During the Interstellar Wars the Terran Confederation did not use the common later Imperial forms of designations for their warships. Instead they used a system of nomenclature that owed more to the Terran 2nd Age of Exploration (2050 AD - 2095 AD). Thus rather than dividing their ships into the more familiar groupings of Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers etc. the Terrans used the following ship types

• Battleships: These were large capital ships designed with the sole purpose of meeting enemy warships in battle and defeating them.
• Battlecruisers: This term was only introduced during the 9th Interstellar War. When the Terrans developed meson guns they found that they were most effectively employed in ships smaller than their current Battleships. Hence the term "Battlecruiser" was introduced to refer to capital ships mounting meson guns. These ships were closer in size to the large Frigates that were common in the Terran fleets at that time (circa 35,000 Td as against circa 120,000 Td for Battleships and circa 20,000 Td for Frigates). Their role however was not that of a traditional cruising ship but that of a capital ship.
• Frigates: These were designed as "Cruising Ships". Their roles were scouting, commerce raiding and commerce protection.
• Sloops: These were small ships designed for general patrol duties. Frequently encountered in peacetime as picket vessels.
• Missile boats: These were small non-jump capable vessels. Built around a small mass produced hull fitted with a large number of missiles to counter the heavy missile armament of Vilani vessels. The Missile Boats were one of the two "elite" branches of the Confederation Navy.
• Mother Ships: Jump capable tenders for the Missile Boats.
• Raiders: These were small "expendable" ships designed to destroy enemy merchant vessels. Generally featured long endurance and a powerful armament. Extensively used in the scouting role in addition to their anti-commerce roles. The Raiders were one of the two "elite" branches of the Confederation Navy.
• Bomb Ketches: These were sloop sized vessels designed specifically for planetary bombardment roles. Distinguished by their slow acceleration, heavy defences and strong missile batteries.
• Guardships: Ships assigned to defend specific fixed locations. Generally these were an assortment of obsolete warships no longer suited for frontline duties assigned with little or no modifications. However some purpose designed guardships were built for strategic systems. These were similar to non-jump capable capital ships.