The "evolution" of the U.S.S. Enterprise

Is it plausible that the USS Enterprise only gets bigger from ship class to ship class?

An absolutely linear development of the ship's size is implausible for several reasons:

1. It is mathematically improbable (statistical probability).
2. For the advancing time (future), this would mean that Starfleet can only build larger.
3. As time progresses, this would mean that Starfleet would need more and more personnel to handle the tasks at hand. 
4. Even if the ENTERPRISE were always a long-range research vessel, the technology would be innovative and therefore require less space.

My calculations follow a purely mathematical approach. I do not compare bridge modules or disk heights with each other. I always pull in decks based on the rows of windows and then calculate a physically plausible room height. 

 Size calculations:

Excelsior Class

 Sovereign class

Enterprise (DSC)

 Ambassador class

 Odyssey class

ILM Size Chart by Andrew Probert

Old  (official) size charts show the exclusively linear development of the USS Enterprise. Some of them contain incorrect dimensions or incorrect side views.

 

The mathematical reality and also the one on screen often looks different. 

 

 

Commented on this by Bill George of ILM:

"The only description we had at the time was that it was "souped-up" and bigger than the Enterprise. The size the miniature was built to was determined by the camera guys as being the optimal size to shoot. As I recall Nilo [Rodis-Jamero] did that size comparison chart, but it wasn't necessarily followed. The issue of true scale wasn't a consideration. Budget, ease of use, art direction and dramatic intent were what influenced the construction of the ship."

The size of the Sagan class - USS Stargazer

The Sagan class was a type of starship operated by Starfleet during the early 25th century. The first ship in the class, the USS Stargazer, had already received an NCC commission, and was the first of a new class of ship to utilize components derived from research on the Borg cube Artifact that was found in the Beta Quadrant.

According to the official turbolift LCARS the ship has 16 decks.

USS Stargazer turbolift LCARS (juliensauctions.com)

• The premise for all my deck calculations: a deck is 2.5m + 0.5m for EPS cables, power cables, ... = 3m height for a deck. 
• My calculations follow a purely mathematical approach. I do not compare bridge modules or disk heights with each other. I always pull in decks based on the rows of windows and then calculate a physically plausible room height.

bridge blueprint by CBS

For my calculation I also used the Stargazer bridge blueprints. To do this, I traced the outline of the bridge and positioned it to my deck sizes. 
Note the design on several levels of the bridge. 
Level 1: Viewscreen
Level 2: Captain's chair
Level 3: Ready Room

 

Using the dimensions given on the blueprint the bridge fits perfect into the size of decks (using the premise that each deck is 3m high). 

schematic by Star Trek Online

With a deck height of 3m, this results in a total length of 540.7m.
The official length is therefore correct. This is one of the few examples where the official length of the ship coincides with the mathematical "real" ones.

Design fact: The Sagan class has 17 decks (not 16) because one deck of the lower pylons does not appear in the LCARS blueprint.
This doesn't matter for the upper pylons, as there is only one large deck (3 decks high) where the Plamsma Accelerators are housed.

USS Stargazer - by Doug Drexler

The size of the Inquiry class

The Inquiry class was a type of starship operated by Starfleet during the late 24th and early 25th centuries.

The deck design of the Inquiry class is quite unique because the windows don't run straight to the decks in the side view. They often curve slightly.

According to this blueprint the ship has 21 decks.

schematic by Star Trek Online

• The premise for all my deck calculations: a deck is 2.5m + 0.5m for EPS cables, power cables, ... = 3m height for a deck. 
• My calculations follow a purely mathematical approach. I do not compare bridge modules or disk heights with each other. I always pull in decks based on the rows of windows and then calculate a physically plausible room height.

Despite the difficulties of deck design, I was able to determine a plausible number of decks (based on the rows of windows). These fit the position of the shuttle bay very well, especially from the rear view. 

schematic by Star Trek Online

With a deck height of 3m, this results in a total length of 477.2m. 

The official length of 640.1m definitely can't be correct. If the ship were 640.1m long, then the deck height would be 4.02m including the cables and technology. This would leave only 3.52m of headroom. With a length of 640.2m, many more decks would have to be added, which would then result in huge windows that often extend over two decks.

STAR TREK Size Comparison Charts - Discovery 23rd century

A the size chart with the ships from Star Trek Discovery which are active in 23rd century.

 

PS: A special thank (and all copyright) for the picture material to: John Eaves, Drex Files, Star Trek Fact Files and Star Trek The Magazine, Starship Collection Magazine and The Light Works.

Size calculations:

Enterprise (DSC)      Klingon Sarcophagus

USS Discovery      Beacon of Kahless

USS Shenzhou      Cardenas class

Hoover class      Shepard class

Malachowski class      Nimitz class

Vulcan Shuttle Solkar 

 __________

The size of the Reliant class

The Reliant class was a type of Federation starship operated by Starfleet during the early 25th century. Based on the configuration of the Miranda class from the 23rd century, it is based on the same construction method.

According to this blueprint the ship has 14 decks.

schematic by Star Trek Online

• The premise for all my deck calculations: a deck is 2.5m + 0.5m for EPS cables, power cables, ... = 3m height for a deck. 
• My calculations follow a purely mathematical approach. I do not compare bridge modules or disk heights with each other. I always pull in decks based on the rows of windows and then calculate a physically plausible room height.

With a deck height of 3m, this results in a total length of 355m.
The official length of 251m definitely can't be correct, which can be deduced from the rows of windows - especially visible on the bridge segment (decks 1 and 2). If the ship were 251m long, then decks 1 and 2 would be one, or the deck height would only be 2.12m including the cables and technology. This would leave only 1.62m of headroom.

Klingon D-7 Class - Coloration

In terms of color, I wanted to orientate myself on the TOS filming miniature and at the same time build a bridge to the IKS Gr'oth from the DS9 episode "Trials and Tribble-ations".

The hull color of the Klingon D-7 class consists of two colors.
A lighter one:
+ 50% US Grey Light (71045)
+ 10% Gunship Green (71014)
+ 40% USAF Medium Grey (71120)

And a darker one:
+ the color I had mixed before
+ 20% Medium Sea Grey (71049)

While the ship in TOS has a rather blue-gray basic shade, the makers of Star Trek chose a rather green-gray shade for the DS9 episode. I also like that more, because the ship then fits better with the other known Klingon ships, which all have a green basic tone.

screencapture by trekcore.com (DS9 "Trials and Tribble-ations")

The size of the Odyssey class - Enterprise-F

The Odyssey class was a type of Federation starship operated by Starfleet during the late 24th century.  In 2401, the Enterprise-F was under command of Admiral Elizabeth Shelby. She led the opening celebrations for Frontier Day wherein she gave a speech to the entire fleet.

According to this blueprint the ship has 43 decks.

schematic by Star Trek Online

• The premise for all my deck calculations: a deck is 2.5m + 0.5m for EPS cables, power cables, ... = 3m height for a deck. 
• My calculations follow a purely mathematical approach. I do not compare bridge modules or disk heights with each other. I always pull in decks based on the rows of windows and then calculate a physically plausible room height.

With a deck height of 3m, this results in a total length of 1061.10m.
The official length is therefore correct. This is one of the few examples where the official length of the ship coincides with the mathematical "real" ones.

Design problems:

• at the end of decks 3 and 4 there is an oversized airlock (height over two decks)
• the airlock on deck 27 is as high as the entire deck (3m high)