Greetings sentient and welcom to the Starships journal.

Here, you will find information on the various catgeories and subtypes of the starships within Infinite Universe.

Please Note: When attempting to determine a category(superlightweight, ultralightweight, etc) for your craft the length paramaters refer to the longest measured distance of the vessel.

Superlightweight Starships: 0-50 Feet Long

Launch - A launch is a shuttle designed simply to move small amounts of people from one point to another. Launches are rarely armed or armored. Evacuation pods and lunar landers fit into this category.

Courier - A courier is capable of extended operation away from its base (frequently a larger ship). Many low-end star yachts fall into the courier category.

Interceptor - Designed for action against other small craft, interceptors lack the punch to be effective against large targets unless they’ve been modified to carry warheads

Fighter - The fighter is similar to the interceptor, but with superior engines, armaments, and defenses at the cost of a larger size and slightly reduced speed.

Bomber - The bomber is similar to the Fighter, though it has been outfitted with heavier main weaponry and a larger cargo bay to accommodate its vicious payloads.

Name: Icarus Class Interceptor
Subtype: Interceptor
Length: 10 Feet
Width: 20 Feet
Height: 10 Feet
Weight: 22,000 Pounds
Hull Composition: Lightweight Composite Laminate
Weaponry: 2 Gauss Guns (Fire-Linked; Forward Facing; Hemispherical Range of Motion)
Propulsion System: Thruster, Sublight Stellar
Engine: Fusion Generator
Communication System: Radio, Tele-video communication
Sensor Array: Class I (This array includes radar, hi-res video, and infrared heat sensor units - Ascertain the location and type[superlight, ultralight, and so on) of all visible ships on the battlefield. Identify and ascertain the location of all visible hazards on the battlefield (such as asteroids and mines). Analyze the chemical composition of a planet’s atmosphere (the ship must be orbiting the planet].)
Appearance: The Icarus class interceptor is of a sleek, simple design. The body of the ship which contains the cockpit and main engines is bullet-like in shape. From the nose of the cockpit both of the crafts two wings may be seen caving inward and then slowly curving downward and around themselves, widening over approximately 7.5 feet. Housed within the downward curved recess of either wing is a single heavy gauss gun with a hemispherical firing arc. Each is 10 feet long, surrounded by cryogenic cooling systems in order to prevent overheating in atmospheric environments.
Military: Interstellar Coalition
Miscellaneous: Sensor Jammer

Ultralightweight Starships: 51-250 Feet Long

Orbital Shuttle - An orbital shuttle can haul people and light equipment into orbit and return safely to the planet below, but it is not suitable for long-range space travel to other planets or star systems.

Ultralight Freighter - Fast freighters are commercial starships generally employed in frequent runs, such as delivering supplies to small outposts and bases, or occasional runs of high-bulk cargo, such as heavy machinery or vehicles. Fast freighters often carry some minor defensive armament

Reconnaissance Vessel – Reconnaissance Vessels are designed to cross great distances and locate enemies quickly without engaging in serious combat

Escort - Escorts are a long-range patrol craft employed for various duties, including the protection of merchant ships and remote bases. Gunships or missile boats could qualify as escorts

Ultralight Carrier - The ultralight carrier has the ability to launch tactical strikes with extreme efficiency while upon the battlefield, in the form of a small number of interceptors and other superlight spacecraft, such as mechs. Unlike their larger counterparts, ultralight carriers are generally heavily armored, and decently armed, because of their extreme proximity to the battlefield.

Lightweight Starships: 251-500 Feet Long

Corvette - Essentially a larger version of the escort ship, the corvette serves as both a gunship and fleet escort. Of the military vessels designed to operate independently in wartime, corvettes are the smallest.

Frigate - A military vessel used for scouting and escort duties, the frigate is primarily intended to act as a screen for larger vessels against attacks by small craft.

Destroyers - Destroyers take their name from the torpedo-boat destroyers of the late 19th century. They are integral to the defense of a task force, screening it against small craft and attack ships. Destroyers are often armed with one or two bombs or missiles useful against much larger ships. A destroyer is usually about 450 to 600 feet long and masses about 8,000 tons. It carries a crew of 150 to 200.

Hauler - The hauler is a space-going tug that drags heavy, nonpowered loads and modular cargo containers, though they have precious little cargo space of their own. Haulers are fitted with big power plants and huge engines, at the expense of crew quarters and armaments.

Light Carrier - The light carrier has the ability to launch tactical strikes while upon the battlefield, in the form of a decent number of interceptors fighters, and bombers Unlike their larger counterparts, light carriers are generally heavily armored, and decently armed, because of their proximity to the battlefield.

Mediumweight Starships: 501-1000 Feet Long

Cruiser - The cruiser is a warship that serves several roles. It may be part of a task force, escorting capital ships or laying mines. It may operate independently as a scout and raider. Conversely, it may serve in diplomatic and scientific tasks. Light cruisers frequently have outstanding endurance and can operate with little or no resupply for months on end. A cruiser hull could serve equally well as an escort carrier or assault transport.

Freighter - Bulk freighters usually carry cargo in bulk containers, and carry out regular runs between densely populated systems.

Clipper - This small liner or personnel transport is intended for passenger use, as opposed to heavy cargo. Clippers are frequently fitted with top-of-the-line engines for the best possible speed

Assault Cruiser - These armored cruisers often serve as the centerpiece of raiding or patrolling task forces, especially if heavier warships are unavailable. Many assault cruisers are configured for task force command functions; the command cruiser is a common variant of this hull type.

Carrier – The carrier has the ability to launch significant attacks from several thousands of miles away, in the form of significant numbers of interceptors, fighters and a small compliment of bombers. Most Carriers are lightly armed, as they rely on their escorting vessels and payload of fighters to defend them against attack.

Heavyweight Starships: 1000-1750 Feet Long

Liner - This is a full-sized passenger ship. Although any vessel this size can’t avoid carrying some cargo, the liner specializes in moving a large number of passengers, usually in varying degrees of luxury

Tanker - A tanker is a large starship intended for the transport of large quantities of gases or liquids. It can be adapted for other forms of cargo storage, but most ships of this size carry water, hydrogen, petrochemicals, or oxygen.

Battleship - The mainstay of many spacefaring navies, the battleship is heavily armed and armored, although not very maneuverable. Battleships serve as the backbone of any battle fleet.

Heavy Transport - The heavy transport is designed to move great amounts of specialized cargo such as bulk freight, containerized freight, or roll-on/rolloff vehicle storage.

Battle Cruiser - The battle cruiser is a formidable warship that sacrifices weight of armor in exchange for speed. Its heavy weapons can make short work of any smaller vessel, and it can usually outrun anything big enough to stand up to it in a fair fight.

Heavy Carrier - The heavy carrier has the ability to launch devastating attacks from millions of miles away, in the form of large numbers of interceptors, fighters and bombers. Most heavy carriers are lightly armed, as they rely on their escorting vessels and payload of fighters to defend them against attack.

Ultraheavyweight Starships: 1751-2750 Feet Long

Colony Ship - This massive vessel is designed to haul everything a new colony needs to get started. Its cavernous storage decks can accommodate thousands of colonists with heavy machinery, prefabricated buildings, equipment, and supplies throughout the long trip to a new world.

Dreadnought - The mightiest ships found in the battle lines of a stellar navy, dreadnoughts are titanic vessels armed with awesome firepower and virtually impregnable defenses.

Fleet Carrier - The fleet carrier has the ability to launch devastating attacks from several millions of miles away, in the form of large numbers of interceptors, fighters, and even a compliment of ultralightweight vessels. Most fleet carriers are lightly armed, as they rely on their escorting vessels and payload of fighters to defend them against attack.

Superheavyweight Starships: 2751+ Feet Long

Star Freighter - The largest of the starships built for routine commercial purposes, the star freighter can be modified to serve as a super-tanker or super-transport

Star Carrier - A larger version of the fleet carrier, the star carrier serves as a mobile base for smaller craft.

Flag Ship – This heavily armored vessel is always equipped with a fear inspiring compliment of armaments. Only interstellar powers have access to Flagships, and even they only have one.