Complete Guide to Tier 5 Vessels in Star Trek: Online

So you've finally made it through the lower ranks, despite the lack of quest content, broken Fleet Actions and interminable PvP queues. You are finally an Admiral.

Six different ships are available to Starfleet Admirals, and all have their own unique specs and uses.

Check out full stats for all the Admiral-level, tier V ships in Star Trek Online:

Easily recognizable to anyone who has seen the Next Generation movies First Contact, Insurrection, or Nemesis, the Assault Cruiser includes the Sovereign class exemplified by the U.S.S. Enterprise-E. The Assault Cruiser comes in Sovereign, Noble, and Majestic class variations.

Full stats:

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  Minimum Rank: Admiral
• Crew Complement: 400
• Weapons: 4 Fore, 4 Aft
• Device Slots: 4
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Ensign Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Commander Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science
• Console Upgrades: 3 Tactical, 2 Science, 4 Engineering
• Turn Rate: 6
• Impulse Modifier: 0.15

Even larger than a Battle Cruiser, the Star Cruiser is designed to be at the heart of Starfleet's toughest engagements, as the flagship of a fleet or providing support to forces in the field. The Battle Cruiser comes in Avenger, Vanguard, and Emissary class variations.

Full stats:

• 

  click to enlarge
  Minimum Rank: Admiral
• Crew Complement: 1,000
• Weapons: 4 Fore, 4 Aft
• Device Slots: 4
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Commander Engineering, 1 Commander Engineering, 1 Ensign Science, 1 Lieutenant Science
• Console Upgrades: 2 Tactical, 3 Science, 4 Engineering
• Turn Rate: 6
• Impulse Modifier: 0.15

All of the Admiral-level ships retain the same basic roles as their lower-level counterparts. Cruisers still suck at turning and can take massive hull damage, Escorts are still great at hit and run tactics, and Science Vessels still excel in a support role.

The choice, then, comes down to the small variations between the Admiral-level ships for each type. The Assault Cruiser, for example, has an extra Tactical station and console compared to the Star Cruiser, giving it a slight edge in terms of pure offense.

The Star Cruiser has an extra Engineering station and console, and so is slightly better in a support role than the Assault Cruiser. The Star Cruiser also has a much larger crew complement.

The Prometheus-class Advanced Escort has made a few appearances in Star Trek series, and is most memorable for its multi-vector technology that allowed the ship to split into three parts. This feature was prone to malfunction, though, and has been removed from modern versions of the ship. Advanced Escorts come in Prometheus, Cerebrus, and Phoenix classes.

Full stats:

• 

  click to enlarge
  Minimum Rank: Admiral
• Crew Complement: 150
• Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft
• Device Slots: 1
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Commander Tactical, 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Ensign Science, 1 Lieutenant Science
• Console Upgrades: 2 Engineering, 3 Science, 4 Tactical
• Turn Rate: 15
• Impulse Modifier: 0.20

Fleet Escorts were originally designed to support an entire fleet while on a mission, and as such are equipped with advanced engineering facilities, compared to other Escorts. Fleet Escorts come in Hermes, Gryphon, and Dervish classes.

Full stats:

• 

  click to enlarge
  Minimum Rank: Admiral
• Crew Complement: 200
• Weapons: 4 Fore, 3 Aft
• Device Slots: 1
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Commander Tactical, 1 Commander Tactical, 1 Ensign Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Science
• Console Upgrades: 2 Engineering, 3 Science, 4 Tactical
• Turn Rate: 15
• Impulse Modifier: 0.20

The difference between the Advanced and Fleet escorts, like the Admiral-level cruisers, comes down mainly to bridge stations and console slots. The Advanced Escort has an extra Science station and console, while the Fleet Escort has an additional Engineering station and console slot. The Fleet Escort also has a slightly larger crew, but nowhere near as significant a difference as in the Cruisers.

One of the first Luna-class Reconnaissance Science Vessels was the U.S.S. Titan, commanded by Captain William T. Riker after he left the U.S.S. Enterprise-E. Recon Science Vessels come in Luna, Sol, and Polaris classes.

Full Recon Science Vessel stats:

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  Minimum Rank: Admiral
• Crew Complement: 350
• Weapons: 3 Fore, 3 Aft
• Device Slots: 2
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Ensign Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Commander Science, 1 Commander Science
• Console Upgrades: 2 Engineering, 3 Tactical, 4 Science
• Turn Rate: 9
• Impulse Modifier: 0.15

The Deep Space Science Vessel is designed with the resources and technology necessary to reach, study, and chart even the most distant star systems. They are built to be truly self-sufficient on extended voyages. Deep Space Science Vessels come in three variations, the Trident, Oracle, and Destiny classes.

Full Deep Space Science Vessel stats:

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  click to enlarge
  Minimum Rank: Admiral
• Crew Complement: 500
• Weapons: 3 Fore, 3 Aft
• Device Slots: 2
• Bridge Officer Stations: 1 Lieutenant Tactical, 1 Ensign Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Engineering, 1 Lieutenant Commander Science, 1 Commander Science
• Console Upgrades: 3 Engineering, 2 Tactical, 4 Science
• Turn Rate: 13
• Impulse Modifier: 0.17

Of the two Admiral-rank Science Vessels, the Recon Science Vessel is clearly the more combat-focused, with its extra Tactical console and bridge station. Captains who prefer a straight fight will do well in one.

For the captain who prefers to take more of a support role, the Deep Space Science Vessel, with its extra Engineering station and console, might be a better fit. The Deep Space Science Vessel is also faster and far more maneuverable, making it more when maneuvering. The Deep Space Science Vessel also has a larger crew complement.

Both ships, like all Science Vessels, are capable of targeting enemy subsystems and have substantial shields, so the overall difference in tactics between the two designs is likely to be minimal. It just comes down, like so many things in Star Trek, to the Captain's prerogative.