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The Enterprise Legacy

One starship of Earth Starfleet and six ships of Federation Starfleet bear the honorable name "Enterprise". Additionally, we know of one future ship and one from a parallel reality of this name.

 

Enterprise NX-01

History
Enterprise was the first vessel of the NX class and the first human-built starship to achieve Warp 5. Devised by Henry Archer, the project started in 2119 when Zefram Cochrane opened the Warp 5 complex in Earth's orbit. After a construction time of more than 30 years the ship was finally launched in 2151, against the advice of the Vulcans. Earth Starfleet approved of a prolonged mission to regions of space where no human being had gone before. Enterprise is manned with an all-human crew, the only exceptions being Dr. Phlox, a Denobulan, and Vulcan science officer T'Pol. Jonathan Archer, Henry Archer's son, is in command of Enterprise. The ship has an experimental transporter which is used for personnel transport only in emergencies. The armament of Enterprise consists of plasma and phase weapons, spatial torpedoes and polarized hull plating. It is upgraded with photon torpedoes in 2153.
Article: A Close Look at Enterprise NX-01
Gallery: NX Class
Specifications
NX class
Affiliation: Earth Starfleet
Commissioned: 2151
Decommissioned: 2161
Length: 225m
Deck count: 7
Max. speed: Warp 5 (old scale)
Crew complement: 82
Commanded by: Capt. Jonathan Archer
Timeline
2151 Enterprise transfers the Klingon Klaang back to Qo'noS, thereby preventing a Klingon civil war. (ENT: "Broken Bow"). The ship is present when tensions rise between the Vulcans and Andorians (ENT: "The Andorian Incident").
2152 The Romulans are encountered for the first time (ENT: "Minefield").
Archer successfully mediates between the Vulcans and Andorians in the conflict over the planetoid Weytahn/Paan Mokar (ENT: "Cease Fire").
2153
On Earth, a group of Borg from the sphere crash of 2063 is reactivated and is ultimately stopped by Enterprise (ENT: "Regeneration"). Enterprise is sent to fight the Xindi, who killed 7 million on Earth with their probe (ENT: "The Expanse").
2154
It turns out that the spheres were built by a transdimensional species who persuaded the Xindi to destroy Earth because of a war in which Earth would allegedly destroy their homeworld 400 years in the future. The war in the future will be actually fought by humans and Xindi as allies against the Sphere Builders (ENT: "Azati Prime"). A second, much more disastrous attack of the Xindi-Reptilians on Earth is averted, and the sphere network is destroyed (ENT: "Zero Hour"). Enterprise manages to deal with the threat by Arik Soong and his Augments, genetically enhanced humans from the Eugenics Wars (ENT: "Borderland", "Cold Station 12", "The Augments"). The bombing of the Federation Embassy on Vulcan in which Admiral Forrest is killed leads to a crisis which is resolved by the discovery of the Kir'Shara, a vessel containing Surak's true teachings (ENT: "The Forge", "Awakening", "Kir'Shara"). Several Klingons contract a disease stemming from experiments with the genes of human Augments. The genetic treatment causes their foreheads to recess (ENT: "Affliction", "Divergence").
2155
The xenophobic movement Terra Prime under its leader Paxton attempts to expel all aliens from the Sol System (ENT: "Demons", "Terra Prime").
2161
Charles "Trip" Tucker dies in self-sacrifice on Enterprise NX-01 briefly before the ship is decommissioned (ENT: "These Are The Voyages").
Gallery
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701

History
In the middle of the 23rd century, the USS Enterprise was one of the fastest and most advanced ships of Starfleet. First manned with a crew of 200, the capacity was extended to 430 by 2265. 12 ships of the Constitution class were in service altogether as of 2266. Transporters had become a convenient means of transportation. In addition, the ship had a large shuttlebay at the rear end of the engineering hull. The Enterprise was equipped with phasers, photon torpedoes and shields. Under Capt. James T. Kirk the crew consisted almost exclusively of humans. One exception was half-Vulcan science officer Spock who already served under Kirk's predecessor Christopher Pike. The last mission of the Enterprise before her refit lasted from 2265 to 2269.
Constitution Gallery
Specifications
Constitution class
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Commissioned: 2245
Length: 289m
Deck count: 21
Max. speed: Warp 6 (old scale)
Crew complement: 430 (since 2265)
Commanded by: Capt. Robert April, Capt. Christopher Pike, Capt. James Tiberius Kirk
Timeline
2254
The Enterprise discovers the planet Talos IV whose inhabitants create illusions for their test subjects because they want to breed slaves to maintain their machines ("The Cage").
2265
After crossing the Galactic Barrier, Gary Mitchell and Elizabeth Dehner develop superior ESP abilities that put the rest of the crew in danger (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before").
2266
After more than 100 years of isolation, a Romulan starship crosses the Neutral Zone and attacks Earth outposts, until it can be destroyed by the Enterprise (TOS: "Balance of Terror"). Captain Christopher Pike, after suffering severe radiation damage, returns to Talos IV to live there (TOS: "The Menagerie"). First contact with the Gorn civilization turns into a conflict (TOS: "Arena").
2267 An old sleeper ship with genetically enhanced passengers is found in space (TOS: "Space Seed"). When relations with the Klingon Empire deteriorate, the supernatural Organians initiate a peace treaty (TOS: "Errand of Mercy"). Zefram Cochrane, inventor of the warp drive, is found alive, living with a non-corporeal entity (TOS: "Metamorphosis"). Spock returns to Vulcan to marry T'Pring, but she favors Stonn (TOS: "Amok Time"). The Babel Conference is held to decide about Coridan's admission to the Federation (TOS: "Journey to Babel").
2268
An attempt to steal a Romulan cloaking device is successful (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident"). After the starship Defiant has vanished into a parallel dimension, the Enterprise almost falls victim to a Tholian attack (TOS: "The Tholian Web").
Gallery
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701 (refit)

History
After Kirk's first five-year mission the Enterprise was completely refitted, keeping only the cores of the saucer section and engineering. The warp nacelles and most of the hull plating were completely new. The Enterprise was hastily launched in 2271 when a huge cloud, V'ger, threatened Earth. Under Capt. Spock the Enterprise served as a training vessel for cadets until it was badly damaged in a battle with the USS Reliant in 2285. Later in that year, Kirk ordered the self-destruction of the ship in order to avoid its capture by the Klingons.

Article: The Enterprise Refit of 2271
Constitution Gallery
Specifications
Constitution class (refit)
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
First commissioned: 2245
Recommissioned: 2271

Destroyed: 2285
Length: 305m

Deck count: 21

Max. speed: Warp 6 (old scale)
Commanded by: Capt. James Tiberius Kirk, Capt. Spock
Timeline
2271 The refitted Enterprise encounters a huge cloud heading for Earth. Lt. Ilia is absorbed by the entity calling itself "V'ger" and returns as an android. "V'ger" turns out to be a machine built for the sole purpose of seeking for the Creator of their distant relative, the space probe Voyager 6 that was launched from Earth a long time ago. V'ger, in the form of Ilia, and the Creator in the form of Capt. Decker finally merge into a new lifeform ("Star Trek: The Motion Picture").
2285 In the course of a fierce battle with Khan, Spock sacrifices his life to save the Enterprise from the imminent explosion of the Genesis device ("Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan"). In order to get hold of Spock's body to save his katra (soul), the crew returns to Genesis, but the battle-damaged ship is awaited by a Klingon Bird-of-Prey with a warlike commander. To avoid the capture of the ship by the Klingons, Kirk has to destroy the Enterprise. The Klingons kill his son, but Spock can be saved and his mind is reintegrated into his body ("Star Trek: "The Search for Spock").
Gallery
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A

History
After the destruction of the Enterprise NCC-1701, Starfleet assigned Kirk and his crew to a ship of the same class, the Enterprise NCC-1701-A. The ship made its maiden voyage under the new crew in 2286. In 2287, after many new components had been just installed, the barely operational ship was hijacked by Sybok. In 2293, the Enterprise suffered severe battle damage in the rescue of the Khitomer Peace Conference and was decommissioned soon after.

Constitution Gallery
Specifications
Constitution class (refit)
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Commissioned: 2286

Decommissioned: 2293
Length: 305m

Deck count: 21

Max. speed: Warp 6 (old scale)
Commanded by: Capt. James Tiberius Kirk
Timeline
2286 The Enterprise-A leaves Earth spacedock for a test flight ("Star Trek: The Voyage Home").
2287 Spock's illogical brother Sybok seizes control of the Enterprise and with his telepathic abilities he influences the crew except for Kirk, Spock and McCoy to head for the center of the galaxy where he believes is the planet Sha-Ka-Ree. At their arrival the landing party is received by a strange being that claims to be God ("Star Trek: The Final Frontier").
2293
After the disastrous explosion of their moon Praxis, the Klingons offer peace to the Federation. A joined conspiracy of Klingon and Starfleet officers, however, strives to obstruct the peace plans by all means. The Klingon chancellor Gorkon is killed, and Kirk and McCoy are arrested and condemned by the Klingons. After they have been freed, they head for the Khitomer peace conference, where they defeat the traitors with the help of the USS Excelsior and Capt. Sulu ("Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country").
Gallery
 

 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-B

History
The Enterprise-B is a modification of the Excelsior class, much larger than its predecessors of the Constitution class. The ship was launched in 2293. Reacting on a distress call on its maiden voyage, the Enterprise-B was severely damaged in an energy ribbon, the Nexus, and Capt. Kirk was presumed killed.
Article: Size of the Excelsior Class
Excelsior Gallery
Specifications
Excelsior class (refit)
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Commissioned: 2293
Length: 469m
Commanded by: Capt. John Harriman
Timeline
2293 The Enterprise-B is commissioned, but the maiden voyage turns into a rescue mission, in the course of which Kirk is seemingly killed, but is actually pulled into the Nexus, an energy ribbon that crosses the galaxy in a regular cycle ("Star Trek: Generations").
Gallery
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C

History
The Enterprise-C is a ship of the Ambassador class. The ship is lost in 2344 when it helps defend a Klingon outpost against the Romulans.
Article: Ambassador Class Variants
Ambassador Gallery
Specifications
Ambassador class
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Destroyed: 2344
Length: 526m
Commanded by: Capt. Rachel Garrett
Timeline
2344 The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C is destroyed by Romulan forces attacking the Klingon outpost on Narendra III. In a parallel timeline, the Enterprise suddenly disappears in a temporal rift, and the alleged cowardice infuriates the Klingons, leading to a twenty-year war with the Federation. In the restored timeline, Tasha Yar from the parallel time assists in defending the ship against the Romulans, but although they impress the Klingons as necessary, they fail. The survivors are captured by the Romulans (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise").
Gallery
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D

History
The Enterprise-D of the Galaxy class entered service in 2364, under the command of Jean-Luc Picard. The huge ship was equipped with the newest technology, such as a holodeck and state-of-the-art sensors and weapons. There are three shuttlebays, plus a large shuttle, the captain's yacht which is docked to the bottom of the saucer section. Much more spacious and comfortable than previous Starfleet vessels, many officers lived aboard with their families. William T. Riker temporarily assumed command when Picard had been abducted by the Borg in 2366, and when Picard was presumed dead in 2370. Capt. Edward Jellico was in command during Picard's away mission to Celtris III in 2369. After many scientific and diplomatic missions, the ship was destroyed in 2371 in the attempt to stop Soran from destroying the Veridian system.
Galaxy Gallery
Specifications
Galaxy class
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Commissioned: 2364
Destroyed: 2371
Length: 642m

Deck count: 42
Max. speed: Warp 9.2 (cruise)
Crew complement: 1014

Commanded by: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, Cmdr./Capt. William Thomas Riker, Capt. Edward Jellico
Timeline
2364 The Enterprise encounters Q, a seemingly omnipotent being, for the first time (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint"). First contact is made with the Ferengi (TNG: "The Last Outpost"). The Traveler accidentally transfers the Enterprise into the Galaxy M-33, millions of light years away (TNG: "Where No One Has Gone Before"). Natasha Yar is killed by an entity named Armus (TNG: "Skin of Evil"). The first official contact with the Romulans since 2311 takes place (TNG: "The Neutral Zone").
2365 The Iconian homeworld is discovered in the Neutral Zone, and Picard decides to destroy the technology so that the Romulans don't get their hands on it (TNG: "Contagion"). Q takes the Enterprise to a remote sector, where they encounter the Borg (TNG: "Q Who?").
2366 The Enterprise-C has to be sent back to the past to prevent a Klingon-Federation war from happening (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise"). Jean-Luc Picard is abducted and assimilated by the Borg. As Locutus he takes part in the attack on Starfleet at Wolf 359. Promoted to captain, Riker takes over command (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds").
2367 Duras kills K'Ehleyr, and Worf takes revenge by killing him (TNG: "Reunion"). The Enterprise successfully prevents the Romulans from supporting the Duras family in the Klingon Civil War (TNG: "Redemption").
2368 The Ktarians try to take over Starfleet by hypnotizing starship officers (TNG: "The Game"). A Romulan proposal for
reunification with Vulcan, initially supported by Spock, turns out to be a ruse to conquer the planet. (TNG: "Unification").
2369 Tensions with the Cardassians rise when Picard is lured into a trap and Cardassian vessels gather for an attack on the Federation, while Capt. Jellico is in command of the Enterprise (TNG: "Chain of Command"). Evidence is found that all humanoid lifeforms in the galaxy share common ancestors (TNG: "The Chase").
2370 A general speed limit of Warp 5 is introduced when it is discovered that warp drive damages subspace (TNG: "Force of Nature"). The starship Pegasus, featuring a phase cloaking device, is discovered in an asteroid, and its existence is revealed to the Romulans by Picard (TNG: "The Pegasus"). Picard is presumed dead, and Riker assumes command of the ship (TNG: "Gambit").
2371 In the attempt to stop Soran from destroying solar systems, the Enterprise-D engineering section is destroyed and the saucer crashes on Veridian III ("Star Trek: Generations").
2385 In a timeline created by Q, the Klingons have conquered the Romulan Empire. Picard investigates a strange phenomenon in the Neutral Zone, being a guest on Beverly Picard's starship Pasteur. The Pasteur is destroyed by the Klingons, but its crew is rescued by the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, now with three nacelles (TNG: "All Good Things").
Gallery
 

 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E

History
In 2373, the Sovereign-class Enterprise-E is the most advanced ship of Starfleet. Its weapons include quantum torpedoes which are fired from a module at the bottom of the saucer hull. The Sovereign class has a warp-capable captain's yacht too. After a one-year test phase, the ship takes part in the Sector 001 Battle of 2373 and successfully prevents the Borg from altering history, although the ship is being partially assimilated by them. In 2375 the Enterprise is damaged in a battle with the Son'a who attempt to take possession of the Ba'ku planet. The ship is damaged close to destruction in 2379 in the successful attempt to stop the Romulan Praetor Shinzon.
Sovereign Gallery
Specifications
Sovereign class
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Commissioned: 2372
Length: 685m
Deck count: 24
Commanded by: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
Timeline
2373 A Borg cube attacking Earth is destroyed, however, the Borg travel back to the year 2063 to prevent Cochrane's warp flight and the first Terran-Vulcan contact. The Enterprise-E crew has to correct history. While an away team helps Cochrane, the Borg are taking over the Enterprise-E, and Data is kidnapped by them. Picard reluctantly orders the self-destruction, but he also tries to free Data. Data, pretending to work with the Borg Queen who has provided him with human sensations, finally manages to kill the Borg before the ship blows up ("Star Trek: First Contact").
2375 The Federation and the Son'a are planning to relocate the peaceful Ba'ku in order to exploit the metaphasic particles surrounding their planet. Picard and his crew take the part of the Ba'ku and defend their way of living. Ru'afo of the Son'a, however, wants to fulfill his mission at any cost. After trying to beam out the Ba'ku by force, he attempts to use his particle collector without evacuating the planet, which would kill all inhabitants. Luckily he can be stopped in time. A reconciliation takes place, as it is revealed that the Son'a are actually the same race as the Ba'ku and left the planet 100 years ago ("Star Trek: Insurrection").
2379
On Romulus, the new Praetor Shinzon of Reman origin calls for a Federation ship for negotiations. Shinzon reveals himself as a clone of Picard, once created to infiltrate the Federation, but then banned to the Dilithium mines on Remus. It soon becomes clear that Shinzon needs Picard's cells in order to survive and, moreover, he is about to use a thalaron emitter against Earth, thereby killing all life on the planet. In the battle against Shinzon's superior vessel, the Scimitar, Picard's last chance is to ram the ship and to beam over to blow up the thalaron emitter. Data follows him, and he stays to fulfill this task, dying in the explosion of the Scimitar ("Star Trek Nemesis").
Gallery
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-J

History
The Enterprise-J appears to be a huge vessel. Nothing else is known about this Federation ship type that may be in service around 2550.
Specifications
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Time frame: 26th century
Timeline
26th century The ship takes part in the Battle of Procyon V against the Sphere Builders. Daniels briefly transfers Archer to the Enterprise-J (ENT: "Azati Prime").
Gallery
 
 

 

USS Enterprise NCC-1701 (alt.)

History
The Enterprise was built on the ground in Riverside, Iowa. It is the most advanced ship of Starfleet in the year 2258 of the alternate timeline. This alternate timeline is the result of an incursion of the Romulan Nero, whose home planet was destroyed by a supernova in the 24th century, for which he blames Ambassador Spock. Under the command of Captain Christopher Pike the Enterprise is part of a task force that unsuccessfully attempts to prevent the Romulan Nero from destroying the planet Vulcan. The planet implodes, the ship is damaged, Pike is captured and leaves Spock in command. Spock transfers his position to Cadet Kirk who, after successfully saving Earth from Nero's weapon, is promoted to captain. In 2259, after the death of Christopher Pike in a terrorist attack, James T. Kirk assumes command once again. The Enterprise is largely destroyed in the battle with the USS Vengeance. It is refitted and rechristened one year later.
Article: The New Enterprise Design
Gallery: Star Trek (2009) Vessels
Specifications
Constitution class
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Commissioned: 2258
Length: 366m (see here why)
Commanded by: Capt. Christopher Pike, Captain James T. Kirk
Timeline
2233 The 24th Romulan ship Narada under the command of Nero emerges from an anomaly and destroys the USS Kelvin. James T. Kirk is born on a medical shuttle that escapes from the ship, his father dies on the bridge. Nero's crusade sets off a new timeline, which would alter personal histories and eventually also the design of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 ("Star Trek (2009)").
2255 Kirk meets Captain Pike. The young man visits the construction site of the Starship Enterprise in Iowa and decides to join Starfleet ("Star Trek (2009)").
2258 The USS Enterprise is launched under the command of Captain Pike. The ship hurries to Vulcan as part of a task force to aid in what seems to be a natural disaster. But actually Nero has come to destroy Vulcan in revenge for the destruction of Romulus. He has captured Ambassador Spock to witness the catastrophe. The fleet is lost, the planet implodes, Pike is captured. Acting Captain Spock gets rid of Cadet Kirk who causes trouble, but later puts him into command. The Narada is destroyed after an unsuccessful attempt to attack Earth just like Vulcan. Admiral Pike retires. Cadet Kirk is promoted to captain and remains in command of the Enterprise, with Spock, McCoy, Scott, Sulu, Uhura and Chekov among his crew. Ambassador Spock stays in the 23rd century to tend to what is left of the Vulcans in a new colony
("Star Trek (2009)").
2259 After a mission to the planet Nibiru, where Kirk violated the Prime Directive, Kirk loses his command of the ship. He is reinstated after Captain Pike has been killed in a terrorist attack. Admiral Marcus sends the Enterprise on a mission to Qo'noS to eliminate the terrorist named John Harrison, but the ship's warp drive is disabled at the edge of Klingon space. After Harrison has been apprehend, he turns out to be Khan, a genetically enhanced human being who was working for Marcus. Marcus appears with a huge warship, the Vengeance, and fires at the Enterprise. The ship is largely destroyed, falls toward Earth and can only be saved through Kirk's sacrifice. Kirk's life is saved using Khan's blood. The Enterprise is refitted and rechristened one year later ("Star Trek Into Darkness").
Gallery
 

 

 

Credits

Thanks to Star Trek Dimension, Mike Swantak, Gustavo, Star Trek Allegiance LCARS Database and Pedro's Shiporama for some of the images.

 

More about Ships Named Enterprise

Enterprise Lineages on Display - "ship walls" and how authentic they are in light of retroactive continuity

 


A History of Ships Named Enterprise @ The Star Trek Archive

A History of Ships Named Enterprise @ LCARSCom.net 

 


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