Category:Active Frigate Classes

This category lists the currently active frigate classes.

Frigate

1. Dedicated medium defense and escort starship, larger than corvette but smaller than destroyer. Often capable of transatmospheric operations. Designation used until late 22nd century. Classes include Iceland and Mustang.
2. A common designation for defense and escort starships ranging from light frigates (small patrol and escort ships typically lacking torpedo armament) to heavy frigates (versatile multipurpose ships similar to light cruisers), used in late 23rd and early 24th century. Light and medium classes include Loknar, Daran and Ianar, with numerous subclasses. Heavy classes include Surya, Coventry and Miranda, with numerous subclasses.
3. Dedicated medium defense starship, typically carrying mission gear in switchable modules. Designation used in mid- to late 24th century, until merged with light cruiser. Classes include Miranda, Renaissance, Springfield, New Orleans and Saber.

When optimized for planetary assault support, these vessels are often designated strike frigates. Ships initially designed as frigates but later adopted for other missions are sometimes classified as e.g. medical frigates or survey frigates, creating an apparent contradiction in terms. Still, these designations are more informative than mere ‘medical ship’ or ‘surveyor’ in these cases, since the modified frigates usually retain at least the main phaser armament and thus have significant defensive capabilities. Examples include Soyuz class as well as several less drastic modifications of Miranda frigates.

Recognized line variants include: heavy, light, strike and survey.