In an early phase of the New Technology engineering and materials breakthrough of the late 2260s, which lead to the modernisation of the entire Star Fleet from 2270 onwards, Starfleet Engineering's Research and Development (R&D) department designed and trialled three separate prototype spacecraft. These vessels, each specially tailored for a different specific role, were the very antitheses of Starfleet's usual "Class One Starships" which excelled at performing any task asked of them. In contrast, these new prototype vessels were specialist ships, better and/or more resource-effective than a starship at performing a particular task but totally unsuited to performing any other. As such, new parlance was introduced, and this type of ship became known as "Class Two Spacecraft".