Ships of the Star Fleet - Volume One/State of the Fleet

Jump to navigation Jump to search

State of the Fleet[edit | edit source]

Star Fleet is once again at the center of a whirlwind of rapidly changing public opinion. The decline of the Fleet in the period after the Kznti Incursion - which led to a low of about 1,260 active, Class One starships in 2284 - is in the process of being reversed. However, while the present Star Fleet Commissioner is committed to his predecessor’s goal of a 1600-ship Class One fleet, other matters have since risen to the forefront of the public consciousness: the current controversy surrounding the secret development of the project code-named Genesis has settled on, among others, Star Fleet Division. In the midst of a ten-year buildup, it thus appears that the Fleet may be headed back into a period of “undernourishment.”

This is not the first time the mission profile of Star Fleet has been threatened with dramatic alterations because of political developments within the Federation Council chamber. In the years following the Four Years War, the consensus supported a balance of offensive, defensive, and exploratory capabilities. Renewed hostilities with the Klingon Empire during the Organian Conflict bolstered this view. Toward the end of the 2260s, however, political strife swept the Empire as Bur Chak and Sta Mura kingdoms battled for the Emperor's seat. This rendered the border relatively quiet, and combined with the peace imposed by the Organians created a pacifist movement within the Federation that made its presence felt in the Council. Regular calls for large cuts in Star Fleet appropriations began to be heard. The brief period of warfare that followed the Kznti Incursion in 2272 momentarily stemmed this tide. It soon reappeared, however, strengthened by self-recriminatory claims that the Kzin were the victims of “hemming-in” by the Federation. The final blow came with the revelation of covert Star Fleet operations against the Kzin for three years prior to the latter’s attack on Tau Ceti. A series of legislative acts followed that sharply reduced the Fleet’s offensive potential.

As a result, by 2282 the Fleet was very different from the one that ten years earlier had defeated the Kzin at Zetar. TacFleet and the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) had suffered the sharpest reductions, while the subquadrant fleets had seen their resources concentrated in the various system defense forces and exploratory efforts. By 2284, the Class One starship fleet had fallen to 69 classes and 1,265 hulls, down from a high of 104 classes and 1,907 hulls in 2268. (It should be noted that these numbers refer to year-long averages of ‘front-line’ classes which include some that move in and out of various states of ready reserve.)

The numbers cited above, however, tell only part of the story. Grave strategic weaknesses emerged from numerous individual cost-saving and mission-altering actions. Construction of the successful but costly Ariel (SC 2200)-class shuttlecarriers was halted at four hulls (of ten planned). With the exception of the Ishtasse (cruiser) and Fury (frigate) classes, plans for new medium starship construction (e.g. cruiser, light cruiser, perimeter action ship, etc.) were cancelled. Slated construction of additional mixed-use Enterprise (CH 1701)-class heavy cruisers was changed, with the result being enormous expenditures for the cheaper, limited-use, exploratory heavy cruisers of theTikopai (CH 1800) class. Along a similar vein, eight Avenger (FH 1860)- class heavy frigates were refitted for limited-use, exploratory duty (Endurance/FR 1862 class). Insufficient funding also hindered research and development efforts. The most spectacular casualty here was the Space Control Ship (SCS) design program, which suffered its most serious blow when funding was curtailed on the connected trans-warp development effort. Less conspicuous were the innumerable problems confronted in efforts to design and build a battlecruiser (Menahga/DH 3100 and [[Mitannic class|Mitannic/CG 3103 classes) and a single engine, linear warp driven scout/destroyer.

Page 2

The diminished retaliatory capabilities of the Fleet soon led to problems on the frontier. By Earth-year 2283 the Bur Chak kingdom of Shanto K’tor had consolidated its hold over the Klingon Emperor’s seat, and the political stability this provided – coupled with the decline of the Star Fleet deterrent – soon prompted a new wave of adventurism along the border. Moreover, intelligence revealed evidence of renewed collusion between the Klingon and Romulan military establishments, with the apparent goal being the securing of uncharted space outside the “underbelly” of the Federation (external to subquadrants two south and three south). On 08 June 2283, Lars-Erik Valdemar was named Federation Commissioner of the Star Fleet Division, largely on the basis of his accurate predictions of the consequences of retrenchment. In accepting the post, he was assured of Council support to reverse the Fleet’s downward slide. This he received, but not without continued resistance from a weakened but still vocal pacifist bloc.

Valdemar’s plan was weighted more towards rectifying specific past mistakes than enacting a broad overhaul. To deal with personnel problems, he approved a number of incentives for re-enlistment, increased acceptances to the Academies, and made moves to improve morale (including a redesign of Star Fleet uniforms). To restore the ailing Class One Fleet, Valdemar put forth a plan for a “1600-ship” Star Fleet, a plan that would reverse the decline of a fleet that had reached a high of almost 2,000 active, Star Fleet-crewed ships during the late 2260s. He first reactivated numerous old cruisers, light cruisers, frigates, etc. to free newer, medium starship hulls for TacFleet and RDF service. Rapid progress was then made on clearing new construction of long-proposed starships of these types. The inflexibility of Tikopai-class heavy cruisers was dealt with through construction of an improved Enterprise (ex-Levant/CH 1843) class and uprating of existing starships of the older Enterprise class. The heavy frigate force was strengthened through construction of improved Avenger (Cyane/FH 1890 class) starships. The Kirov (DN 2150) class, one of the dreadnought designs to emerge from the Avenger Design Refit Program (Project ADREFT), was also put into production, and five vessels have to date been built. Increases in the funding of trans-warp research, while not providing the new means of super-propulsion hoped for, did yield the advanced, circumferential warp engine (ACE), and thus made possible the development of a new generation of scouts and destroyers (Cygnus/ST 617, Amerind/ST 626, and Cochise/DD 530 classes). In related moves, the shipyard availability schedules of the two space control ships were modified. The Ingram (SO 2001) was fitted with advanced LN-72 linear warp engines earlier than originally planned, which allowed the Excelsior (SO 2000) to remain on station as a flagship in southern subquadrants two and three. Ingram has since left drydock and is active on flagship duty; Excelsior is currently scheduled for a complete overhaul to reflect design improvements built into her sister ship.

The goal of the ten-year, Class One fleet buildup is a “year-long average” of approximately 90 classes and 1600 active hulls by 2295. In 2288, with the buildup well underway, Valdemar retired his position as Star Fleet Commissioner to accept a seat on the United Earth Triumvirate. His successor, T. Sela Arno, was immediately confronted with the controversy that followed the detonation of the flawed “Genesis” device. Star Fleet was already facing the difficult problems of maintaining political support for new ship construction and finding sufficient personnel for an expanded shore establishment, mobile ground force, and operating forces. The change in public and political perceptions of the Fleet has only exacerbated these problems. Moreover, Arno has never had the close connections with the Council that so aided Valdemar in difficult times. It is therefore possible that the present efforts to bring Star Fleet back to top form will fall short of stated goals. With continued Klingon and Romulan activity outside the southern subquadrants, these are portentous developments.

ACHIEVING A 1600-SHIP FLEET[edit | edit source]

The planned 1600-ship Class One fleet is shown in the last column of Table 1-1. These numbers may be influenced by many factors. The deactivation of older, front-line vessels ahead of schedule; the cancellation or cutback of some construction programs; and a change in the “direction” of the Fleet’s primary mission profile in the coming five-year period are all possible occurrences that could affect Star Fleet’s ability to maintain a “1600-ship” fleet.

TABLE 1-1. STAR FLEET STRENGTH (January 2290)
2268 2270 2275 2280 2285 2290 2295
Active Ships 1,907 1,863 1,535 1,388 1,292 1,487 1,633
Battle Force Ships 1,716 1,594 1,385 1,232 1,164 1,325 1,491
Active Ships
Cruisers
CH 109 107 84 91 90 93 95
CS 3 15 28 35 37
CG 1 7 9 10
CD 6 6 6 10 15 15
CKE/CE 59 49 15 12 5 5 9
CA 88 83 57 33 21 38 40
CL 70 51 29 20 17 12 20
Frigates
FH 11 21 15 23 28
FR 66 64 49 61 68 75 92
FF 43 36 17 25 29 29 41
Destroyers
DH 20 15 14 12 5 5 3
DD 105 97 92 82 77 89 87
Scouts
SS 30 27 22 30 32 42 55
ST 91 78 49 45 43 52 61
Patrol Combatants
DN 14 12 11 23 28 30 30
CO 10 13 8 10 13 13 18
PKA/PA 237 248 250 233 216 268 291
CV 151 106 99 78 52 67 84
CP 307 271 268 205 211 218 229
CR 310 331 301 225 193 201 238
Shuttlecarriers  6* 4 4 5 6
Space Control Ships 1 2
Fleet Auxiliaries
Transports 45 48 31 30 25 34 36
Transport/Tugs 52 55 40 33 30 29 43
Tenders 31 51 25 27 22 25 21
Combat Support 33 41 26 35 30 43 20
Other 30 74 28 31 21 31 22
Star Fleet Reserve Force
CH 10 12 4 9
CL 21 14 2 5
FH 2
FR 3 5 8 12
FS   29** 29
DN 3 3 3 3
PKA/PA 7 7 8 15 15 19 30
Auxiliary Ships 10 9 17 21 10 11 18
* Indicates the six Coronado class ships reclassified as “through-deck cruisers” in 2270.
** Represents the 29 ships of the new Fury class.
Page 3

CRUISERS[edit | edit source]

The heavy cruiser continues to be the focal point of Star Fleet strategy. A total of 93 vessels of this type are currently listed as active on the Star Fleet Vessel Register: the seven ships of the Enterprise (II) class; the 18 Ashanti-class heavy cruisers, the Tikopai class ships (33); the Enterprise class (3); Constitution (II) class (7); Endeavor class (14); Achernar class (9); and one ship each of the older Bonhomme Richard and Constitution classes. By 2295 this number will stand at 95 after the Enterprise (II) class finishes building/converting and the Essex (CHT 1727) and Potemkin (CHT 1711) are retired. Long-range plans call for the design finalization and beginning of construction on the proposed Reigate heavy cruiser class by 2296 to replace the aging Achernar starships on active duty. Also, additional ships of the Ishtasse cruiser type may be procured to provide an improved, low-end heavy cruiser capability.

Star Fleet is planning a new class of exploratory cruisers, currently designated as the Lng’we Chi design. These ships will be smaller and slightly faster than the Nineveh (CKE 21050) class now in production. Three ships are scheduled to be active by 2295.

The eight ships of the new Amchitka (CL 1310) class will be in service by 2293, bringing the total number of active light cruisers to 20. Plans to supplement the current through-deck cruiser force with an additional 12 ships of the Advance (CD 1981) design have been shelved.

The Excel (CS 2545)-class strike cruisers are scheduled to begin building in late 2293, and two ships will be in service by 2295. These cruisers will supplement the current Belknap (CS 2501) and Impervious (CS 2530) classes. All ten ships will be in service by 2298.

Number/Type 2290
(Actual)
2291 2292 2293 2294 2295
CH 1701 Heavy Cruiser/Enterprise (II) class 1 1 1
CS 2545 Strike Cruiser/Excel class 2
CG 3112 Battlecruiser/Andernach class 1
CKE 21050 Large Exploratory Cruiser/Nineveh class 1 1
CE 23005 Exploratory Cruiser/Lng’we Chi class 1 2
CL 1310 Light Cruiser/Amchitka class 2 3 2 1
FH 1966 Heavy Frigate/Kresta class 1 2 3
FR 2300 Frigate 4 4 5 5
FF 3231 Fast Frigate/Decisive class 1 2 3 3 4
SS 710 Superscout/lanetos class 3 3 3 4
ST 626 Scout/Amerind class 3 3 3
CO 2131 Command Ship/Etna class 1 2 2
PKA 1170 Large Perimeter Action Ship/Kirsanov class 3 1 1
PA 1125 Perimeter Action Ship/Engage class 2 3 2 3 2 1
PA 1010 Perimeter Action Ship/Akyazi class 10 9 6 4 4 3
CV 3340 Corvette/Riga class 2 3 4 4 4
SC 2204 Shuttlecarrier/Fredrikstad class 1
TT 3831 Transport-Tug/Doppler class 2 3 5 7 7
TT 3900 Transport-Tug/Dollond class 3 3 5 5
Total New Ships 19 23 32 35 41 45
*Figures are dates of commissioning.

FRIGATES[edit | edit source]

Star Fleet is planning to have approximately 20 new frigate-type ships active by 2295, at least 14 of which will be of the FR 2300 design. These ships are needed to replace the aging Surya (FR 1850) and Coventry (FR 1230)-class frigates, which will begin retiring at the turn of the century. The Daran (FF 3201) and Darter (FF 3213) classes will be supplemented by the Decisive (FF 3231)-class fast frigates, the first of which will join the fleet in January 2291. These ships will have a smaller profile and will be faster than the previous classes. Nineteen ships are planned.

The Kresta (FH 1966)-class heavy frigates are scheduled to begin building in mid-2292. These will be the last frigate-type ships constructed based on the Avenger (FH 1860) design. All nine vessels will be completed by 2296.

DESTROYERS[edit | edit source]

No new destroyer-type construction is planned before the turn of the century. The reactivation of 12 older Kovaris (DD 460) class ships in 2287 and 2288 has increased the force to 89; Star Fleet’s goal was 100 ships. (In the 2270s Star Fleet was not able to maintain a force of 100 destroyers.) The two remaining Detroyat (DH 1100)-class heavy destroyers will be retired in 2293 or 2294, leaving only three active ships of this type (Menahga/DH 3100 class).

SCOUTS[edit | edit source]

Nine new ships of the Amerind (ST 626) design will be commissioned between 2293 and 2295, joining the four already in service. The new vessels will have an increased range and superior scientific capability. Also, additional ships of the Darwin (ST 652) class may be procured sometime after 2295.

The three superscout classes will be supplemented by ships of the new Janetos (SS 710) class beginning in early 2292. Sixteen ships will be built; all are scheduled to be active by 2296. The long-awaited Arusha-class superscouts are slated for construction.

Page 4