I need a ship class

[Andromeda]

TMP era, smaller than the Constitution class.  Not an explorer or heavy cruiser but something that would work inside controlled space.

Thanks in advance.

[Scottish Andy]

How about the SFC Okinawa class frigate?



Accordng to the Klingon Academy stats on her, she has a crew of 80 and is 183m long. I figure her to be about 5 decks tall.

[F9thCenturus]

TMP era, smaller than the Constitution class.  Not an explorer or heavy cruiser but something that would work inside controlled space.

Thanks in advance.

You could also consider the Akula Class, or the Akyazi Class. 

[F9thCenturus]

Also thought of the Phobos Class.  That might also be suitable.

[Panzergranate]

What about a Podesti Class cruiser (CR 2400).... which has simialr lines to the Enterprise Class, apart from the virually non existant neck and longer hangar deck.

Then there are the rebuilt TOS era Victory (CM 980) and Viceroy (CM 990) medium cruisers, which have interestingly different hull design. Both are internal space non-exploration starships. Both are very small classes, with the Viceroy being derived from the earlier Victory class.

Both are slightly larger than a Miranda and equally as radical in hull shape.

[Andromeda]

Okay, after some research I'm down to the following:

Miranda, Soyuz, Akula, and Okinawa.  What can you tell me about each (or direct me to)?

[Lieutenant_Q]

Miranda and Soyuz are derivatives of each other.

Miranda is basically a combat ship, NCL/NCA class, while the Soyuz is a science version with the same space frame.

Akula is a DD, pure and simple.  Its SFC's version of the Saladin.

Okinawa, is a FF, I don't know much about that one.

[Andromeda]

Puts me down to Miranda and Okinawa.

[F9thCenturus]

Miranda and Soyuz are derivatives of each other.

Miranda is basically a combat ship, NCL/NCA class, while the Soyuz is a science version with the same space frame.

Akula is a DD, pure and simple.  Its SFC's version of the Saladin.

Okinawa, is a FF, I don't know much about that one.

Actually the Soyuz was geared more for patrol and combat than science.  Limited production meant for patrol/defense and to fill gaps in the fleet structure on a stable design that could be produced quickly with minimal resources.  The Miranda hull was the perfect choice because of the modularity of the hull design.

The Mirandas were meant to be every bit as versatile as the Constitutions, but have a smaller hull.  Suited for combat, patrol, science/exploration, and some diplomatic missions. 

The Saladin is a one engine destroyer/escort, with the engine being below the saucer.  The Akula is a two engine destroyer/escort, with one engine being above the saucer and the other being below.  It's also used in other Trek games.  I think KA or Starfleet Academy had it, and I know Shattered Universe had it.

Okinawa is meant for light patrols, rarely ever put near the front lines.  Usually monitor the shipping lanes for pirates and raiders and such.  Since they're small, they're harder to hit, but faster and more manuverable.  That's their greatest advantage should they ever end up in a combat situation, because they are very lightly armed.

[Scottish Andy]

I agree with Centaurus, Rommie. If you want an interior patrol ship, go for the Okinawa. Destroyers like the Loknar/Phobos, Saladin and Akula are still front line ships. Light-cruiser armament without most of the science, exploratory, diplomatic, and deep-space ability of the cruisers. They have crews of around 200.

The Miranda class is a very capable light cruiser with a lots of shuttles and about 300+ crew. If that's not what you're wanting, go with the Okinawa. They;re interior patrol ships, guarding the spacelanes, customs checks, scaring off pirates. They are very maneuverable because they are small, but they are also lightly armed and short on the multirole capabilities of cruisers.

In my current view of the Starfleet  (which no doubt Larry will argue or just roll his eyes at), their cruisers are multirole platforms, destroyers are smaller cruisers gutted of their multirole capability but still well armed and more manoeuvrable, and frigates are smaller destroyers with even less weaponry.

[Commander La'ra]

In my current view of the Starfleet  (which no doubt Larry will argue or just roll his eyes at), their cruisers are multirole platforms, destroyers are smaller cruisers gutted of their multirole capability but still well armed and more manoeuvrable, and frigates are smaller destroyers with even less weaponry.

[Vulcan]I don't argue.  I merely point out the flaws in your theories because they are naturally inferior to mine.[/Vulcan]

 

[Scottish Andy]

That's not [Vulcan], that's [Joe]. 

[Commander La'ra]

Oh.  Right.  My mistake.

An Okinawa type would be my choice, incidentally.  Or some ship in that size category.

[Andromeda]

Okinawa it is.  Thank you all for the input.  Do a google search for federation ship classes.  This thread is at #3 as of yesterday.  Amusing.  Very amusing.

[Panzergranate]

The Soyuz isn't a science vessel..... the books as an support assault frigate due to the Mega Turrets (Ph4) top and bottom.

I run the Soyuz under its designation as an F-FAS.

There are the Knox, Daran, Darter and Decisive classes of frigates, not to mention the Commanche, Kresta and Oberon classes of heavy frigates.

Unlike the Miranda class heavy frigate, which is a rebuilt Surya Class, the Oberon Class is a new build based on the Miranda. The differences are in systems and shielding and a few minor cosmetic  differences.

The Know is a shortened hulled Miranda with Ph1s on pylons to cover the rear arcs. However no torpedoes.

The Daran is a Knox minus the pylon phasers with the Darter and Decisve Classes the same except for Drone racks.

The Kresta Class is the Drone version of the Oberon Class (another new build).

The Commanche is the three engined assault frigate version of the Miranda.

"Models Please" has modelled the most of the abov, if not all of them..... where does he find the time??

I've only managed the Knox, Daran, Darter, Decisive and Commanche classes so far plus the Swazey Class patrol frigate.

In the TOS camp there is the Surya, obviously, the long serving Burke Class plus variants and the Quillen (FR 1900 - 1929) which is the Surya with SCNN engines instaed of the more usual PB 32 / PB 47 types.

[Commander La'ra]

Mileage may vary when it comes to defining Star Trek ship classes, Panzer.

[Andromeda]

As the title says, now I need a ship model.  A jpeg or two will do.

I'm looking for something freighterish that doesn't immediately jump out at you and say "this is so star trek the narrow corridors are 10 feet wide and polished"

[Panzergranate]

I'm a bit of a fan of ad-hoc starships, freighters and auxilaries. You know, the rear line and fringe edges of the warfront vessels that free up proper warships for the exciting stuff.

SFB makes good use of them to spice up scenarios and campaigns, therfore so do we in our LAN campaigns here. They're also cheap on BPV.

I can have 2 x AuxCVA for the cost of a real CVA. OK, an AuxCVA is just a large freighter fitted with launch tubes, drone racks and stuff, dog slow and handles like a Cadalac, but it is still fun to fly. The Klingon AuxCVA carries more fighters than a D7V so guess what we tend to prefer....

So I say lets give a well deserved round of applause to those modellers who bother to create the freighter models that make convoy attack or convoy defence missions that much more diverse and colourful.

There are a lot of vacancies for models for SFB plus other commerce, ad hoc warships and other interesting vessels still needed in game.

Mine Laying freighters (F-MS, K-MS, L-MS, F-ML, H-ML, G-ML, etc.) with mine racks visible. have massive explosion value when things go wrong.

Auxilary Carriers with launch tubes / rails, drone racks visible, etc.

Survey Freighters.

Towships.

Barges (civilian lesser tugs).

Tankers (F-AK, K-AK, H-AK, G-AK, etc.)

And then there is the need for commerce facilities (as scenario raid objectives) such as refineries, container depots (where containers and pods await collection / pick up), etc.

All props needed for games.

[Scottish Andy]

What you want will depend on what size of freighter you are looking for. Here's a small tramp feighter from STIII:

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Merchantman.jpg

Here also is a Vulcan freighter

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:VulcanFreighter.jpg

For non-canon designs, try the Durance:

http://www.shipschematics.net/startrek/images/federation/cargoxporttug_durance.jpg

Or you can browse t he entire selection for the look you want. You can find the Federation part of the site here:

http://www.shipschematics.net/startrek/federation.html

Happy perusing!

[Panzergranate]

I do have a fair few commercial vessels I've created myself either from drawings or freestyle.

The Merchantman is already in the shiplist here and a popular choice in LAN pirates versus civilians scenarios.

The stock SFB freighters are well supported for the Feds, Klingons, Gorns and Kzinti, though everyone seems to have ignored the Lyrans, Romulans and Hydrans so far.

A Freight Eagle would be nice too.

Even the Fed free trader and Fed Ex vessels are covered in SFC 1 and SFC 2 as I've already downloaded them.

However, it would be nice to actually attack a proper SFB Hydran freighter rather than the stock game "Dust Buster".

I know that different races have different needs for commerce.... even the Klingons conduct trade.

Bearing in mind that we can't all create a new model as if by magic in a matter of minutes (How does "Models Please" do it??), I've been slowly filling in the holes in the Klingon commerce fleet, when time allows.

I'm thinking of maybe the Romulans need some decent freighters next.

[Andromeda]

Thanks all.  Your input was very valueable.