Ship Classes

There are a variety of ship classes, and can be confusing if you do not know what each term means. Below is a description of the classes used, and a brief description. Officers, even if above the rank of the ship's captain, are required to set their rank tag lower than that of the captain. The rank that they are allowed to have is shown in each class's description.

Patrol Craft
Patrol Craft are the smallest of all the ships. They do not have an executive officer or senior enlisted advisor, as they are commanded by a sub-lieutenant, or even an ensign. All officers are expected to be ensigns regardless of rank. They generally have few guns and only a handful of crewmembers. These ships are useful for servers with only a few players. Patrol Craft-classed ship examples are: Azimuth, Dugong, and the [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2190578190 EK Nurseshark Mk. II]

Corvette
Corvettes are the next size of ship, and may be slightly larger or considerably larger than a patrol craft. They are commanded by a lieutenant, or in rare cases a lieutenant commander, with a sub-lieutenant or lieutenant (if captain is LCDR) as the executive officer. This is the only ship that a senior chief petty officer is authorized to act as a senior enlisted advisor. Officers must be a sub-lieutenant or below, or lieutenant or below if the captain is a lieutenant commander. Corvettes can have small crews and still function decently, and often come more heavily-armed than patrol craft. Corvette-classed ship examples are: Orca, and the [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2183428397 EK Reliant Mk. VI].

Frigate
Frigates are medium ships with a decent load of weaponry. A competent crew on a frigate can incredibly lethal. Frigates are most often commanded by a commander, with a lieutenant-commander as the executive officer, and a master chief petty officer acting as senior enlisted advisor. Officers must be lieutenant or below. Frigate-classed ship examples are: Humpback, and the [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2272163571 EK Marauder Mk. III].

Destroyers
Destroyers may be on larger side of medium, or the very beginning of the larger ship classes. Destroyers generally require larger crews, and may not do very well with smaller crews. Destroyers are often commanded by a commander, with lieutenant-commander as XO, and a master chief petty officer as senior enlisted advisor. Some destroyers may be captained by a captain. Officers must be lieutenant-commander or below. Destroyer-classed ship examples are: Kastrull,, R-29 Hammerhead, and the[https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2201064033 EK Zephyr Mk. VI].

Cruiser
Cruisers are the largest ships available. They require a large, competent crew to function efficiently, and without one, a cruiser will quickly fall into disarray. Cruisers have several guns, and are capable of holding their own against even the largest enemies on Europa. Cruisers are by captains, with a commander as XO, and a command master chief petty officer as senior enlisted advisor. Officers must be lieutenant-commander or below. Destroyer-classed ship examples are: Typhon, Remora, and the [https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2218505792 EK Matriarch Mk. IV].