Escorts: Difference between revisions

{{Ship Types}}

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, [[Starfleet Starships: Frigates|Frigates]] were freed up for other duties.

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 [[ma:Dominion_War|Dominion War]], and also proved their mettle during patrol of disputed regions during that conflict. The new ''[[ma:Defiant_class|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 ''[[ma:Merced_class|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 [[Hazard Teams|Rapid Response forces]], the ''Umbria''-class, is projected to enter service in the late 2370s (the [[ma:Dominion_War|Dominion War]] delayed its initial projected 2375 deployment).

==Class Types==