How to divide ships into groups?

[cgutzmer]

I am trying to figure out the best way to arrange ships into logical groupings. The two main ways I can think of are by era or by job type. The era's I have suggested are
Civil War
Pre 190
1900-1939
1939-1945
1945-Present

I dont have older than that cause I dont have anything older for sale.

I am tempted to sort by job type
Sub
Patrol/Gun Boat
Destroyer
Cruiser
Battleship
Carrier
Support
etc etc etc

I have no idea if there is any kind of accepted standard for this kind of organizational idea.

Thoughts please
Thanks
Chris

[ct ertz]

Hay Chris,
Sounds like you are on the right track with the era or dates. Just wondering what your E Card navy numbers now?
CT

[Wyvern]

Having inventoried ECard's ships and asked about mission types, I came up with this:
Large Surface Combatants
Small Surface Combatants
Aviation Vessels
Submarines
ACW Ironclads

This is simplified to make managing the store's files easier for Chris.

My personal preference would be for time periods, as listed by Chris in his thread opener.

Wyvern

[SCEtoAUX]

If you are talking strictly military types then you should have a separate group for Amphibs (or gator freighters).

Maybe have a 1945-1975 era and then a 1975-Present era.

Around 1975 gas turbines were starting to come into use as the main propulsion engines for frigates, destroyers, and cruisers. The Perry class frigates, Spruance class destroyers, Arleigh Burke class DDGs, and Aegis cruisers were being developed, built, and then used by the US Navy as well as Navies of other allied countries. You also now have the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) which is quite a design change from traditional hull shapes for combat ships. Some of the non-USA navies also have some very interesting designs for their ships that would benifit in breaking up the 1945-Present era category.

[Darwin]

The problem with time periods is what does that really mean. The date that the ship was commissioned? Many warships operational lifetime spanned two or more 'time eras,' especially the BBs. As well, the more specific the category becomes, the less likely the customer is going to have one of those 'gee, how did I miss that kit being released" moments. In short...whatever you do is "wrong." That said, I propose Military-pre Dreadnought, Military-post Dreadnought, Military-modern, Civil, and Sail.

[cgutzmer]

Originally Posted by ct ertz

Hay Chris,
Sounds like you are on the right track with the era or dates. Just wondering what your E Card navy numbers now?
CT

Civil War - 19 ships
Pre 1900 - 2 ships
1900-1939 - 3 ships
1939-1945 - 8 ships
1945-Present - 11 ships

not a bad idea scetoaux!

I will want suggestions for ships I dont have sections for dating back as far as there are ships

good point darwin!

[cMags]

Hey Chris, does your software allow for multiple sorting options? So you could go to Ships -> Era -> WWII or instead Ships -> Class -> Battleship, and find the same model in both places? Might help folks find what they're looking for more easily.

[cgutzmer]

I am looking at a new search structure algorythm and yes, I could put it in multiple places but I dont want to muddy the waters with that more than I need to in the basic structure. The new advanced search will hopefully be VERY intuitive.
Chris

[Darwin]

Chris, just keep in mind the basic law of systemantics....any working system will be improved to the point of failure.

[strk]

Originally Posted by cgutzmer

Civil War - 19 ships
Pre 1900 - 2 ships
1900-1939 - 3 ships
1939-1945 - 8 ships
1945-Present - 11 ships

Maybe it is a good idea to create another group of ships: "missile era ships" or "modern ships" with beginning on 21 october 1967, when Israeli destroyer „Eilat” (HMS Zealous, a Z-class destroyer of the Royal Navy) has been sunk by Egyptian ASMs launched from soviet type 205 "Osa" (Wasp) class missile boats.