Starfleet of the 2350s and a side-bar describing Starfleet classification schemes.
Rebirth: Building the Great Birds of the Galaxy by Pope Torak
In her victory speech of 2348 T'Pragh of Vulcan articulated the need for a peaceful Federation backed by a bold and capable Starfleet. The President-Elect stated, "...the greatest risk that now faces our Federation is complacency: the temptation to settle for security and safety when we must actively wage peace. The Federation Starfleet remains our greatest tool for waging peace, expanding the frontiers of our understanding and knowledge." Once in office T'Pragh's cabinet appointments made clear her intention to follow through with her rhetoric. T'Pragh restored the independence of Commander in Chief, Federation Starfleet as a cabinet level appointee. Admiral Mehdi retired to provide Starfleet's command structure with new blood.
With support from the President and the Federation Council, the new Commander in Chief, Admiral Sinek of Vulcan, pushed for a new generation of starship designs. Freed from the artificial size restrictions placed by Exploration Directive 902.3, the Galaxy-class Development Project was accelerated in 2351. The new spaceframe design called for a massive vessel of some 6,000,000 cubic meters. The great size of the Galaxy required extensive testing of the proposed structural, propulsion and powerplant advances. Admiral Theoderich Patterson of Utopia Planitia proposed the USS Nebula (NX-60202) serve as a technology testbed using a more conservative design.
Even as the first great dockyards capable of building ships over 5 million cubic meters were constructed over Mars orbit, derivatives of the Galaxy-class technology projects were put into production in smaller Starfleet dockyards. The 750,000 cubic meter quad-nacelled Cheyenne was envisioned as a next generation successor to the aging Constellation and the 1,100,000 cubic meter New Orleans brought a payload capacity equal to the Excelsior in a more modern warp field geometry. Proxima Shipyards received the bulk of orders for these starships, producing 6 Cheyennes and 15 New Orleans per year as steady replacements for Apollo, Wambandu, and Hokule'a class ships. Their smaller siblings of the Springfield class were produced in the smaller Tellar Prime Shipyards where the prioritizing of refits and rebuilding limited new builds to a scant dozen to make up for losses among the Merced fleet. Finally the largest derivative, the 1.75 million cubic meter Korolev was built at a rate of 4 per year at Andor Prime Fleetyards to fill the hole left by reduced Ambassador procurement.
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement during the Sinek Admiralty was the practice of allowing civilian contractor yards to submit new design derivatives. The extensive standardization and modularization of internal starship components allowed designers at Yoyodyne Fleet Systems, Federation Space Systems, Salazaar Shipyards, Mastercom Design Bureau and other contractors to experiment with novel warp geometry and payload configurations. Fleet commanders were given greater autonomy in requesting new ship types for their regions, fueling a competition among contractors to provide new starships.
Extensive collaboration between the civilian surveyors and the SCE resulted in a number of highly capable starships. The compact Sabre-class corvette combined novel high-speed/high-agility warp geometry with a payload capacity comparable to the Miranda-class, which could still be built in the smaller facilities used for Miranda production. Slightly larger dockyards that were too small for Excelsior production instead built Steamrunner-class starships, which combined tough structural construction with a hull volume of nearly 700,000 cubic meters. Perhaps the most notable design that came from this collaboration was the Akira-class starship. Envisioned as a leaner, meaner alternative to the Nebula-class, these cruisers mounted a comparable torpedo armament in a weapons pod and compensated for its smaller scientific payload with a large auxiliary craft bay capable of holding a diverse collection of runabouts.
Despite their somewhat unusual pedigree, these ships were procured in large numbers as Starfleet dockyards were focused on continuing modernization rebuilds of older ships and construction of new large vessels. The need to bolster numbers became an accute concern for Starfleet starting in 2352-2365 as successive crises arose with the Talarian Republic, Tzenkethi Coalition, Tholian Assembly, and Cardassian Union. By 2356, Starfleet found itself engaged in sustained hostilities across its Alpha Quadrant border. Starfleet building programs emphasized the new designs with high automation for use on these border skirmishes, while fleetyard built starships were assigned to deep space assignments further from Federation space.
By the end of T'Pragh's presidency in early 2357, Sol's major shipyards (Utopia Planitia, McKinley and San Francisco) had started series production of Nebula and Galaxy-class hulls, while Proxima, Tellar, and Andor steadily focused on the medium-weight derivatives of the Galaxy generation. Civilian shipyards had shifted their emphasis from fitting out existing Miranda and Excelsior hulls to producing new ships of the Sabre, Steamrunner, and Akira classes.
Starfleet Fleet Strength 2360
Excelsior: 650
Miranda: 992
Constellation: 15
Centaur: 149
Apollo: 0 (Retired from Service)
Hokule'a: 4
Wambandu: 9
Merced: 12
Renaissance: 4
Ambassador: 24
Sabre: 363
Steamrunner: 114
Norway: 37
Korolev: 18
Akira: 22
New Orleans: 72
Cheyenne: 28
Springfield: 54
Nebula: 8
Galaxy: 2
Misc. Ship Classes: 1,038
Total in Service: 3,615
Side Developments: Classification, Runabouts, Tactical Fighters, Yachts, Shuttles and More
The 2340s to 2350s featured several major advances in technology that fundamentally changed Starfleet's starship policy. Isolinear chip technology allowed smaller vessels to process full spectrum active sensors, while replicators enhanced mission endurance. In the 2350s Starfleet began fielding high-efficiency, high-output mini-warp cores. Replacing the large fusion powerplants and anti-matter fuel cells used by older smallcraft, the technology allowed the creation of the first series of practical sub-50m vessels with interstellar operations. The combination of these cores with isolinear technology to allowed small two to four man ships of 30-40m to replace the old multi-role scouts and outriders assigned to Starbases. The first generation of these vessels were officially classified as small starships, receiving their own registry numbers. By the mid-2350s all major Starbases in Federation space maintained at least a dozen of these craft, now nicknamed "runabouts".
Additional developments branched off from these vessels. In 2353 Starfleet commissioned the first Merlin-class scout, followed by a larger sibling - Osprey (known affectionately as "the Raider"), and a heavily armed attack fighter derivative -Peregrine. Capable of starship combat and support operations, these vessels were primarily assigned to high tension areas of the Alpha Quadrant border. There they proved more than a match for Tzenkethi, Cardassian and Talarian raiding squadrons.
With the expanding capabilities of sub-50m designs, the Sinek Admiralty chose to reorganize Starfleet's ship classification system. Older classifications based on naval nomenclature were abandoned in favor of a streamlined payload and endurance based system."Starship" still meant a vessel with a dilithium regulated matter/antimatter reactor and cruise velocity of 125c or higher, but the ability for even a 21m long runabout to meet both criteria rendered the word meaningless as a classification.
Advances in replicator technology allowed most starships cruiser size and larger to carry industrial replicators. This provided extensive flexibility for starships to customize their smallcraft designs to mission requirements. A late 24th century trend was the proliferation of shuttlecraft designs tailored to resemble their mother ship in details such as nacelle placement/design and general hull form. The more unique designs from this process include the Type 10 shuttlecraft first tested aboard USS Defiant and the Delta Flyer constructed aboard USS Voyager
The post-2354 classification system is as follows:
Smallcraft - Light single-purpose craft with payload capacity under 500 cubic meters. Can be built with onboard industrial replicators.
Shuttlepod - Sublight only capable transport smallcraft.
Shuttlecraft - e.g. Flyer, Argo. Warp capable transport smallcraft under 500 cubic meters.
Fighter - e.g. Peregrine, Valkyrie. Warp capable combat smallcraft under 500 cubic meters.
Runabout - e.g. Danube-class. Light modular starship with mission swappable components with a total payload capacity under 1,000 cubic meters.
Scout - e.g. Talon, Merlin. Light starship with permanent mission payload of enhanced superluminal sensor suite.
Tanker - e.g. Mediterranean. Medium to large starship with at least 150,000 cubic meters of fuel storage facilities and in-flight refueling capabilities.
Transport - e.g. Istanbul, Sydney. Medium to large starship with at least 50,000 cubic meters of cargo storage facilities and 4+ cargo transporters.
Tender - e.g. Deneb, Mulciber. Medium to large starship with at least 50,000 cubic meters of cargo storage facilities and at least 2 class I industrial replicators.
Surveyor - e.g. Nova, Oberth. Small to medium starship with enhanced superluminal sensor suite, light tactical systems, class I-B computer systems, standard laboratory and auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of less than 24 months.
Escort - e.g. Defiant, Gryphon. Small starship with enhanced or advanced tactical systems, class II computer systems, tactical sensor suite, minimal laboratory and auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of less than 24 months.
Corvette - e.g. Sabre. Small starship with multi-role capabilities, including standard superluminal sensor suite, standard lab facilities, class I-B computer systems, standard tactical systems, minimal auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of less than 12 months.
Cruiser - e.g. Excelsior, Korolev - Multi-role starship with standard superluminal sensor suite, standard lab facilities, class I-B computer systems, standard tactical systems and enhanced auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance greater than 12 months.
Light Cruiser - e.g. Miranda, Springfield. Small multi-role starship with standard superluminal sensor suite, class II computer systems, light lab facilities, standard tactical systems, standard auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance greater than 12 months, but typically not as well armed as a similarly sized corvette.
Scout Cruiser - e.g. Miranda - Antares configuration, Springfield - Chekov configuration. Small to medium starship with enhanced superluminal sensor suite, class I-B computer systems, standard lab facilities, light tactical systems, minimal auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance greater than 12 months. Similar in capability to surveyors, but somewhat larger.
Heavy Cruiser - e.g. Ambassador, Akira. Large starship with full multi-role capabilities, including standard superluminal sensor suite, enhanced lab facilities, class I-A computer systems, enhanced tactical systems, and enhanced auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance greater than 24 months.
Frigate - e.g. New Orleans, Prometheus. Medium starship with standard superluminal sensor suite, standard lab facilities, class I-B computer systems, enhanced tactical systems, and enhanced auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of 12 - 24 months. Typically considered ships with heavy cruiser capabilities but cruiser endurance.
Explorer - e.g. Galaxy, Nebula. Large starship with enhanced superluminal sensor suite, expanded lab facilities, class I-A computer systems, enhanced tactical systems, expanded auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of greater than 48 months.
Light Explorer - e.g. Intrepid, Cheyenne. Medium starship with enhanced superluminal sensor suite, enhanced lab facilities, class I-A computer systems, standard tactical systems, enhanced auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of greater than 36 months.
Tactical Explorer - e.g. Sovereign, Vesta. Large starship with enhanced superluminal sensor suite, expanded lab facilities, class I-A computer systems, advanced tactical systems, expanded auxiliary craft facilities. Mission endurance of greater than 36 months.
Classification Terminology
Sensor Systems
Light - Passive Optical, EM, Gravitic, Subspace Sensors
Tactical - Passive EM, Gravitic Sensors, Active Optical, Subspace Sensors
Standard - Active Optical, EM, Gravitic, Subspace Sensors, Passive Chronometric, Multi-spectral
Enhanced - Active Optical, EM, Gravitic, Subspace, Chronometric, Multi-spectral/Multiphasic Sensors
Computer Systems
Class I-A - Multiple Full Isolinear Computer Cores, Bioneural Network System
Class I-B - Single Full Isolinear Computer Core, Bioneural Network System
Class II - Single Full Isolinear Computer Core, Isolinear ODN System
Class III - Single/Multiple Isolinear Compact Computer Core, Isolinear ODN System
Lab Facilities
Minimal - Two standard general purpose laboratories. Minimum Library Computer Database.
Light - Two standard general purpose laboratories, one configurable special purpose laboratory. Full Library Computer Database.
Standard - Multiple standard general purpose laboratories, multiple configurable special purpose laboratories. Full Library Computer Database
Enhanced - Multiple standard general purpose laboratories, multiple configurable special purpose laboratories, one stellar cartography laboratory. Full Library Computer Database.
Expanded - Multiple standard general purpose laboratories, multiple configurable special purpose laboratories, stellar cartography laboratory, full-scale arboretum, cetacean operations. Full Library Computer Database
Tactical Systems
Light - Type VII Phasers. Light torpedo launchers or no projectile weapons.
Standard - Type VIII - Type IX Phasers. Medium Photon Torpedo Launchers.
Enhanced - Type X Phasers or Pulse Phasers. Heavy Photon Torpedo Launchers or Medium Quantum Torpedo Launchers. High density hull armor or ablative armor.
Advanced - Type X+ Phasers. Heavy Quantum Torpedo Launchers. High density hull armor or ablative armor.
Auxiliary Craft Facilities
Minimal - 2-4 shuttlepods. Minimal engineering capacity for repairs.
Standard - 4-6 shuttlepods, 2-4 shuttlecraft, 1 cargo shuttle. Full maintenance/repair bay.
Enhanced - 4-6 shuttlepods, 2-4 shuttlecraft, 1 cargo shuttle/runabout, 2 workbees.
Industrial replicator and full maintenance/repair bay.
Expanded - Multiple shuttlepods, shuttlecraft, runabouts, cargo shuttles, workbees and tactical craft. Multiple industrial replicator equipped maintenance/repair bays.
Side Bar 2: Starfleet Personnel Chart
The following is a list of Starfleet personnel assigned to various duties. Of particular note is the relative steadiness of the starship personnel requirements despite quadrupling of effective fleet strength and the brief dip in starbase/outpost staffing between 2295 - 2310 following the dismantling of military outposts and garrisons along the former Organian Treaty Zone.
Trends in personnel mobilization reflect changes in interstellar politics such as the Khitomer Accords, advances in automation (for fleet size), or technological progress such as replacing older Watchtower-class starbases with more modern Spacedock type facilities with substantially larger complements. What is perhaps surprising to the typical observer is the degree to which "Starfleet" is actually more of a shore-based organization. The vast majority of Starfleet personnel in fact never step aboard a starship during their enlistment.
2295
Starship Crews: 419,950
Border/Research Outposts: 562,500
Starbase Personnel: 740,800
Planetary Assignments: 3,840,000
Fleet Dockyard Assignments: 465,000
Total Active Personnel: 6,028,050
2315
Starship Crews: 532,150
Border/Research Outposts: 187,500
Starbase Personnel: 722,400
Planetary Assignments: 1,680,000
Fleet Dockyard Assignments: 480,000
Total Active Personnel: 3,602,050
2330
Starship Crews: 532,150
Border/Research Outposts: 187,500
Starbase Personnel: 862,800
Planetary Assignments: 2,640,000
Fleet Dockyard Assignments: 520,000
Total Active Personnel: 4,990,000
2340
Starship Crews: 744,650
Border/Research Outposts: 112,500
Starbase Personnel: 954,000
Planetary Assignments: 3,600,000
Fleet Dockyard Assignments: 540,000
Total Active Personnel: 5,951,150
2350
Starship Crews: 700,480
Border/Research Outposts: 75,000
Starbase Personnel: 1,054,000
Planetary Assignments: 3,840,000
Fleet Dockyard Assignments: 585,000
Total Active Personnel: 6,254,480
2360
Starship Crews: 702,180
Border/Research Outposts: 37,500
Starbase Personnel: 1,287,800
Planetary Assignments: 3,600,000
Fleet Dockyard Assignments: 615,000
Total Active Personnel: 6,242,480
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