Universal Standard of Starship Classification (Cosmoria)

The following is an intergalactically-approved scale for measuring the size, capacity and complexity of starships.

IMPORTANT: The sizes of the ships types might be subject to change

Military Ships

Military ships are often classified based on their length and specific function. While there is a bit of overlap, especially concerning smaller ships like corvettes and frigates, when their functions are clearly defined then classifying them is easy.

Shuttles

These small ships are not particularly fit for combat roles, although they can be fitted with weapons should the need arise.  Their primary role is to act as a way for officers and other high-ranking personnel to get from point A to point B in a short amount of time. They can also be used as small-scale carge transports.

• Length - Variable, often 20 to 60 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Interplanetary/Ship-to-ship transport, Emergency fighting vehicles

Starfighters

Starfighters are small, nimble ships designed for combat in the vacuum of space and in a planet's atmosphere. They often have the most varied designs out of any ship type, ranging from sleek, agile interceptors to clunky, heavily-armed bombers.

• Length - Variable, often the same as shuttles
• Primary Role(s) - Flexible, Air/Space superiority

Patrol Craft

The smallest type of “true” warship, patrol craft are an essential security force for any nation.  These ships are typically used in border security and search-and-rescue operations, and in these fields they perform admirably.  However, their relative frailty when compared to larger warships means that they don’t really see a lot of action in frontline combat.

• Length - 150 to 250 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Border patrol, Search-and-rescue, Orbital Defense

Corvettes

A step up from patrol craft, corvettes are usually seen as the scouting force for an interstellar navy.  Their high speeds typically see them used as anti-fighter or fast attack ships, rushing in and out before other ships have the chance to fire back.  However, the captain of a corvette must remember not to get cocky, lest they be on the receiving end of an enemy ship’s guns.

• Length - 250 to 400 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Fast-attack, Anti-starfighter, Patrol, Escort, Scouting

Frigates

Perhaps the most numerous type of warship in the universe. If there’s a role to fill, someone’s built a frigate for it.  While they are usually used to escort larger ships, frigates can be outfitted to perform many different roles, such as long-range bombardment, electronic warfare, close-range brawling, and even as a mobile medical facility.

• Length - 400 to 550 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Flexible, Escort, Patrol

Destroyers

Like the smaller corvettes, destroyers are usually not well-armored, and rely on their speed to avoid being gunned down.  However, instead of targeting fighter squadrons, destroyers are used to take out enemy warships from long range with powerful weapons such as torpedoes, missile swarms, and sometimes even unmanned drones packed with explosives.

• Length - 550 to 650 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Anti-Warship, Fast Attack

Cruisers

Like their smaller counterparts, the frigates, cruisers are general-purpose warships and can be used for a wide variety of combat roles.  However, their increased size and capabilities means that they can be used as command ships for a fleet should the need arise, although larger fleets will often have multiple cruiser battlegroups.

• Length - 650 to 900 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Flexible, Escort, Flagship

Battlecruisers

While regular cruisers are usually balanced in most aspects, battlecruisers emphasize speed and firepower at the cost of protection.  These ships are primarily used to hunt down faster ships and are best described as “glass cannons”. They are able to dish out plenty of firepower, but aren’t really able to take much damage in return. This limits their effectiveness in prolonged battles.

• Length - Same size as cruisers
• Primary Role(s) - Warship hunter, Fast Attack, Flagship

Battleships

Often referred to as the most iconic type of warship, battleships have certainly earned their fame.  With their immense size, powerful weapons, and heavy armor, these vessels are often in the thick of the action, blasting away at any foe who dares to approach them.  Unfortunately, their low speed tends to make it difficult to chase down enemy ships and avoid attacks.

• Length - 900 to 1,200 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Close-range brawling, Bombardment, Flagship

Carriers

Packed full of starfighters ready to deploy at a moment’s notice, carriers act as the defining factor in any space battle.  However, once depleted of their combat squadrons, carriers tend to find themselves somewhat defenseless, as any weaponry they have will be more suited to repelling enemy fighters than larger warships.

• Length - 1,200 to 1,800 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Starfighter transport/deployment, Power projection, Flagship

Transport Ships

Every nation needs a way for its military to get around quickly, and transport ships fulfill that role.  Due to them carrying large quantities of soldiers, vehicles, supplies, and other equipment, these ships are high-priority targets, and as such must be heavily guarded.

• Length - Variable, smaller transports might be the size of frigates, while larger transports may be as big as battleships
• Primary Role(s) - Transportation of soldiers, vehicles, supplies etc.

Supercarriers

TBA

• Length - 1,800 to 2,500 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Starfighter transport/deployment, Power projection, Mobile headquarters

Dreadnoughts

The largest type of standardized warship ever constructed, dreadnoughts are an imposing presence on the battlefield.  A single one of these ships is capable of wiping out an entire enemy fleet while also withstanding immense punishment. They are often the pride of a nation's fleet, and many admirals have dreadnoughts as their personal ships.

• Length - 2,500 to 5,000 meters
• Primary Role(s) - Flagship, Intimidation, Fleet killer

Titans

The

• Length - 5,000 meters and above
• Primary Role(s) - Flagship, Mobile Headquarters, Orbital Bombardment, Intimidation, Fleet killer

Moonships

Moonships, also called Worldships, are the largest starships ever to be built, if they can even be called that. They are extremely rare and are mainly used for two specific purposes - intimidation and the complete destruction of enemy systems. They are essientially just moons or small planets that have been equipped with FTL drives powerful enough to allow the "ship" to move. They almost never use chemical or nuclear propulsion, prefering to jump straight into an enemy system and catch itself in the orbit of the system's star. They can even use their tremendous size as a weapon, as their gravity is enough to greatly alter the orbits of objects around it. A good example of one is the Moonship Enormous which is so big that it has to be kept on the edges of planetary systems, even in interstellar space if the system is too compact.

• Length - Usually 3,000 to 15,000 kilometres on the longest axis, no known size limit
• Primary Role(s) - Impressing/Intimidating planetary populations, Invasion/Destruction of planetary systems

Non-Military Ships

Unlike military ships, these craft are classified based largely on function, with overall size not being much of a consideration.

Research Ships

Research ships are designed to travel across the universe performing all sorts of experiments (sometimes unethical ones) to further the knowledge of sapient beings everywhere. They are often fitted with cutting-edge equipment in order

• Length - Variable, usually the size of frigates
• Primary Role(s) - Mobile laboratory, Housing of scientific samples

Cargo Freighters

TBA

• Length - Variable, smaller freighters might be the size of cruisers, while larger freighters may be as big as supercarriers
• Primary Role(s) - Large-scale transportation of cargo across the universe

Construction Ships

TBA

• Length - TBA
• Primary Role(s) - Construction of starships, space stations, and other structures in space

Luxury Ships

The rich of the universe often like to let people know about their wealth. Hosting parties on the most extravagant ships they can buy is a surefire way of communicating their social status to others. These ships often come with features such as elaborate dining halls, ornate servant automatons, and other rare amenities.

• Length - Variable, often the size of corvettes
• Primary Role(s) - Entertainment, Hosting events, Recreation

Mining Ships

TBA

• Length - Variable, smaller mining ships might be the size of frigates, while larger mining ships may be as big as battleships
• Primary Role(s) - Extracting valuable materials from asteroids, ice belts, gas clouds, etc.

Salvaging Ships

TBA

• Length - Variable, but often the size of frigates
• Primary Role(s) - Recovery of valuable objects, Scraping obsolete/destroyed ships,

Exploration Ships

TBA

• Length - Variable, but often the size of cruisers
• Primary Role(s) - Exploration of uncharted space, Analysis of forgotten ruins

Colony Ships

TBA

• Length - Variable, but often the size of supercarriers
• Primary Role(s) - Colonization of uninhabited worlds, Terraforming