NCC, NAR, NFT, NX, thoughts and notes

[TFVanguard]

Really, this is just a bunch of notes I'm thinking of as I'm compiling TOS-era ships from various RPGs.. it got me thinking on what the various 'designations' would be, and how they would fit in with the fleet.

Anyway, thoughts welcome.

NCC - Naval Construction Contract. This designation is primarily reserved for active Starfleet registries and ships designed and appropriated primarily for active duty. Example: NCC-1701 is the registry of the Constitution class Enterprise cruiser.

NAR - Naval Auxiliary Registry. This designation is reserved for starships which may be called upon for Starfleet duty, but otherwise operates in an independent manner. Many science ships, support ships, and the merchant marines have their vessels follow this registry pattern.

NX - Naval Experimental. This designation is reserved for engineering test-beds or starship prototypes reserved for trial-runs. In almost all cases, the NX designation is replaced with the NCC designation as soon as the vessel enters active service.

NSP—Naval Scientific Protectorate. These ships are scientific research ships almost exclusively employed by Vulcan. Unlike NAR-designation ships, they may not be called into Starfleet duty without express permission from the Vulcan consulate.

NDT—Naval Diplomatic Transport. Starfleet vessels designed for the shuttling of personnel, diplomats, and passengers over long distances. (This is a recent designation, replacing the NCC designation for personnel transport containers and similar ships.)

NFT—Naval Freight Transport. Starfleet vessels designed for the shuttling of freight and materials over long distances. (This is a recent designation, replacing the NCC designation for freight transport containers and similar ships.)

USS—United Starship, formerly United Spaceship. This designation refers to the christened name of all Federation starships.

SS—Spaceship or Starship. This designation refers to Federation vessels not a part of Starfleet. (It is often used by completely independent vessels operating within Federation space as well.)

(This leaves NGL, which seems to be Naval - Goods and.. something involving freight. I couldn't really tell what the lone ship with this designation was supposed to be, though, other than a frieghter...)

[Phoenix]

NGL = Naval, General Liquid

Tankers? that sounds llike a guess to me.

I like the others you've presented.

[TFVanguard]

Originally posted by Phoenix
NGL = Naval, General Liquid

Tankers? that sounds llike a guess to me.

I like the others you've presented.

That would make sense. The only NGL reference we got was in a background note in a single TNG episode, which only lists the ship as a 'frieghter', but a liquid tanker would make sense if frieght and people are taken care of already.

[skree]

I thought that NSP would stand for NAVAL SCIENTIFIC PROSPECTOR.

[TFVanguard]

Originally posted by skree
I thought that NSP would stand for NAVAL SCIENTIFIC PROSPECTOR.

I considered that, but it didn't look like the Vulcan ships were being used for resource exploitation, but more a 'pure' pursuit of science. Also, I could easily see that Vulcan would DEMAND some Federation ships that would be more-or-less immune to 'fleet' missions. (Hence, 'Protectorate', a signal to Federation officers that these ships are not to be pestered.)

It was a tough call figuring out what the 'P' would mean, though... I got the reccomendation for 'pointy ears' but I'm not sure that Nagora or any other fleet chief would ACTUALLY put that down... even if they were thinking it at the time.

[skree]

Well you could also say it could stand for NAVAL SCIENCE PROBE or NAVAL SURVEYOR PROBE

[TFVanguard]

Originally posted by skree
Well you could also say it could stand for NAVAL SCIENCE PROBE or NAVAL SURVEY PROBE.

Probe does seem to work... definately something for me to consider.

[REG]

NGL?

Naval General Load(er)

[Phoenix]

Naval Science Project...Patrol...Preliminary

[skree]

HGL= NAVAL, GENERIC LADING

lading(lay'ding) n. a cargo

[TFVanguard]

Originally posted by skree
HGL= NAVAL, GENERIC LADING

lading(lay'ding) n. a cargo

Interesting... but Naval: General Lading seems more appropriate. (I tend to wonder why it would be needed as a fleet designation at all, though, when general transport is already taken care of...)

[REG]

NSP?

Naval - Science Platform
Naval - Scientific Purpose (only)

[skree]

Since the NSP designation was used on a Vulcan vessel, the Apollo-class - T'PAU .. then perhaps the 'N' stands for NATIONAL or NATION.

[skree]

By the way I do like REG's idea of 'S' = science , and the 'P'= pla
tform. So NSP could be


N= NATIONAL

S=SCIENCE

P=PLATFORM

OR

N=NATIONAL

S=SURVEYOR

P=PLATFORM

If you were to ask me I like N.ational: S.cience P.robe. this sounds better.

[skree]

In regards to using generic in NGL
NAVAL: GENERIC LADING was because of the second definition in the The New American WEBSTER new handy college DICTIONARY 3rd Edition. which gives the defintion as; def. 2 ' general,not specific'.