posted
I realize he designed the ship, but how exactly can an Intrepid do all the things that an explorer listed in the TNG Tech. Manual has to do? The ship is simply too small (for 24th century needs) and undermanned. The old Connies had a crew of 400. Voyager? Less than half of that number...
At best, I'd say an Intrepid is a heavy scout or a destroyer.
Akira sized vessels would be cruisers. Excelsior, Nebula, and other larger vessels would be explorers. At least, in my opinion.
posted
In "Relativity", Voyager was called a "Short-Term Explorer". I don't recall there being anything about Voyager having Type-X phasers except from Sternbach.
A Type-X phaser would be first introduced on the Galaxy class, because it's the first starship large enough to handle them.
If you want to talk about a newer version of the same phaser, that's where you use Mark. Just for conjecture, a Type III phaser from TOS may be Mark V, and a Type III phaser from TNG might be Mark XII. The ones from Voyager are Mark XIII, and the ones from DS9/FC are Mark XIV. Every new "generation" of phaser rifle gets a higher Mark numbers, while the Type number remains the same.
-------------------- "Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting."
posted
Some time ago, a bunch of us came to, and generally stick to, the notion that a ship's type designation is independent of its size, and furthermore may change over time. For example, when the Excelsiors debuted they were probably classified as battleships, or perhaps even explorers (if what is said of the E-B in the TNG tech manual is true). Now, the Excelsiors are probably described as crusiers or heavy cruisers (I'm ignoring the DS9 manual). Ditto for the Nova-class science vessel seen in "Equinox" and the likely not-science vessel from "Endgame".
Furthermore, designations often vary within the ship's class at the same time - the Lantree, Br!ttain and Saratoga, for one, are transport, science vessel and probably medium cruiser or light explorer respectively, to say nothing of all the apparently combat-equipped Mirandas in DS9. Oberths see the same variety of uses in the TNG era.
So for Voyager, Explorer is hardly out of the realm of possibility for me, given all the stuff it seemed to have for that purpose. Also, the only other example of the Intrepid class we've seen is the USS Bellerophon, which was possibly serving as a diplomatic courier and while she was probably not built for that purpose (just being used as such), I'd imagine that an Intrepid being customized and used exclusively for diplomatic missions would not be impossible.
Mark
[ August 31, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Nguyen ]
posted
Mark's right, even though the Galaxy Class was labeled an Explorer, it was also a multipurpose starship. I'm sure Starfleet makes ships that are very versatile. Look at it this way, one mission of the Defiant had it go out to find the Dominion Founders and the next one had the ship chasing a comet.
-------------------- "It speaks to some basic human needs: that there is a tomorrow, it's not all going to be over with a big splash and a bomb, that the human race is improving, that we have things to be proud of as humans." -Gene Roddenberry about Star Trek
Registered: May 1999
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posted
While the statement "The Galaxy Class was the first ship large enough to handle Type X" is a half truth the real statement should be:
"The Galaxy Class was the first ship capable of supporting the power generation [and other subsystems] necessary to power Type-X phasers, as well as all other systems which must be maintained at the same time."
Whew, that's a mouthful.
-------------------- Later, J _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ The Last Person to post in the late Voyager Forum. Bashing both Voyager, Enterprise, and "The Bun" in one glorious post.
posted
Just in case you wanted to know how I feel about ship types...
I don't actually mean that size alone dictates the type of vessel a starship is, but it is a good marker. Remember also that the TNG manual says "while most starships may be adapted for a variety of mission types, the vessel type designations describe their primary purpose."
For a more detailed list of types and how I view them:
Explorer- This type of starship is able to perform a wide range of duties unlike the other specialized types. Saying a Galaxy-Class is an explorer and is also a multiple purpose vessel would be redundant. By its very nature, explorers are multiple purpose vessels. Many classes can fit the explorer role if outfitted accordingly, but specific classes have been designed as explorers such as the Galaxy-Class.
Cruiser- Unlike explorers, cruisers are generally smaller and have a shorter range. While their armament may be equal to ships of the line in the fleet, they lack the space for storage of additional crew, equipment, and power systems. Cruisers often form the backbone of the fleet. The Miranda-Class, in her prime, was a cruiser.
There are some more types such as scout and escort, but I think you get the picture. Also, remember than the TNG manual specifically says "the USS Enterprise is classified as an Explorer, the largest starship..."
Some things to think about.
Personally, from what we've seen of Voyager's performance, I would still say she is, at most, a cruiser, unless you can show me how she accomplised a duty only an explorer could do.
Last thing...short-term explorer? Why can't we just call the thing a cruiser?! Why would it be bad? Just because it's not as versatile as the E-D? I thought that was the whole point of using a smaller ship in VOY (to show how they had limitations unlike the E-D). I smell designer ego...
If you're lucky enough to check out the October issue of ST: The Magazine, it has an article about the E-E and how it is equipped with Type XII phaser arrays.
posted
ST:TM probably just took it off the E-E cutaway poster. I meant to pick up a copy of it today, maybe tomorrow instead.
-------------------- I'm slightly annoyed at Hobbes' rather rude decision to be much more attractive than me though. That's just rude. - PsyLiam, Oct 27, 2005.
Registered: May 1999
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posted
Actually I'm not sure anymore... I was quiet certain until I started looking that the TNG TM says the Type X was created for the Galaxy Class Project [if not specifically for the GCS then perhaps one of the GCS era ships?].
-------------------- Later, J _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ The Last Person to post in the late Voyager Forum. Bashing both Voyager, Enterprise, and "The Bun" in one glorious post.
posted
If they're an older design, shouldn't the Nebula class have had Type-X phasers before the Galaxys? After all, they've basically got the same saucer and there's certainly no difference in the appearance of their arrays.
posted
It should be noted the Tech. Manual never says the Type X phasers were designed for the GCS Project or any other ship. It simply says the Enterprise-D is outfitted with Type X arrays, the largest for starship use.
Registered: Jul 2000
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I thought that was the whole point of using a smaller ship in VOY (to show how they had limitations unlike the E-D). I smell designer ego...
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