E-4 class (SFC)
The E-4 class bird of prey escort was originally the Klingon Empire's frigate design, and it served as a consort to the D-6 class battlecruiser. Eventually, small frigates like the E-4 proved inadequate, and the Empire increased production of the larger F-5 class frigate to take over the frigate role. The E-4 class was then relegated to convoy escort duty and, to some extent, police and border patrols.
The base E-4 escort design was introduced in 2250 and featured a capacity of four shuttlecraft, no science lab facilities, a single transporter, and one tractor beam emitter. It had a a crew complement of 140, was armed with with a single Type-F missile launcher, two Type-1 disruptor banks, and four banks of Type-2 phasers. The E-4 remained in production until 2282. The E-4B refit was introduced in 2270; it replaced the Type-F missiles with Type-A, and added a single bank of Type-3 phasers. The E-4B remained in production until 2294. The E-4 was refit once more with the E-4K, introduced in 2285, and replaced the Type-A missiles with Type-B; it remained in production until 2303.
The E-4G commando escort was introduced in 2257. Designed to perform pre-war missions that did not require the attention of a D-6G commando cruiser, the E-4G would serve on for years after its basic hull design was regarded as obsolete. Mostly, they reinforced or relieved garrisons behind the front lines, but some were pressed into service on the front lines, where they did not perform well. The E-4G had a crew complement of 220 and featured six shuttlecraft, three transporters for landing troops, a single tractor beam emitter, and was armed with four banks of Type-2 phasers. The E-4G remained in production until 2284, when it was entirely supplanted by the E-4GB refit, which was introduced in 2272. The refit was largely identical to the E4-G, albeit with stronger shields. The E-4GB remained in production until 2303.
The E-4D drone escort was introduced in 2281. This was an attempt to get some service out of the remaining E-4s, which were being relegated to convoy duty at that point. The theory was that with more speed and with longer-range missile weapons, the E-4Ds, all based upon the E-4B, could maneuver along the edges of the battle while contributing their firepower, but the theory proved unsuccessful. The E-4D had a crew complement of 150, a capacity of six shuttlecraft, and was armed with four Type-B missile launchers and four banks of Type-2 phasers. The E-4D remained in production until 2303.
The E-4Y cloaking escort was introduced in 2275, following a brief technological exchange with the Romulan Star Empire. Essentially an E-4B equipped with a low-power cloaking device, the E-4Y was not considered to be a tactical success, though it did find some favor with the strategic intelligence branches of the Klingon military. The E-4Y was largely identical to an E-4B, though it sacrificed its bank of Type-3 phasers in favor of the cloaking device.
A final variant of the class, the E-6 class, was introduced in 2291.
Romulan
During their brief alliance, the Romulan Star Empire requested new ships from the Klingons to replace battle casualties and to expand their limited fleet of warp-capable ships. The Klingons were unwilling, however, to part with any D-6 or F-5 class ships at that time. After renewed appeals by the Romulans, the Klingons offered a group of E-4 class escorts, which the Romulans accepted and converted for their needs. The Romulans thought that they were going to get relatively new ships from mothball storage, but the Klingons instead sold them ships that were worn out from decades of patrols and used the mothball ships for their own fleet. This forced the Romulans to spend extra effort in refitting the ships, and modifications were extensive.
The E-4R escort featured a crew complement of 130, a capacity of five shuttles, no science labs, one transporter, and one tractor beam emitter; the class was armed with two Type-F plasma torpedo tubes and four banks of Type-2 phasers. The E-4R remained in service until 2288, when it was superseded by the E-4RB refit, which featured stronger shields and was introduced in 2276.[1]
E-4 class vessels
SFC Timeline
I.K.V. Adamant • I.K.V. Adept • R.I.S. Anger • R.I.S. Black Death • R.I.S. Blue Victory • I.K.V. Conqueror • I.K.V. Darkness • I.K.V. Defender • I.K.V. Defiant • I.K.V. Determined • I.K.V. Devoted • R.I.S. Firefly • I.K.V. Focus • R.I.S. Fury • I.K.V. Guardian • I.K.V. Hidden • R.I.S. Hornet • I.K.V. Insolent • I.K.V. Invisible • I.K.V. Keeper • R.I.S. Locust • R.I.S. Mantis • R.I.S. Mosquito • I.K.V. Obdurate • I.K.V. Procession • I.K.V. Protector • R.I.S. Rage • I.K.V. Raid • R.I.S. Red Glory • I.K.V. Return • I.K.V. Safeguard • I.K.V. Seeker • I.K.V. Shadow • I.K.V. Shieldbearer • I.K.V. Strike • I.K.V. Stubborn • I.K.V. Swatter • I.K.V. Trustworthy • I.K.V. Unbreakable • I.K.V. Viking • R.I.S. Wasp
Notes and References
- ↑ Bethke, Erik (Producer). Starfleet Command. Lead Designer: Erik Bethke. Senior Designer: Chris Taylor. Mission Scripting by Lance Watanabe. Campaign Mission Design by Scott Bennie. Game Design by Marc Hertogh and Tom Hughes. SFB Consultant: Tom Hughes. Interplay Inc.. 15 September 1999.
