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 USS Carl Vinson is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class.

In the course of building a class of ships, design changes might be implemented. In such a case, the ships of different design might not be considered of the same class; each variation would either be its own class, or a subclass of the original class (see County-class cruiser for an example). If ships are built of a class whose production had been discontinued, a similar distinction might be made.

Ships in a class often have names linked by a common factor: e.g. Trafalgar-class submarines’ names all begin with T (Turbulent, Tireless, Torbay); and Ticonderoga-class cruisers are named after American battles (Yorktown, Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, Anzio).

Read more about Ship Class:  Naval Ship Class Naming Conventions, Merchant Vessel Class

Famous quotes containing the words ship and/or class:

    A ship has a soul.
    John Rhodes Sturdy, Canadian screenwriter. Richard Rossen. “Stooky” O’Meara (Barry Fitzgerald)

    He has more to impart than to receive from his generation. He is another such a strong and finished workman in his craft as Samuel Johnson was, and, like him, makes the literary class respectable.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)