So, I have come up with one possible theory that may appease both sides. This employs some canonical facts as well as information from “Ships of the Star Fleet,” one of the most popular books of “Trek Tech” fandom. My idea, more or less, keeps both fan data AND canonical data in continuity with what has been seen on screen.

My theory essentially concludes that refit 1701 was an Enterprise-class vessel and that the Enterprise-A is a Constitution-class vessel. This would coincide with the signage seen in TWOK as well as other canonical information that establishes the Enterprise-A as Constitution-class.

Let us begin in the “Ships of the Star Fleet” (a book that I would think every die-hard Star Trek fan owns). However, for those that are not familiar with this publication, a summary may be useful:

The book begins by listing the 12 original Constitution-class vessels, trying to maintain continuity with Kirk’s line in “Tomorrow is Yesterday” about 12 ships being built. To account for the 14 ships, as listed in Franz Joseph’s Blueprints and Technical Manual, 2 of these ships (the Constellation, NCC-1017, and the Republic, NCC-1371) are said to have been “refit” from an older ship class. This would help to explain why their registration numbers do not fit within the 1700 numbering scheme.

The book is also well organized in trying to “explain” the differences in the Enterprise as seen throughout the Original Series. For those of you that are unaware, there were basically three different versions of the TOS Enterprise filming model. (Please note, that in describing these variations, I will list only a two or three of the most obvious details, even though each time the model was actually modified, there were several things that were altered.)

There is “The Cage” version, with no lights, few details, and warp nacelle dome “spikes.” For the second pilot, lights were added to the model, along with a few additional details. This is sometimes referred to as the “Where No Man Has Gone Before” version. Lastly, the model was further modified with the “spinning” warp nacelle domes, a lower bridge profile, and a smaller deflector dish. This is commonly known as the “Production Version.”

“Ships of the Star Fleet” presents the “Where No Man Has Gone Before” version as the original Constitution-class configuration. (For some reason, they omit “The Cage” version.) “Ships” goes on to point out that the Potemkin is the only ship still in service (at the time of the Kirk/Spock movie era) in what is basically her original Constitution-class configuration. (pictured)

The “Production Version” is considered to represent the next refit, and is designated as the Bonhomme Richard-class (pictured) This is a tie-in to Frank Joseph’s Tech Manual, as well as the actual filming model.

A third refit is then listed as Achernar-class (pictured), and is also a tie-in to the information in Joseph’s Tech Manual and Blueprints. While the Enterprise in this specific configuration was never actually a reality, this configuration was presented to attempt to tie-in the Constitution-class linage to the famous Frank Joseph Blueprints.

Supposedly, as each “refit” was done and the Enterprise was brought up to Bonhomme Richard, and then Achernar specifications, the ship presumably remained a Constitution-class vessel (certainly, a popular concept among “Constitution-classers” ) , as evidenced by the “Achernar” specs being illustrated in Joseph’s “Constitution-class” Blueprints. (Although, it is important to note that Joseph’s “Constitution-class” Blueprints were published well before “Ships of the Star Fleet.” ) Anyone confused yet?

According to “Ships,” at the time of the Motion Picture, Starfleet began to assign ships for MAJOR refits, which was to cause them to be identified under new classes. (A popular concept among “Enterprise-classers.” ) According to “Ships,” the Enterprise, and several other ships of the Constitution/ Bonhomme Richard/ Achernar classes were assigned to be refit to Enterprise-class specs, with of course, the Enterprise being refit first. (Coinciding with events in TMP and our famous sign in TWOK.)

Additionally, some other ships of Constitution/ Bonhomme Richard/ Achernar classes were allocated to be refit to a class known as Constitution II. (pictured) The keen observer will note that this design is based on the Enterprise filming model that was to be used for the Star Trek: Phase II Series. Among the ships that are listed to be refit to this class, is none-other-than the infamous Yorktown. Furthermore, it is stated in the book that once the Potemkin is retired from service, the Constitution II-class will be re-designated Constitution-class. (Anyone see where I am going with this yet?)

The NCC-1701 “Enterprise-class” Enterprise (as I am designating it) was, of course, destroyed in The Search for Spock. This brings us up to the “whalesong crisis” in The Voyage Home and the events that followed.

Whether you are a fan of the Yorktown/Enterprise-A theory or not, it is a pretty safe bet that the E-A is NOT a brand new ship. I base this conclusion on time elements regarding Kirk and crew’s assignment to the “new” ship, and then their orders to return home for decommissioning. If it were a brand new ship, it would have been fairly ludicrous to decommission it after only 7 years. (Assuming Okuda’s time-line is correct for Star Trek IV through Star Trek VI.) After all, based on what we have seen in subsequent Star Trek, Starfleet certainly gets its mileage out of its ships!

So, let us assume that the Potemkin has been retired by this time and that Constitution II-class ships (such as the Yorktown) have been re-designated Constitution-class, as suggested by “Ships.” And, let us then say that the Yorktown got that “makeshift solar sail” working in TVH and returned for refit. Let us further assume that the Yorktown was either: (a.) Upgraded to Enterprise-class specifications; or (b.) Given exterior cosmetic changes that made her identical to Enterprise-class vessels. In any case, and for whatever reason, the Enterprise-A retained the Yorktown’s Constitution-class nomenclature.

Personally, I prefer explanation b, as this would make more sense as to why the designation was not changed to Enterprise-class. Additionally, this would help to explain why so many sets in TUC (which, of course, were redressed sets from TNG) differ so greatly from the sets constructed for TMP. The internal arrangements may differ so greatly between the Constitution (II)-class and the Enterprise-class, (i.e., the location of Main Engineering) that despite the Yorktown’s exterior cosmetic change to Enterprise-class specs, her differing internal arrangement causes her to remain in her previous class.

As some justification for this, “Ships of the Star Fleet” has already given us examples of ships that are almost identical in exterior appearance, but belong to differing classes for a variety of reasons. Such an example would be the Avenger-class (that’s Miranda-class for all of you non-Trek Tech folks) compared to the Cyane-class.

My theory is by no means simplistic, but hopefully it does help to bring two factions of Star Trek fans together. More or less, it “fits” canonical material such as the TWOK signage as well as Scotty’s TUC schematic. Furthermore, it fits a great deal of “Trek Tech” lore that has been so widely accepted for several years.

Actually, the bad news is for die-hard “Ships of the Star Fleet” fans. While much of the book’s material works in this theory, the section on the Enterprise II-class must be ignored, as this was intended to give information regarding the Enterprise-A’s origins and construction.

I think that my theory brings together the best of both worlds as much as logically possible. Take it or leave it, as even I myself have not quite decided just how “practical” the whole idea is. Any comments and/or suggestions are very welcome.

[ December 05, 2001: Message edited by: Commander Dan ]

Secondly, there's a much easier way to explain the ST2 label and the ST6 schematics.
After the refit the Enterprise was a Constitution class refit and this specific Constitution refit was called Enterprise-(sub)class. So, the Enterprise and the Enterprise-A are both, Constitution-class and Enterprise-class.

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Originally posted by Commander Dan:
Additionally, some other ships of Constitution/ Bonhomme Richard/ Achernar classes were allocated to be refit to a class known as Constitution II. (pictured) The keen observer will note that this design is based on the Enterprise filming model that was to be used for the Star Trek: Phase II Series.
[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Commander Dan ]

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Too bad whoever drew that up didn't actually attempt to capture the actual lines of the Phase II model. The saucer and secondary hull are TMP style, not Phase II.

Starfleet wants a large number of new heavy cruisers, however they are unable to accept to have a large amount of ships built and by the time the last is built it is obosolete by the next generation of starship design. What they came up with is a series of 3 classes each the same but different in some way to incorporate the latest technology. The Constitution class is designed and built in between the 2240-2245. At this time the Bonhomme Richard sub-class is designed and started to be built. As the new Bonhomme Richard class comes out, the older Constitutions are at the end of their 5 years missions and are put in drydock as the Bonhomme Richard class filler their place. Then in 2255-2260 the last of the series is designed and built, the Achernar sub-class. The Bonhomme Richard is put in drydock as the Achernar are built. The Constitutions newly refitted from their Bonhomme Richard class starts their 2nd 5 years mission. Then by 2260 its their turn to go to drydock for their refits. Each class are different from each other and can be considered the saem whole class but different sub-classes. (Side note I got this concept from the US Navy. In the years 1912-1920's, the US Navy had a standard battleship tpye called the "Standards." These ships are differed from each other but so differently where they were a whole new battleship. The Pennsylvania class is slightly larger than the Neveda clas which was the first of the standards. The Pennsylvania class had 12 14" guns and the Nevada had 10. The New Mexico and the Tennessee were only different from having the clipper bow and slightly different armoring schemes. The Colorado class were armed with 8 16" which were superior to the 14" guns but they weighed the same. Each of these classes were rated at 21 knots and 13.5" armor belt and 3-4" armored deck. Thus where the rest of the world's navies had a wide range of ships that varied from 21-32 knots. The US Navy wished the enemies navy come to them where the US fight on there own terms with the combined might of the US Navy behnd it. Whereas the other navies of world must stay at the same speed of the slower classes which come to about the same speed of 21 knots, thus no speed advantage if they wanted to fight the US on equal terms.)

Then with no heavy cruiser designs through 2260-2270, the current Consitutition class and sub-classed were becoming obsolete with the latest technological advances that made huge leaps in power. The first ship to test these designs was the USS Decatur which tested new warp engines. At a fraction of the weight and size of the Constitution classes, it was overall superior to them in every way. First it was thought that they could build a whole fleet of these ships but it became very costly. So instead in a very sneaky move Starfleet drydocked a couple of Consititutions class ships for a major refit to Decatur standards. The first the Enterprise porved so valuable that almost the whole fleet of Consitution class ships were brought in to be refitted to Enteprise standards. In a way the Enterprise was a whole new class but some of the fleet still called them Consitution class ships.

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It is no different from the case of the Defiant, whose designers designated it a Valiant-class vessel

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[ December 07, 2001: Message edited by: Timo ]

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Later in the book, a blueprint is shown, and while the caption claims it
"has never been published before", fans of "SotSF" immediately recognize
it as the "Constitution (II)" class shown above. The torpedo launchers
are where one would expect. "SotSF" reproduces this design accurately

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Originally posted by mrneutron:
One other thing on the subject of Connie refits....but no one has ever mentioned the weirdness of the nacelle aft ends seen in the final shots of The Cage (not the Menagerie) where there's a rectangular dohickie in the place where eventually the "ball" would appear at the end of the each nacelle.

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