Escorts
Escorts are, as their name indicates, primarily intended to escort transports, cargo convoys, and in some cases even larger Starfleer vessels. Design and production of them has increased markedly since the mid-24th century, when the increasing number of threats to the Federation prompted Starfleet to begin creating more Escorts. As more Escorts sailed out of the shipyards, Frigates were freed up for other duties.
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The standard Escort is a small, but relatively heavily armed, vessel which combines good speed with sufficient offensive power to deter many threats. Depending upon the availability of Frigates, they may also assume some Frigate duties in addition to their standard low-risk escort and patrol functions. Capella- and Polloux-class vessels are good examples of typical Escorts.
Heavy Escorts, such as the Frontier-class, are even more combat-oriented than the standard Escort. At most times they function as part of Starfleet's Perimeter Defense and Patrol forces. They often served as key components of attack wings during the Dominion War, and also proved their mettle during patrol of disputed regions during that conflict. The new Defiant-class Heavy Escort, which has served as a testbed for numerous experimental tactical systems, was an instrumental part of the Federation's victory in the Dominion War.
Light Escorts usually escort troop and personnel transports, and sometimes cargo transports as well, through potentially dangerous regions of space. During times of conflict, they serve as backups to front-line Perimeter Defense vessels, and also perform troop drops, landings in hot zones, and other planetary support functions. The Merced- and Nomad- ship classes are the most common examples of Light Escorts in the present fleet; a new Light Escort developed in conjunction with Starfleet's Rapid Response forces, the Umbria-class, is projected to enter service in the late 2370s (the Dominion War delayed its initial projected 2375 deployment).
Class Types
- Capella Class
- Defiant Class (Heavy)
- (examples within the SB118 fleet: USS Triumphant)
- Frontier Class (Heavy)
- Hellespont Class
- Merced Class (Corvette)
- Nomad Class (Corvette)
- Pinnacle Class (Heavy)
- Pollux Class
- Surak Class