Navy Vessel Types & Classes

Navy Vessel Types & Classes

The Navy divides its’ fleet into different types of vessels and these types can be further categorized by class. Each type of ship fulfills a slightly different role. While this convention is certainly true for modern navies, it is often also adopted for future space fleets in science fiction worlds. In addition to the central vessels types, these ships are supported by a wide range of auxiliary support vessels.

Vessel Types

CENTRAL VESSEL TYPES

  • Carrier: A mobile platform for smaller craft.
  • Frigate: A large ship whose primary purpose is to protect the other ships from stealth attacks (such as from submarines)
  • Corvette: A small, fast, agile warship with light arms.
  • Destroyer: A medium-sized, medium armed ship.
  • Battlecruiser: The heaviest armed ship built to take on any ship that might threaten the fleet.
  • Attack Submarine: Submarine whose purpose is to sink enemy ships and submarines.
  • Missile Submarine: Submarine whose purpose is to remain undetected until it needs to fire missiles.

AUXILIARY VESSEL TYPES

  • Troop Transport
  • Fuel Tanker
  • Supply Ship
  • Hospital Ship
  • Ammunition Ship
  • Command Ship
  • Minecraft
  • Multi-Role Support
  • Repair Ship
  • Dredger
  • Crane
  • Construction
  • Cable-Laying
  • Surveillance Ship
  • Scientific Research Ship
  • Survey Vessel
  • Icebreaker
  • Logistical Support
  • General Cargo
  • Container Ship
  • Vehicle Transport Ship
  • Salvage Ship
  • Fire Ship
  • Search & Rescue
  • Tug

In science fiction worlds, consider an asteroid defense system or an asteroid breaker instead of an icebreaker.

NAMING SHIPS & VESSELS If you are creating a fleet of ships for your world, don’t forget to name them!

Vessel Class

Classes are used to further categorize ships. Ships of the same class are similar in build and design. These ships are often referred to as sister ships and commonly have names that are somehow in common with one another (such as starting with a similar letter, all being named for generals, or all being named after mythological animals).

  • Nimitz
  • Horizon
  • Zumwalt
  • Brandenburg
  • Formidable
  • Halifax
  • Sigma
  • Sentinel
  • Storm
  • Dreadnaught

Do vessels in your world have a class? Do they have sister ships?