Capital Ship
A Capital Ship is the largest type of ship, and includes a variety of both military and civilian models and classes. Other distinguishing characteristics are that they are not directly piloted like smaller vessels, but directed by a captain and command crew, and they can only dock with specialised Capital Ship Docks instead of facilities with standard Landing Pads.
Types
Battlecruiser
The Federal Navy and Imperial Navy utilize unique Capital Ships primarily designed for combat and fleet coordination called Battlecruisers. They are capable of transporting and deploying squadrons of smaller ships and Ship-Launched Fighters.
Farragut
The Farragut-Class Battle Cruiser is the mainstay Battlecruiser of the Federation. Heavily armed with classified weaponry, the Farragut stretches over two kilometers long. The backbone of the Federal Navy, it also forms the central core of the Federation Intervention fleet.
Majestic
The Majestic-Class Interdictor is the Empire's Battlecruiser. It has an array of weaponry including Modular Interceptor Guns and Railguns. It is slightly under two kilometers long. Although less heavily-armed than the Federation's Farragut, it is also designed to project soft-power through diplomacy and features a rotating ring capable of simulating gravity.
Battleship
Battleships are the largest and most powerful military vessels ever fielded, more heavily-armed and slower than Battlecruisers. They are currently not in-game.
Colonisation Ship
The Colonisation Ship is essential for system colonisation. After placing a colonisation beacon in an uninhabited system it will arrive at the location. This is the initial hub of operations. It has 32 landing pads to deliver cargo. The primary starport must be built within 4 weeks to complete the claiming of the star system.
Fleet Carrier
Fleet Carriers are Capital Ships with Landing Pads that can accommodate smaller vessels. They can be purchased and operated by Pilots Federation-licensed pilots, who are responsible for commanding and paying the crew.
Drake and Javelin
The Drake-Class Carrier can be operated by a solo commander. The Javelin-Class Carrier is significantly bigger and supports the activities of Squadrons. All carriers are made by Brewer Corporation.
Megaship
Civilian-operated Capital Ships are generally classified as Megaships. There are many subtypes that fill a variety of specific roles. The three main types are: Bulk Cruiser, Flight Operations Carrier and Generation Ship. The Bulk Cruisers are used for anything from freight transportation to prisoner incarceration. Flight Operations Carriers feature five Landing Pads. Generation Ships are antiquated, pre-Hyperdrive vessels that were used to transport interstellar colonists at sub-light speeds.
Operation Runner
The Operation Runner is a specialized deployment vessel. It was designed to support squads of up to 4 commanders in Operations. This is the smallest capital ship with only 4 landing pads.
Titan
The Titan is a capital ship of the Thargoids. They were initially spotted during the First Thargoid War (3125-3151) and returned in 3309. They reside at the core of Maelstroms. The Titan has a diameter of circa 13,000 meters which makes it by far the largest of all capital ships.
Notes
- In The Commanders Livestream, a viewer asked "any chance of playing capital ships in the future?", David Braben answered: "it's on the list, but a long way down it, because there's a lot of gameplay to make it work. The issue is what we call the difference between direct control and executive control. Where rather than flying by the seat of your pants you're giving orders to a giant ship. Because you can't expect it to change course very rapidly and that sort of thing. So it's certainly a long-term possibility, but it's long-term."[1][2]