Build:Frigates

2.1.5 Frigates

A Frigate is a medium-sized vessel designed for military, escort, patrol and rapid response missions. Although typically smaller than Cruisers, some Heavy Frigates are in fact larger than some Cruiser categories. Due to the Frigate’s general utility, Starfleet has often had difficulty finding a “niche” for it within the fleet, leaving it simply to fill the ranks of the various fleets and Sector Command ship rosters. In fact, as of 2375, more Frigates are in active service than any other category of ship except Cruisers.

In general, Frigates are the most overtly “military” vessels fielded by Starfleet (with the exception, perhaps, of some Heavy Cruisers and Heavy Escorts). They tend to incorporate the latest technological developments, particularly in the fields of tactical systems, shields, and sensors.
The basic Frigate, such as the New Orleans or Mediterranean class vessels, are among the oldest designs still being actively produced by Starfleet. Having proved themselves over decades, they need only basic modifications to take advantage of the latest technology to keep them up to speed with ships of more recent design. Frigates are often assigned to duties such as convoy support and defense, planetary defense, and evacuation. During the Dominion War, Frigates typically served in reserve line support positions or to anchor wings of Fast Frigates or smaller ships. Some newer Frigates, such as the Shir'Kahr class, are optimized for specific duties (in that case, scientific research and exploration). Similarly, the upcoming Aegean Development Project refits for the Mediterranean class will make it more suited for orbital and near-system support duties.

Fast Frigates, such as the Chimera and Norway class vessels, are the slightly smaller cousins of the Fast Cruiser. They typically serve as part of Starfleet’s various Perimeter Patrol and Rapid Deployment Forces, thus freeing up Escorts for the duties from which they derive their name. Thanks to the successful record amassed by the FF category, Starfleet has plans to produce many more to help patrol the Federation’s ever-expanding borders.

Heavy Frigates, as mentioned above, can be larger than some Cruisers. Historically, FH vessels have filled a support role for Cruisers, but some of the newer FHs, such as the Steamrunner and El Dorado classes, have sufficient tactical punch to anchor strike wings themselves. The proposed Oberon class FH has the most potent tactical package ever seen on a Frigate, surpassing the almost as heavily armed El Dorado class, thanks to Dominion War technological breakthroughs.

Light Frigates, including the Springfield and Ukora classes, are common sights along the Federation frontiers. Designed primarily for standard patrol duties in sectors with low to medium levels of activity, they are in many ways not very different from CLs.

Table

Table 2.1.4: Frigate Category Codes

Category	Classification Code
Frigate	FG
Heavy Frigate	FH
Light Frigate	FL
Fast Frigate	FF

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