Names for ship classes always presented me with a few problems:-
I always assumed a couple of reasons for no class names in FSOTSI:
Primarily, these ships are the default warships for their tech level throughout the Imperium ( they are pictured with insignia of most of the factions if memory serves).
This means that whilst ships in the Solomani Rim would have more terran-centric names (everything ranging from " Repulse " and " Reknown" through " Pericles ", " Ajax ", through to " Archduke Adair " - ships that were constructed in Vland would have more Vilani sounding or relevant names - " Eneri Ikaddur " etc. Whilst the 3I of course encapsulates Terran/Solomani, Vilani, and many other cultures - it just seemed kind of silly to adopt one class name for a type of ship that would be built all over the Imperium. What would the Vilani worlds make of the " Hiroshi Estigarribia " class ?
To reflect this I have always accepted that these ships whilst being near identical would have minor differences in layout or weaponary to reflect cultural differences within the Imperium - sort of like on Earth where weapon systems are adopted by a country that is not the manufacturer and are therefore given different fitouts and are named accordingly. Best example I can give is probably Israel which has a history of taking existing designs, changing a few things and calling the vehicle/plane/boat something else.
Basically, the Imperial Administration on Muan Gwi would be presented with the latest blueprints for the BB-15 (or whatever) - referred to as Naval Construction Project 2373HXSW - 1112 . It may have an informal working name adopted by the designers and the Imperial Procurement Agency - but when the first ship is christened on the construction slips at Muan Gwi GM shipyard - it will be named " Pericles " - and all ships in Sol Domain will follow this naming system.
Having one overall class names risks multiple, if not tens of " Emperor Gavins " running around the Imperium. Obviously farming out the ship names from a central naming authority on Core might work - but only for the larger fleet class ships (BB/CV/). Anything from cruisers down I think the sheer numbers of ships involved will require a certain autonomy in ship naming.
In the Shattered Imperium - I think it would make little difference the brige conversation might go as follows:
Sensors Operator :" Sir, we're tracking two large contacts, they jumped in about four hours ago and are heading in system. We're getting Ziru Sirka i.d.s"
Bridge Officer: " What do you make of them ?"
"
Sensors :" From size and EMS " I'd say they're Shaddar Class - basically their version of the Pericles "
Bridge Officer : Right, call up the data on Shaddar - let's see what we're looking at...
Secondly, it could be argued that the ships presented in FS are in fact just one example of a BB-15 and in fact there are multiple types of BB-15 - which could be a contentious point amongst people who really care about these things
As usual, contrary views welcome and expected
RR.
