constitution-class, etc.).

 

[Noname Given]

Through most of TOS proper - it was Starship Class

In the circa 1975 Star Trek Tech Manual, it was refered to as a Constitution Class starship.

When TMP hit the screens, Constitution Class became canon from that point forward.

^^^
All the above FWIW.

Where in TMP is the ship referred to as Constitution Class?

On one of the vector graphics displays of the intgerior layouts as V'Ger is accessing the 1701's computer.

 

[KirkPicard]

Then of course there's "Enterprise Class".

Indeed, as is seen on screen before Kirk exits the Kobayashi Maru simulator. (Bottom left of door)

Further reading pertaining to starship classes, including the TOS Enterprise can be had in this detailed page: http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/articles/ship_names.htm

 

[Tiberius]

Of course, one could say that it's an Enterprise-class simulator, in that it recreates the bridge of the USS Enterprise.

There could be a Grissom-class simulator, for command crew on science vessels, and a Galileo-class simualtor for the poor sods stuck doing shuttle runs between Utopia planetia and Jupiter Station...

 

[Green Shirt]

There could be a Grissom-class simulator, for command crew on science vessels.

That simulation could be boring as hell. They probably practice only two scenarios -- "Scanning for life forms, Sir." Or, "Prepare to be destroyed!"

 

[The Fatman]

Of course, one could say that it's an Enterprise-class simulator, in that it recreates the bridge of the USS Enterprise.

There could be a Grissom-class simulator, for command crew on science vessels, and a Galileo-class simualtor for the poor sods stuck doing shuttle runs between Utopia planetia and Jupiter Station...

along the same line of thinking, this simulator could be for the "Enterprise Class" cadets, i.e. the cadets who are serving on the Enterprise.