The classification system exists to present the user with a maximum amount of detail about a ship with as little communication as possible.

First is a designation of the ship's faction:
PFS - Phoenix Fleet Systems (Corporation)
PHX - Phoenix Military Forces (Government)
RIA - Republic Intelligence Agency (Government)
etc.

Second is the class and role designation of the ship:
example: PFS - FFA
An Artillery Frigate belonging to Phoenix Fleet Systems

Last is the name abbreviation:
example: PFS - FFA - GRF
An Artillery Frigate belonging to Phoenix Fleet Systems, named Griffon

In most cases, the name of the ship will be written out
example: PFS - FFA - Griffon

Primary Designations denote the class and major role of the craft.

Srike Craft are small craft deployed by carriers or launched from starbases or other installations into various fields of battle. They are often deployed in hit and run attacks, striking key targets and leaving the battle to re-arm before an enemy can counter them. Within fleets, they perform a vital role in defending larger ships from enemy strike craft, or providing precise strikes against vulnerable points on enemy ships.

• I - Interceptor - The smallest craft, designed entirely for speed and anti-fighter operations and harrassment of enemies
  
• F - Fighter - The most basic small craft, designed primarily for anti-strike craft operations
  
• SF - Strike Fighter - Fighters that are more heavily armed for the purpose of taking on larger targets, yet may be less suited towards anti-fighter combat
  
• G - Gunship - The most heavily armed strike craft, designed to carry a large array of weapons, and best suited for use against large targets
  
• D - Dropship - Dedicated Troop Transports

Corvettes are designed to be fast, agile, and manueverable. They trade armor for a fast delivery of firepower, and work well as interceptors against ships of similar size or even some larger ships.

Typical Uses: Escort of Small Ships, Patrol, Rapid Response, Interception

Frigates serve as the main line ship of most fleets, providing stable platforms of weaponry in an economical balance of various ship features like engines, armor, crew accomodatons, and so on. They are designed primary to escort larger ships.

Typical Uses: Escort, Anti-Strike Craft, Patrol

The line between Frigates and Destroyers can sometimes be blurred, as a Frigate may specialize in ship hunting, like a Destroyer. However, in the cases where a hunter ship is called a Frigate, it is typically because the ship is smaller and lacks the sheer fighting potential of a Destroyer.

Destroyers are perhaps one of the most specialized classes, in that the role of every destroyer is to hunt other line ships. Their specialization is due to the many weapons with which they accomplish this task, which range from deployment of guided missiles on artillery style ships to more close and personal ships with loads of weaponry.

Typical Uses: Hunter-Killer, Assault

Cruisers are the most well rounded of ships, finding themselves in the middle of the classification system and therefore caught in the middle of more specialized roles. They often contain medium armaments and armoring, and are suited to handle most routine conflicts.

Typical Uses: Long Range Missions, Squadron Leaders, Fire Support

Battlecruisers are the heaviest armed ships short of capital ships. They serve to hold the line and bring an end to conflicts swiftly through delivery of immense firepower on relatively quick platforms.

Typical Uses: Assault, Brawling, Fire Support

Battleships are the largest of all main line ships, serving as flagships of larger fleets. They have very well rounded arsenals with large amounts of armoring, and are well suited to taking on any challenge.

Typical Uses: Fleet Command, Brawling, Fire Support

Although carrying strike craft can be a feature of many smaller ships, dedicated carriers still find an important place within fleets, where they are able to provide and control large amounts of strike craft during fleet battles. Dedicated carriers allow line ships to perform their tasks unhindered by using their craft to intercept enemy strike craft, and tying up or disabling key enemy defenses.

Typical Uses: Strike Craft Support, Fleet Command

Dreadnoughts are the largest vessels, boasting the most powerful arsenals and the thickest armor. They are designed as game changers, where their presence in fleet battles can easily begin to turn the tide. However, their massive bulk makes them ill suited towards tactics that require mobility.

Typical Uses: Holding the Line, Siege Warfare, Fleet/Station Defence

Secondary Designations allow for more specific insight into unique features of a type of ship.

Prefixes are used to indicate something unique about the function of the ship

• U - Unmanned - indicates anything that has no crew accomodations, or has the ability to function without a crew

example: UV - Unmanned Corvette

Suffixes are used to indicate the primary armament and/or role of the ship

• M - Missile - Ships that focus on missiles
  
• A - Artillery - Ships that focus on long range, slow firing weaponry
  
• I - Interdictor - Ships that focus on speed and high powered, short range weaponry
  
• B - Brawler - Like Interdictors, but less speed and more armour
  
• R - Recon - designed for scouting and stealth
  
• D - Drone - designates a carrier that focuses on drones
  
• F - Flak - Ships that focus on a wide array of small, rapid firing weaponry to shoot down smaller craft

example: VM - Missile Corvette
example: CCF - Flak Cruiser

combined example: UDDI - Unmanned Interdiction Destroyer

*If a Suffix is not used, it is assumed that the ship is given a standard compliment of weaponry. This means that it does not specialize and is outfitted for general engagements.