Escort vessel

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference

In starship classification, an escort vessel is a starship whose primary purpose is to accompany other vessels (typically lesser armed ones) as a means of protection.

In 2154, Degra's ship was protected by two Xindi-Reptilian warships, which served as escort ships, during the proving ground Xindi superweapon prototype test mission in the Calindra system. (ENT: "Proving Ground")

In 2368, a radical faction based on the Beta moon of Peliar Zel intercepted the Federation shuttlecraft Hawking claiming to be an escort vessel. (TNG: "The Host")

The Defiant-class, originally developed to counter the Borg, is officially classified as an escort vessel, but was unofficially a warship. (DS9: "The Search, Part I").

Despite its euphemistic designation, the Defiant-class escort was the most advanced warship design in Starfleet in the 2370s. In Star Trek: First Contact, Worf protested Riker's statement that the Defiant was "little."

Starship types

attack cruiser • attack fighter • battle cruiser • battleship • bird-of-prey • cruiser • destroyer • dreadnought • escort vessel • explorer ship • flagship • freighter • frigate • garbage scow • heavy cruiser • hospital ship • interceptor • light cruiser • luxury liner • patrol ship • prison ship • raider • science vessel • scout ship • star cruiser • starliner • supply ship • survey ship • tanker • timeship • training vessel • transport ship • tug • warbird • warship