JANES FIGHTING STARSHIPS
United Federation of Planets (updated)
The early Federation vessels were primarily small and constructed with exploration and diplomacy in mind.
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The
Orion Class system patrol vessel served as an early escort and intrasystem police vessel. Later models were fitted for deeper space exploration.
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The
Wasp is a two-man heavy fighter, reminiscent of a seagoing Naval aircraft known as an F4 Phantom. It has both space and atmospheric flight capabilities.
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The
Altair Class escort is the first true deep space vessel with capabilities as a warship. It first saw action in the disastrous First Contact campaign against the Drengin. Later refitting allowed it to continue its service as a long range surveyor.
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The
Miranda Class light cruiser came into service as a more advanced combatant to counter the growing Drengin threat. She continued a long traditon of faithful service well into the 24th century, seeing action against the Klingons as well. The
USS Reliant is pictured here.
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The
Entropy Class Fast Cruiser adds increased manueverability and advanced weaponry to the basic hull design of the
Miranda.
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The most recognizable vessel in the Starfleet arsenal is the
Constitution Class cruiser, represented here by the
USS Enterprise. The most successful design in the history of Starfleet, she is the first to have separate saucer and engineering sections, connected by a small neck-like tower. She boasts both beam weaponry and torpedoes, with formidable shielding.
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The
Patriot Class heavy cruiser was an experimental variation; bearing a thicker, less vulnerable tower section, the engine nacelles were parallel to the engineering suprastructure. This arrangement created instability for the warp fields, and the Patriots were limited in speed. They became relegated to shorter range planetary defense roles.
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The
Broadsword Class battleship is the first dedicated warship to be created by Starfleet. As an answer to the dual threats posed by the Drengin and the Klingons, the
Broadsword was packed with heavy weaponry and shielding. Her nacelles were encased in heavy armor plating, first used in the design of the
Patriot class heavy cruiser above.
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One of the most powerful designs to come out of
Utopia Planitia is that of the
Sovereign class dreadnought. Armed with quantum torpedoes and heavy beam weaponry, the Sovereign was indeed ruler of the battlespace. Yet heavier enemy vessels were created, necessitating desing of an even larger warship to counter the threat.
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Half again as large as the
Sovereigns, the most massive spacegoing vessel designed of any fleet is the
Monarch class superdreadnought. Although purists decry the title, "superdreadnought" as hyperbole, these titans are truly monumental in appearance and power. The mere presence of a Monarch within 100 parsecs of their declared spatial borders was considered an act of war by the Klingons!
JANES FIGHTING STARSHIPS to be continued. Up next: special ops.
