In traditional terminology, a battle cruiser is any large armed cruiser (or warship) that is not as heavily armored as a battleship.
In starship classification, the term battle cruiser is sometimes used synonymously with heavy cruiser. The Klingons once referred to the Federation Constitution-class USS Enterprise as a battle cruiser. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)
The Klingon Empire and Romulan Star Empire utilized battle cruisers throughout the 23rd and 24th centuries.
Beginning in 2268, the Romulans acquired the D7-class battle cruiser from the Klingons as replacement of the Bird-of-Prey. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident", et al.)
Some Klingon battle cruisers were equipped with cryonic technology, which allowed crews of the late 23rd century to be placed in cryogenic sleep for long voyages. (TNG: "The Emissary")
During the late 2370s, Klingon battle cruisers were not always the ship of choice for all missions; however, as more agile craft, like the Klingon Bird-of-Prey, were better suited for some tasks. (DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach")
Hydrans and Lyrans also classified some battle cruisers as being heavy battle cruisers. (RIS Bouteina)
Battle cruisers by race[]
- Andorian battle cruisers
- Breen battle cruisers
- Borg battle cruisers
- Cardassian battle cruisers
- Galor class
- Kalen class
- Valkar class (light battle cruiser)
- Dominion battle cruisers
- Federation battle cruisers
- Ares class
- Constitution class
- Nebula class (tactical configuration)
- Nimitz class (Star Trek: Discovery)
- Klingon battle cruisers
- Lelari battle cruiser
- Lyran battle cruisers
- Wildcat class (ESG Global Operations Battlecruiser)
- Myhr'an battle cruisers
- Romulan battle cruisers
- Son'a battle cruiser
- Taurhai battle cruiser
- Vendoth battle cruiser
- Wthaure battle cruiser
External links[]
- Battle cruiser article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Battle cruiser article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.