Build:Klingon Classifications
2.3 Klingon Classifications
For centuries, the species of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants have known, and often feared, Klingon starships. The appearance of a Klingon battle cruiser or bird of prey on ships’ or planets’ sensors has signaled the beginning of invasions, the arrival of “pacification forces” sent by the High Council, or a “showing of the colors” intended to keep the peace or scare off some perceived enemy. With their powerful ships, the Klingons have expanded the boundaries of their empire, kept tight control over their territories, and achieved their greatest victories.
During the 23rd century, the Klingons had relatively few differing types of vessels, most of which did not vary significantly from one another. But the changing political and economic climate within the Empire since 2293 has allowed the Klingons to expand the size and diversity of their fleets tremendously. To some observers, it seems as if each of the Great Houses has created its own unique ships, building vessels designed to take advantage of their resources and favored tactics. In fact, most Klingon ship designers work from blueprints widely available throughout the Empire for years, modifying the standard designs to suit their (and their employers’) own preferences.
Thanks to their alterations, the ships may appear slightly different from House to House, but for the most part they have the same capabilities. A Goralis-class Light Cruiser built by the House of Chang may not look exactly the same as one built by the House of Toghuss, but it typically has the same systems (perhaps arranged slightly differently within the hull) and the same tolerances. On the other hand, the ongoing political and military competition between the Great Houses sometimes spurs each House to try to develop its own “superior” ships by devising just the right series of modifications to basic ship types.
But from House to House, any Klingon who builds a ship almost certainly focuses on military missions when designing it. Unlike Starfleet ships, which the ASDB designs to fill many different (and mostly non-military) roles, the Klingons create virtually all of their vessels with military uses in mind. Even civilian ships (such as freighters or transports) have much stronger shields and heavier weapons than comparative Federation, Cardassian, or Romulan ships. In times of war, owners of civilian vessels can quickly convert them into military ships with just a few upgrades and other modifications, thus giving the Empire a “shadow fleet” that some military analysts overlook when evaluating its strength. Although some experts consider the Klingon obsession with matters military a weakness, any officer who’s faced a Klingon ship on the field of battle understands Klingon ship design wisdom all too well.
Klingons organize their ships into ten classes defined by size, firepower, systems capabilities, and other performance factors. From largest/most powerful to smallest/least powerful (generally speaking), the classes are: Battleships; Warships; Cruisers; Frigates; Fast Attack Ships; Destroyers; Escorts; Scouts; Specialized; and Support/Auxiliary.
It should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Klingon culture that the Klingons build few ships for exploration, science and research, or similar endeavors. The larger Klingon ships do have some laboratory facilities, of course, but the Klingons always regard such functions as secondary to military missions. Medical vessels are unheard of in the Klingon fleets; the sickbays on Klingon ships are so primitive that injured Klingons usually have to depend as much on their own recuperative powers as the abilities of their ships’ doctors.
Section Contents
- Battleships
- Warships
- Cruisers
- Frigates
- Fast Attack Ships
- Destroyers
- Escorts
- Scouts
- Specialized, Support and Auxiliary Vessels
- Starship Names