Nova-class: Explorer to Destroyer?

[Captain Seafort]

On the OP - we saw a highly-modified Nova in "Endgame" that was able to take on two Negh'vars. At some point, Starfleet must've seen a reason, or had sufficient tech to up-gun at least some of the Novas.

The technology gap between the late 24th century and the Endgame tech is such that Kim's Rhode Island could easily have been just as undergunned by the standards of its time as the Equinox was in its time. It might even have been a completely different class, analogous to the modern Spruance/Ticonderoga classes.

Due to its size wouldt it be a Frigate instead of a Destroyer?

Size isn't really a consideration when it comes to the frigate/destroyer definition. The two most common rules-of-thumb are role and sophistication - destroyers tend to be air-defence ships, while frigates are ASW, and the latter tend to be cheaper, to allow for greater series production. The roles can blur a bit however, and RN frigates tend to be much closer to destroyers in terms of cost and complexity than US ones.

[Sionnach Glic]

So how would you differentiate in space?

[Captain Seafort]

So how would you differentiate in space?

Probably by going back to their old wartime roles - make destroyers fleet units and frigates escorts. The Nova, given a decent armament, would probably be best in the latter role - it's too slow to serve in a warp 9+ battlefleet.

[KuvahMagh]

Personally I would call it a Corvette, cheap and quick to build, not very effective but its better than armed merchants. Use them for escorts or if you can get their speed up as Scouts since they no doubt carry good sensor equipment.

[Captain Seafort]

Personally I would call it a Corvette, cheap and quick to build, not very effective but its better than armed merchants. Use them for escorts or if you can get their speed up as Scouts since they no doubt carry good sensor equipment.

Going with the WW2 analogy, frigates and corvettes are effectively the same type of ship - the former being a larger, and therefore faster, version of the latter. Which the Nova should be classed as depends on what else the Feds are using as escort - if it's something BoP size or smaller, then they'd be the corvettes and the Novas would be frigates.

[KuvahMagh]

Personally I would call it a Corvette, cheap and quick to build, not very effective but its better than armed merchants. Use them for escorts or if you can get their speed up as Scouts since they no doubt carry good sensor equipment.

Going with the WW2 analogy, frigates and corvettes are effectively the same type of ship - the former being a larger, and therefore faster, version of the latter. Which the Nova should be classed as depends on what else the Feds are using as escort - if it's something BoP size or smaller, then they'd be the corvettes and the Novas would be frigates.

Well the Defiant is officially classed as an Escort but it seems to be more involved in Fleet Actions and is only rarely seen doing Convoy or Escort work. I imagine they would use Mirandas, New Orleans and such for their main escorts, not to mention the numerous other one off small frigate/destroyer type ships that we have seen which could fill the role as well. Put simply Starfleet is not well suited for a War, they are improperly organized, do not have the equipment and are likely forced to improvise to the point where it seriously threatens their operations. Of course we all already know this...

[Tsukiyumi]

The technology gap between the late 24th century and the Endgame tech is such that Kim's Rhode Island could easily have been just as undergunned by the standards of its time as the Equinox was in its time. It might even have been a completely different class, analogous to the modern Spruance/Ticonderoga classes...

Fair points. It could indeed be a different class.

[KuvahMagh]

It was also on a 2 year mission deep space mission which points to either a modification or new class that appears similar but not the same, the 'nose' of the saucer was different and it was missing the fins on the Nacelles.

[Mikey]

Good point. The original Nova was hardly outfitted for a mission of that duration.

[KuvahMagh]

Its unfortunate that they didn't use a different type of ship in Endgame, it was clearly meant to be different but the budget no doubt got in the way.

[Mark]

It's not unreasonable for them to be two different classes all together. After all, the Miranda and the Soyuz classes LOOK very similar, don't they?

[KuvahMagh]

True but we have no idea the role the Soyuz plays in Canon, we know that the Nova was a Science ship while the Uber Nova goes on 2 year long deep space missions, with Kim in command it is likely they are science/exploration, we also know that it can take on a pair of Nagh'Var look alikes. The two ships are virtualy identical in appearance, I gues what I'm saying is that they should have used a different model or made canon reference to the fact that it is different internally and only shares its appearance, I mean after all the Nova already looks like a miniture Soveriegn so its possible they could create another, similar design as part of this lineage...

[Mark]

Agreed. I was referring only to the actual appearance of the Miranda and the Soyuz. But I DO agree with your point they should have used something different

[Sionnach Glic]

Aye, it would have cleared up a lot of confusion. They probably didn't think viewers would notice it's the same ship.

[KuvahMagh]

Aye, it would have cleared up a lot of confusion. They probably didn't think viewers would notice it's the same ship.

I have no doubt that they knew it would cause a few problems and really outside of this debate it hasn't stirred up very much at all. I'd say they just didn't care at that point, they were ending the show and had already made so many errors that when it came to the choice of getting it right or doing it on budget they just went with the budget.