Starship classification

Unofficially, many starships are classified by their design type. Although Starfleet tries not to classify their vessels in any such categorization, there have been numerous occasions where a Starfleet officer referred to Starfleet or enemy vessels by type during a fleet engagement, such as in Operation Return when Captain Sisko calls upon Galaxy wings to engage destroyers. 

Primary ships

 * Attack fighter
 * Battleship
 * Cruisers
 * Attack cruiser
 * Battle cruiser
 * Heavy cruiser
 * Light cruiser
 * Dreadnought
 * Destroyer
 * Escort
 * Explorer
 * Frigate
 * Interceptor
 * Starship

Support ships

 * Auxiliary craft
 * Captain's yacht
 * Escape pod
 * Runabout
 * Shuttlecraft
 * Shuttlepod
 * Blockade runner
 * Cargo drone
 * Courier
 * Freighter
 * Raider
 * Science vessel
 * Scout
 * Survey ship
 * Supply ship
 * Tanker
 * Transport
 * Colony ship
 * Tug

Other designations

 * Warbird
 * Bird-of-Prey:
 * Romulan Bird-of-Prey (22nd century)
 * Romulan Bird-of-Prey (23rd century)
 * Klingon Bird-of-Prey (22nd century)
 * Klingon Bird-of-Prey (23rd and 24th centuries)

Background
In some unclear terms, the designations for several starship classes have been the issue of some confusion. Some examples are:
 * The has sometimes been confused with the scout designation, though it is officially a science vessel rather than a scout.


 * Similarly, the starship has been classified in multiple categories as well, most notably as a heavy cruiser and as a battle cruiser.


 * The has also been the subject of some confusion. It may have been a new kind of heavy cruiser in its early life, then later called a medium cruiser, light cruiser, and possibly even a destroyer in its late life. Another possibility was being classified as an explorer, which is similar to a heavy cruiser. If this is still its unofficial designation, then it would contradict its current status, thus the confusion.


 * The was officially an explorer, but has also been referred to as a heavy cruiser (in one script reference). In an alternate, more militaristic, timeline, the equivalent of the Galaxy-class was classified as a battle cruiser.

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