The USS Rutledge showing the NCC registry number.
In the Federation and beyond, spacecraft are registered with names and numbers, both sometimes carrying a prefix signifying the operating authority of the vessel. The prefixes, names and registry numbers are painted onto the hull of the craft for identification purposes. This registry number is usually a combination of letters (the registry prefix, which generally indicates the type or ownership of a craft) followed by a sequence of numbers.
Active duty Starfleet vessels have a registry beginning with the letters NCC (see: Federation starship registries), while experimental ships usually have an NX registry prefix. Civilian vessels have varying registry prefixes.
A registry prefix should not be confused with a ship's prefix code.
Registry number prefix[]
Cultures that use registry codes often add prefixes to the numbers, a prefix of alphabetical characters for example.
- The meanings of these codes are based on empirical evidence only -- they might "really" have much different designations.
- AAN - Interstellar Guard ship[1]
- AGC - Federation Andorian Guard: Andorian Guard Cruiser[2]
- AGS - Federation Andorian Guard: Andorian Guard Ship[3]
- AT[4] - Federation Starfleet, Andorian
- BDR - Federation civilian, colony transport
- ChR - Rihannsu Grand Fleet
- CRS - Federation Caitian diaspora: Caitian Registry/Registered Ship[5]
- CSN - Allied Fleet Service
- CV - Earth, US Navy aircraft carrier
- CVN - Earth, US Navy nuclear powered aircraft carrier
- ICC - Terran Imperial fleet
- KL - Klingon Imperial Deep Space Fleet
- NAR - Federation civilian
- Originally Earth civilian
- NC - United Earth Starfleet
- NCC - Federation Starfleet, active duty
- NCD - Iyaaran shuttle
- NCV - Federation Starfleet, timeship (29th century)
- NDT - Federation civilian, transport
- NFT - Federation civilian, transport
- NGL - Federation civilian, freighter
- NSP - Federation science vessel (Vulcan)
- NX, NCX - Federation Starfleet, prototype (Excelsior-class, Yamato-class)
- Formerly United Earth Starfleet, NX-class
- NXP - Federation Starfleet, pathfinder design (Defiant-class pathfinder)
- OV - Earth, U.S. (NASA) space shuttle orbital vehicle
- TCC - Federation, Tellarite Construction Contract[6]
- "V8 5047 01102238345-8" - Vulcan warpsled shuttle Surak
- XCV - Earth (probably U.S.), starship.
- YLT - Yridian vessel
Aside from the registry prefixes, Starfleet at one time also used letters after the main registry prefix to further define specific types of craft. An example of this is the freighter USS Huron, with its registry of NCC-F1513.
- According to the novels of Diane Duane and Peter Morwood, Klingon starships use a "KL" registry prefix. Diane Duane's Rihannsu novels give the prefix "ChR" for Romulan starships.
Ship name prefix[]
A ship name prefix is a series of letters that precede a ship's name, and are used to indicate the vessel's purpose and origin.
The Federation appears to be the primary adherent to this system, although there have been instances where other races have appeared to use this system as well.
| Government (Service) | Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Andorian Empire (Andorian Reserve Fleet) | ATS[7] | Andorian Transport Ship |
| Andorian Empire (Andorian Imperial Guard) | IGS[8] | Imperial Guard Ship |
| Andorian Empire (Andorian Imperial Guard) | IGW[9] | Imperial Guard Warship |
| Asparax Confederation (Asparaxian Navy) | ACS[10] | Asparax Confederation Ship |
| Benthan Protectorate (Benthan Guard) | BGS[11] | Benthan Guard Ship |
| Breen Confederacy (Breen Militia) | BRE[12] | Breen |
| Breen Confederacy (Breen Militia) | JEM[13] | Jem'Hadar |
| Certoss Ajahlan (government) | UEV[14] | Unified Envoy Vessel |
| Cardassian Union (Cardassian Guard) | CDS | Cardassian Defense Ship |
| Cardassian Union (Cardassian Guard) | CUV[15] | Cardassian Union Vessel |
| Cardassian Union (mirror) (Klingon-Cardassian Alliance) | ACV[16] | Alliance Cardassian Vessel |
| Cardassian Union (mirror) (Obsidian Order) | OS[17] | Obsidian Ship |
| Confederacy of the Worlds of the First Quadrant (Confederacy Interstellar Fleet) | CIF[18] | Confederacy Interstellar Fleet |
| Dominion (Jem'Hadar) | DGV[19] | Dominion G. Vessel |
| Federation/Earth (unknown) | DEV¹ | Unknown |
| Federation (civilian) | SS | Space/Star Ship |
| Federation (Kelpien and Ba'ul Alliance) | KSF[20] | Kaminar Space/Star F. |
| Federation (United States of America) | USGS[21] | United States Geological Survey |
| Federation (Starfleet) | USS[22] | United Space/Star Ship |
| Federation (Starfleet) (alternate) | FSS[23] | Federation Star Ship |
| Federation (Starfleet) (alternate) | USV[24] | United Space/Star Vessel |
| Federation (Starfleet) (alternate) | US[25] | United Ship |
| Federation (Free Federation Resistance) | FFV[26] | Free Federation Vessel |
| Federation (Free Federation Resistance) | FFV[27] | Free Federation Vessel |
| Federation (Caitian diaspora/Starfleet) | CDS[28] | Caitian Diaspora Ship |
| Ferengi Alliance | FMS | Ferengi Merchant Ship |
| Ferengi Alliance (civilian) | SS[29] | Space/Star Ship |
| First Federation (mirror) | FF[30] | First Federation |
| Gorn Hegemony (Klingon Defense Force) | GHS[31] | Gorn Hegemony Ship |
| Gorn Confederation | GCS[32] | Gorn Confederacy Ship |
| Hirogen Hierarchy (Hirogen hunters) | HHV[33] | Hirogen Hierarchy Vessel |
| Interstellar Coalition (Space Command) | ICV[34] | Interstellar Coalition Vessel |
| Interstellar Union (Interstellar Guard) | IUES[35] | Interstellar Union E.S. (?) |
| Kentari Union (military) | KDW[36] | Kentari D. W. (?) |
| Khitomer Alliance (Allied Fleet Service) | AFS | Allied Fleet Starship |
| Klingon Empire (Defense Force) | IKC | Imperial Klingon Cruiser |
| Klingon Empire (Defense Force) | IKS | Imperial Klingon Ship |
| Klingon Empire (Defense Force) | IKV[37] | Imperial Klingon Vessel |
| Klingon Empire (Ferasan/KDF) | FDV[38] | Ferasan Defense Vessel |
| Klingon Empire (Lethean/KDF) | LRS[39] | Lethean R. Ship |
| Klingon Empire (mirror) (Defense Force) | IKS | Imperial Klingon Ship |
| Klingon-Cardassian Alliance (Defense Force) | AKS[40] | Allied Klingon Ship |
| Krenim Coalition (Krenim Imperium) | KIS[41] | Krenim Imperium/Imperial Ship |
| Krenim Imperium (Temporal Liberation Front) | KIV[42] | Krenim Imperium/Imperial Vessel |
| Kobali (Kobali Prime) | KDC[43] | Kobali Defense Cruiser |
| Lukari Concordium (Lukari Planetary Council) | LSS[44] | Lukari Space/Star Ship |
| Nausicaan (Klingon Defense Force) | NFV[45] | Nausicaan Free Vessel |
| New Excalbia Assembly (New Excalbia Navy) | NES[46] | New Excalbian Ship |
| Orion Syndicate (Klingon Defense Force) | OSS[47] | Orion Syndicate Ship |
| Orion Syndicate | OC[48] | Orion C. |
| Orion Syndicate (mirror) | OCS[49] | Orion Colonies Ship |
| United Rigel Worlds and Colonies (civilian) | RRV[50] | Rigelian Registry Vessel |
| Risian Hedony (civilian) | RXS[51] | Risian Experimental Ship |
| Romulan Republic (Romulan Republican Force) | RRW[52] | Romulan Republican Warbird |
| Romulan Republic (Romulan Republican Force) | DWS[53] | Dewan War Ship |
| Romulan Republic (mirror) (Star Navy) | RSE[54] | Romulan Star Empire |
| Romulan Star Empire (Star Navy) | IRW | Imperial Romulan Warbird |
| Romulan Star Empire (Star Navy) | IRV[55] | Imperial Romulan Vessel |
| Romulan Star Empire (Star Navy) | PWB | Praetorian Warbird |
| Romulan Star Empire (Star Navy) | RIS | Romulan Imperial Ship |
| Romulan Star Empire (Remans) | RFV[56] | Reman Free Vessel |
| Sha'Kurian Ducal Territories | DTS[57] | Ducal Territories Ship |
| Suliban (civilian/Starfleet) | SCS[58] | Suliban Cell Ship |
| Tarkon Board | TSV[59] | Tarkon Sentry Vessel |
| Terran Empire (Imperial Starfleet) | ISS[60] | Imperial Space/Star Ship |
| Tholian Assembly (mirror) | TA[61] | Tholian Assembly |
| United Earth (Starfleet) (alternate) | UESS[62] | United Earth Space/Star Ship |
| United Earth (alternate) | ESS[63] | Earth Space/Star Ship |
| Vaadwaur Supremacy | VSW[64] | Vaadwaur Supremacy Warship |
| Confederacy of Vulcan (civilian) | VS[65] | Vulcan Ship |
| Confederacy of Vulcan (Starfleet) | VSS[66] | Vulcan Star/Space Ship |
| Vulcan Protectorate (Vulcan High Command) | VHC[67] | Vulcan High Command |
| Pre-Federation | ||
| Andorian Empire (Andorian Imperial Guard) | IGS[68] | Imperial Guard Ship |
| Andorian Empire (Imperial Freight Service) | IFSV[69] | Imperial Freight Service Vessel |
| Earth (Earth Cargo Service) | ECS[70] | Earth Cargo Ship/Service |
| Earth (British Royal Navy) | HMS¹ | His/Her Majesty's Ship |
| Earth (civilian) | SS | Space/Star Ship |
| Earth (United States of America) | USS³ | United States Ship |
| Earth (NASA) | ESS[71] | Extra Solar Survey |
| Earth (Russia) | VK¹ | see Background section. |
| Earth (Starfleet) | none[72] | |
| Earth (Starfleet) | SS[73] | Space/Star Ship |
| Earth (Starfleet) | UES[74] | United Earth Starfleet |
| Earth (Starfleet) | USS[75] | United Space/Star Ship |
| Earth (United Nations Solar Fleet) | UNSS[76] | United Nations Space Ship |
| Confederacy of Vulcan (Vulcan Defense Force) | DFC[77] | Defense Force Cruiser |
| Confederacy of Vulcan (Vulcan Defense Directorate) | DDV[78] | Defense Directorate Vessel |
| Confederacy of Vulcan (civilian) | VCS[79] | Vulcan Cargo Ship |
| United Planets of Tellar (Tellarite Construction Contract) | TSC[80] | Tellarite Star Cruiser |
- The name prefixes DEV, VK and HMS are from ships sent to the Ficus sector. (TNG: "Up the Long Ladder")
- The name prefixes FMS and USGS are from ships listed on a Deep Space Nine arrival roster. (DS9: "Whispers")
- With Earth's national prefixes (British HMS and Russian VK) still in use up to the founding of the Federation, it is probable that USS still meant United States Ship in the same timeframe, but we only have one example to look at.
Further speculation removed from the table, would include other Earth national prefixes (Australian HMAS, Canadian HMCS, etc.) also still existing at that time.
See also[]
- Cardassian starship registries
- Federation starship registries
- Klingon starship registries
- Romulan starship registries
- Terran Empire starship registries
Background information[]
The most famous registry number, of course, is NCC-1701, that of the original Enterprise. It was chosen by Matt Jefferies, who was a pilot before joining the Star Trek staff, and based the registry number on 20th century aircraft identification codes. In the 20th century, the letter "N" indicated a United States origin, and the letter "C" indicated a civilian aircraft. Jefferies added a second "C" simply because he thought it looked better. In some fandom circles, it is claimed that the prefix "NCC" stands for "Naval Construction Contract" (Star Trek Blueprints: General Plans Constitution Class USS Enterprise by Franz Joseph Designs, Ballantine Books, 1974) or "Navigational Contact Code", but there is no canon basis for this conjecture.
VK prefix[]
Based on usage—VK Yuri Gagarin & VK Velikan—it is probable that the VK prefix means a Russian ship in, pre-Federation, Star Trek. In the real world, the Russians do not use prefixes. But, in the book The Hunt for Red OctoberWP, the primary Alfa class attack sub is named V.K. Konovalov, in honor of Vladimir Konstantinovich KonovalovWP.
This suggests that the use of VK as a Russian prefix, is either an error on the part of the Star Trek writers, or an homage to Tom Clancy.
External links[]
- Registry number article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Registry article at Star Trek Online Wiki.
References[]
- ↑ Myriad Universes - Shattered Light novel: The Tears of Eridanus
- ↑ ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: Uncertain Logic
- ↑ ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: A Choice of Futures
- ↑ STO video game: Star Trek Online
- ↑ STO - Call to Arms mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock"
- ↑ STO - Reckoning mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock"
- ↑ TOS novel: Death Count
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ↑ TTN novel: Fallen Gods
- ↑ FASA RPG module: Decision at Midnight
- ↑ STO - The Iconian War mission: "Midnight"
- ↑ ST video game: Trexels mission "Breen Barrier"
- ↑ ST video game: Trexels mission "Breen Barrier"
- ↑ TOS novel: From History's Shadow
- ↑ STO - The Iconian War mission: "Midnight"
- ↑ STO video game: Star Trek Online
- ↑ ST - Mirror Universe novel: Rise Like Lions
- ↑ VOY novel: Protectors
- ↑ ST reference: Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library
- ↑ DSC episode: "Terra Firma, Part 1"
- ↑ DS9 episode: "Whispers"
- ↑ TOS episode: "The Cage"
- ↑ TNG novel: Q & A
- ↑ TNG novel: Q & A
- ↑ TNG novel: Q & A
- ↑ TOS - The Q Gambit comic: "Part 4"
- ↑ TOS - The Q Gambit comic: "Part 4"
- ↑ STO video game: Call to Arms
- ↑ STO mission: "Operation Gamma"
- ↑ TOS video game: Shattered Universe
- ↑ Star Trek Online official website: Release Notes: October 3, 2013
- ↑ TOS video game: Starfleet Command
- ↑ Star Trek Online official website: Dev post
- ↑ ST - Myriad Universes novel: A Less Perfect Union
- ↑ ST - Myriad Universes novel: The Tears of Eridanus
- ↑ STO - New Frontiers mission: "Mirrors and Smoke"
- ↑ STO mission: "Night of the Comet"
- ↑ STO video game: Reckoning
- ↑ STO video game: Agents of Yesterday
- ↑ ST video game: Star Trek Online
- ↑ STO - The Iconian War mission: "Butterfly"
- ↑ STO - Future Proof mission: "Time and Tide"
- ↑ STO - Delta Quadrant mission: "Dust to Dust"
- ↑ STO - New Frontiers mission: "Echoes of Light"
- ↑ Star Trek Online official website: Release Notes: October 3, 2013
- ↑ TOS novel: Savage Trade
- ↑ Star Trek Online official website: Release Notes: October 3, 2013
- ↑ ST video game: Trexels
- ↑ TOS video game: Shattered Universe
- ↑ TOS novel: Prime Directive
- ↑ ST video game: Star Trek Online
- ↑ STO mission: "Flight from Virinat"
- ↑ STO video game: Agents of Yesterday
- ↑ TOS video game: Shattered Universe
- ↑ TOS novel: Double, Double
- ↑ ST novel: Articles of the Federation
- ↑ TOS video game: Klingon Academy
- ↑ ST video game: Star Trek Online
- ↑ VOY novel: The Eternal Tide
- ↑ TOS episode: "Mirror, Mirror"
- ↑ TOS video game: Shattered Universe
- ↑ ST - Myriad Universes novel: A Less Perfect Union
- ↑ TNG novel: Q & A
- ↑ STO - Delta Quadrant mission: "All That Glitters"
- ↑ STO mission: "Task Force Hippocrates"
- ↑ STO mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock"
- ↑ ST - DTI novel: Forgotten History
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ↑ ENT episode: "Fortunate Son"
- ↑ Star Trek Magazine Issue 162: "Blast Off!"
- ↑ ENT episode & novelization: Broken Bow
- ↑ ST calendar: Ships of the Line 2014
- ↑ ST reference: The Official Starships Collection #44
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ↑ TOS reference: Spaceflight Chronology
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: To Brave the Storm
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ↑ ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ↑ STO - Reckoning mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock"