Derf class (FASA)
| Deck 1 | Bridge |
| Deck 2 | Weapons, Crew Quarters, Lounges |
| Deck 3 | Crew Quarters, Rec Areas |
| Deck 4 | Recycling, Fabrication, Ship's Computers, Hydroponics |
| Decks 5-6 | Storage (Fore), Engineering (Aft 1/3) |
| Deck 7 | Parts Storage |
| Deck 8 | Open Storage |
The Derf class tender became operational on Reference Stardate 1/9807 (July 2198)[1] with the commissioning of the U.S.S. Derf NCC-20100.[2] More than 500 were constructed, and although the class did not see combat during the Four Years War, which ended a month earlier, the class was responsible for repairing and maintaining navigational beacons along the new border between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.[1] The class was also used for survey work as a medium exploration ship. The circular top hull was four decks high; the lower hull was also four decks. Decks 5-7 were 3.2 meters high, while Deck 8 was 9 meters. Derf class vessels were named after historical places in the Federation, and initially bore hull registries in the 20100-20179 range.[2]
The Derf class marked a new concept in navigational beacon repair. Before its introduction, marker buoys and navigational beacons had to be retrieved and returned to a repair facility to be serviced. Derf class tenders eliminated this need because they carried repair facilities onboard.[3] When performing maintenance on navigational buoys, early warning sensors, beacons, and communication relay stations, special shuttles with tractor beams recovered the buoys, then entered forward, where the retrieved equipment underwent an "assembly line" maintenance routine. When repaired, the shuttle then took the device out the aft door and replaced it on the navigation route.[2]
Designed and built under contract by Chandley Works Ltd., the class had a maximum safe cruising speed of Warp 6, and an emergency speed of Warp 8. The class was 274 meters long, 128 meters wide, and 65 meters high. Derf class vessels carried two 6-person and one cargo transporter, two passenger shuttlecraft, and five work pod shuttles.[4][4] Although the Derf was not designed as a fighting vessel, it was capable of aggressive defense. Most repair missions took place along the borders between the major powers, where the chances of encountering enemy ships was very high.[3] Because of this high risk, the Derf was armed with two banks of two FH-4 phasers and an FSH deflector shield.[4]
This protection does not prevent the Derf class from falling prey to enemy ships. On Reference Stardate 2/0702 (February 2207), the U.S.S. Acropolis responded to signals from a malfunctioning marker buoy. As its shuttle neared the beacon. a Klingon warship appeared and opened fire before defensive actions could be taken. The volley crippled the Acropolis' engines, and the tender was boarded and towed into Klingon territory.[3] Intelligence later discovered that the beacon had been sabotaged by Klingon operatives to entrap the repair tender.[5] It is theorized that the Klingons gained technical information concerning robotics and repair techniques that they lacked, but it is not known just what gain this action brought them in the overall situation. Some analysts believed that study of the robotic repair systems could make it possible for Klingons to alter the functioning of navigation beacons robotically, creating potential havoc in border spacelanes.[3]
As of Reference Stardate 2/2306 (June 2223), of the 545 Derfs built, 16 Mk Is, 362 Mk IIIs, and 68 Mk IVs remained in active service, and 38 Mk Is and 17 Mk IIIs were in reserve fleets. Two Mk Is and 2 Mk IIIs were used by Star Fleet Training Command; 12 Mk Is, 8 Mk Il ls, and 1 Mk IV had been destroyed; 1 Mk III has been captured by the Klingons; 1 Mk I and 3 Mk IIIs were listed as missing; 4 Mk Is, 4 Mk IIIs, and 2 Mk IVs had been scrapped; and 2 Mk Is had been sold to the private sector. The Derf class was built at Merak at the rate of 4 ships per year.[3]
| Mk I | Mk III | Mk IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Entering Service | 1/9807 | 2/0403 | 2/1811 |
| Number Constructed | 180 | 396 | 71 |
| Length | 274m | 274m | 274m |
| Width | 128m | 128m | 128m |
| Height | 65m | 65m | 65m |
| Mass | 126,860mt | 127,820mt | 133,120mt |
| Cargo Capacity | 17,500mt | 17,500mt | 17,500mt |
| Computer Type | M-2 | M-3 | M-3 |
| Transporters | • Personnel: 2 • Cargo: 1 |
• Personnel: 2 • Cargo: 1 |
• Personnel: 2 • Cargo: 1 |
| Crew | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Passengers | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Shuttlecraft | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Velocity | • Cruising: Warp 7 • Emergency: Warp 9 |
• Cruising: Warp 6 • Emergency: Warp 8 |
• Cruising: Warp 6 • Emergency: Warp 8 |
| Weapons | 4 FH-4 Phasers in 2 banks | 4 FH-4 Phasers in 2 banks | 6 FH-4 Phasers in 3 banks |
| Defenses | FSH Deflector Shields | FSH Deflector Shields | FSI Deflector Shields |
Notes and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Theisen, John A. (Author). The Four Years War. Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. Book 2218A . Cover art and illustrations by Dana Knutson. FASA Corporation. 1986.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 McLimore, Guy W. Jr. et al (Authors). Basic Rulebook. Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. Book 2001A. Box Art and Original artwork by Mitch O'Connell. Ship Deck Plans by Dana Andrews, Ross Babcock, Mitch O'Connell, and Jordan Weisman. FASA Corporation. 1983.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Brown, Forest G. (Author). Federation Ship Recognition Manual. Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. Book 2302 , Second Edition. Cover art by Dana Knutson. Illustrations by Dana Knutson and Robert Oswald. FASA Corporation. 1985.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tepool, David F. (Author). Federation Ship Recognition Manual. Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. Book 2302 , First Edition. Illustrations by Dana Knutson and Robert Oswald. FASA Corporation. 1983.
- ↑ Barton, William A. et al (Authors). Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Sourcebook Update. Star Trek: The Role Playing Game. Book 2224. Cover art by Dana Knutson. Illustrations by Todd F. Marsh, Jeff Laubenstein, and Dana Knutson. FASA Corporation. 1986.
