Enterprise Class???

Television, Movies Games and Books Star Trek
#1

Since we are starting with The Wrath of Khan I want to pose a question that I have debated in the past. That question is… what class is the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 refit? Because there are cannon contradictory evidence to what it is.

In Wrath of Khan there is a clearly a plaque (but only visible in widescreen viewings and the viewings first seen in the theaters when the film was released) that is on a wall when Kirk and Spock are walking after the Kobayashi Maru that says Mark IV Simulator Enterprise Class. Yet 4 movies later there is a shoot of Scotty with an Enterprise diagram that says Constitution Class.

So, which is it? I know one can fall either way on this one. I personally like to go with Enterprise Class for 3 reasons. One, I love the Enterprise (the refit is the one I grew up with) and would like to see it done out of ego perhaps. Two, There are no Enterprise Class starships out there that we are aware of; even the NX-01 is called the NX class. And three, it was refitted to such an extreme you really wouldn’t know it is the same Constitution Class unless someone told you it was. To continue with three, the Bozeman from the TNG episode Cause and Effect was a Soyuz Class Starship… yet it resembles the Miranda Class more than the 1701 refit resembles the Constitution Class.

Anyways, anyone out there got an opinion?

#2

THe Enterprise has always been a Constitution Class starship.

the sign outside the training room indicated that it was the Mark IV Simulator for the cadet class of the Starship Enterprise (Enterprise Class)

#3

During the '80s there were many “versions” of cannon around (one may argue that “cannon” only exists until another writer comes along and changes it) and at the time the main source of many fan info was from FASA Star Trek games they had licensed. That company had any refit Constitution-class vessels as “Enterprise” class. When they lost the license (due to corporate stupidity and Paramont money-grubbing) the backstories were re-written so nothing FASA did was cannon in the Trek universe anymore, even to the point that books like “Mr. Scott’s Guide to the Enterprise” were declared non-cannon just for referencing FASA written material.

Wikipedia has some more details about the debate, and those always that fan of FASA stuff, Wil Wheaton

#4

Unless I am mistaken, the first time it was called “Constitution Class” was by Lt. Commander Data in the TNG episode “The Naked Now,” in fact I am 99% positive on this. In the TOS on the wall plaque on the Bridge it was called “Starship Cass”. So the vessel wasn’t always a Constitution Class as far as 1966 when the series aired or in the Star Trek: The Cage pilot.

I however do not dispute that the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (which I once read that Gene Roddenberry said stood for Naval Construction Contract, but am not so sure) that was originally Commissioned was a Constitution Class (the on that Christopher Pike Captained.) So if that is what you mean by “always” I will agree with you. I however have to stand my ground so far on the “Refit” version launched in Star Trek: The Motion Picture perhaps not being of the same class.

#5

As much as I like and own a copy of Mr. Scott’s Guide to the Enterprise I do agree that it is non cannon. It is fun to look at, and it gives I think much insight (as much insight you can I suppose given it is fiction) as well some neat diagrams and floor layouts though.

However, I am talking about 2 shots taken from the film that are contradictory. How do we dispute that. Simple, we look at the mistakes in Star Trek V, of there being 100 decks and in Star Trek II, of there being a Torpedo Room 6, yeah yeah I know there are mistakes even in cannon.

I do argue though, that the Enterprise, “A almost totally new Enterprise,” to quote Captain Decker was refitted and redesigned so much you can’t called it a Constitution Class Starship.

#6

The term wasn’t used in TOS, but it was in the Tech manual (which was produced with the approval and oversight of GR.) So it dates from at least 75, and possibly before that.

#7

yeah, Ive heard either Constitution Class or Constitution II Class

#8

No no no, everyone. Everyone stand back and step aside. I’m not a Trekkie, nor I Trekker. I call myself neither of those things, because I’m a Trekspert–in other words, I know everything about Star Trek.

The ship in Star Trek: TOS was a Constitution Class. Pike is right in the GR-approved Tech Manual and Enterprise Blue Prints it’s called a Constitution Class heavy Cruiser.
There were 12 original ships of that class, the U.S.S. Constitution (on which Kirk and Gary Mitchell both seved) was the 1st of its class. It’s designation: NCC-1701.
Enterprise was NCC-1701, then were was Kongo, Lexington, Potemkin, Constellation, Exeter, Excalibur, Yorktown, Hornet (?) (what have I forgotten).

When the ship was refit it was the same ship of course, so I guess technically it was still a Constitution class chip. But a new line of Heavy Cruisers in that same refit style were built, and they were know as Enterprise Class. And naturally, when NCC-1701 was destroyed over the Genesis Planet, one of the new Enterprise-class ships that was nearly completed was renamed Enterprise and re-designated NCC-1701-A.

Alll the above is from memory–I didn’t google it and I didn’t look it up on the memory alpha website.
And why do I know such things from memory? Cuz I’m a freak, that’s why.
And I should point out that these are the facts or “canon” as it were BEFORE memory-alpha or the Internet even existed, so there.

#9

Galaxy Ranger (GR) is amazing, isn’t he? :rolleyes:

#10

Crap… I forgot about the TOS tech manual.

#11

I still have mine with its hard cover. That book was great.

#12

Mine was a soft cover… but yes it is a great book… I still have but not sure were exactly… some stuff have been “misplaced” from my move.

#13

Enterprise was NCC-1701, then were was Kongo, Lexington, Potemkin, Constellation, Exeter, Excalibur, Yorktown, Hornet (?) (what have I forgotten).

According to Franz Joseph Schnaubelt’s 1975 Star Fleet Technical Manual, the ships of the Constitution class are as follows[2]. Season one of the remastered original episodes added USS Defiant; corrections to the others’ registries occurred later.

NCC-1764 Defiant
NCC-1701 Enterprise
NCC-1702 Farragut
NCC-1703 Lexington
NCC-1704 Yorktown
NCC-1664 Excalibur
NCC-1672 Exeter
NCC-1707 Hood
NCC-1631 Intrepid
NCC-1709 Valiant
NCC-1710 Kongo
NCC-1711 Potemkin
NCC-1017 Constellation
NCC-1371 Republic

But Kudos to you for remembering all of that

#14

Yea Gods man, and I thought i was a storehouse of useless Trek information. I humbly abase my self before you.

#15

According to Franz Joseph Schnaubelt’s 1975 Star Fleet Technical Manual, the ships of the Constitution class are as follows[2]. Season one of the remastered original episodes added USS Defiant; corrections to the others’ registries occurred later.

NCC-1764 Defiant
NCC-1701 Enterprise
NCC-1702 Farragut
NCC-1703 Lexington
NCC-1704 Yorktown
NCC-1664 Excalibur
NCC-1672 Exeter
NCC-1707 Hood
NCC-1631 Intrepid
NCC-1709 Valiant
NCC-1710 Kongo
NCC-1711 Potemkin
NCC-1017 Constellation
NCC-1371 Republic

Alll the above is from memory

Kudos to you! thats pretty impressive.

#16

Thank You. And Thank You.

And thank Gods that GWC came into my life. What else would I do with that kind of information in my head?

How could I have forgotten Farragut and Defiant? (both of which were mention/featured in episode)

#17

Ok I am glad that we all now have read our old TOS tech manuals and all know the FIRST Enterprise NCC-1701 was a Constitution Class Starship.

But what about the Enterprise NCC-1701 we see in Star Trek’s 1, 2, and 3? The one that was drastically refitted after TOS ended. I know it is the same ship, the same name and the same registration… I submit that is was changed to such an extreme is no longer of the Constitution Class.