An exploration starship may be the only friendly ship in a distant system. Its embarked shuttles, fighters, and smaller ships therefore have to perform tasks away from the parent hull. A very large starship with only six or eight shuttles would have too few craft for that independent role. The additional small craft shown aboard Enterprise in Discovery fit this view of an explorer carrying its own supporting fleet.
Notable Point · 3:46:10-3:46:43
Why an exploration starship should carry its own small-craft fleet
An isolated explorer needs enough shuttles and fighters to carry out tasks away from the main ship.