Lead ship
Encyclopedia
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class
of ship
s all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.
The second and later ships are often started before the first one is completed, launched and tested. Nevertheless, building copies is still more efficient and cost-effective than building prototypes, and the lead ship will usually be followed by copies with some improvements rather than radically different versions. The improvements will sometimes be retrofit
ted to the lead ship. Occasionally, the lead ship will be launched and commissioned for shakedown
testing before following ships are completed, making the lead ship a combination of template and prototype, rather than expending resources on a prototype that will never see actual use.
s, whose lead ship was the , or defining a theme by which vessels in the class are named, as in the Royal Navy
's frigate
s, named after tribes of the world, such as . If a ship class is produced for another fleet, the first active unit will become the lead ship for that fleet; for example, the frigates are known as the in the Royal Australian Navy
. Larger civilian craft, such as the Sun Princess, the lead ship of the Sun-class
cruise ship
s, sometimes follow this convention as well.
of Star Trek
(although in Star Trek the term pathfinder is also occasionally used in lieu of lead ship) and the Imperial-class Star Destroyer appears in Star Wars
.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.
Overview
Large ships are complicated internally and may take as much as five to ten years to construct. Any changes or advances that are available when building a ship are likely to be included, so it is rare to have two that are identical. Constructing one ship is also likely to reveal better ways of doing things and even errors.The second and later ships are often started before the first one is completed, launched and tested. Nevertheless, building copies is still more efficient and cost-effective than building prototypes, and the lead ship will usually be followed by copies with some improvements rather than radically different versions. The improvements will sometimes be retrofit
Retrofit
Retrofitting refers to the addition of new technology or features to older systems.* power plant retrofit, improving power plant efficiency / increasing output / reducing emissions...
ted to the lead ship. Occasionally, the lead ship will be launched and commissioned for shakedown
Shakedown (testing)
A shakedown is a period of testing or a trial journey undergone by a ship, aircraft or other craft and its crew before being declared operational. Statistically, a proportion of the components will fail after a relatively short period of use, and those that survive this period can be expected to...
testing before following ships are completed, making the lead ship a combination of template and prototype, rather than expending resources on a prototype that will never see actual use.
Naming
Ship classes are typically named in one of two ways; echoing the name of the lead ship, such as the battleshipBattleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
s, whose lead ship was the , or defining a theme by which vessels in the class are named, as in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s, named after tribes of the world, such as . If a ship class is produced for another fleet, the first active unit will become the lead ship for that fleet; for example, the frigates are known as the in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. Larger civilian craft, such as the Sun Princess, the lead ship of the Sun-class
Sun class
The Sun class is a class of cruise ships operated primarily by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival. The class was designed and its component vessels constructed by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani in Italy. The first Sun class vessel, Sun Princess, entered service in 1995 and the last,...
cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s, sometimes follow this convention as well.
In fiction
The same custom is often followed in fiction: the Constitution-class cruiser is the basis for the EnterpriseUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, is a fictional starship in the Star Trek media franchise. The original Star Trek series depicts her crew's mission "to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before" under the command of Captain James...
of Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
(although in Star Trek the term pathfinder is also occasionally used in lieu of lead ship) and the Imperial-class Star Destroyer appears in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
.