Daedalus class (STA)
The Daedalus class came into service in 2140 as part of the United Earth Republic Starfleet, which was in need of a large vessel to help protect and patrol the fledgling government's few trade lanes and colonies. After the successful development and launch of the NX class a decade later, the admiralty began to pull the Daedalus class ships back to the Sol system for possible decommissioning, but the outbreak of the Romulan War soon thereafter gave the class new life through Starfleet's desperate need for vessels.[1] Following the war, the class was one of the first types of starships commissioned and operated under the auspices of the newly-established United Federation of Planets.[2] The Daedalus class was also among the first to demonstrate the primary/secondary hull design that would later become characteristic of Starfleet vessels.[3] Unlike most starships, the Daedalus had a spherical main hull.[4] The last ships of this class were—at least officially—taken out of service by the year 2196,[2] though some were later recommissioned and continued serving into the mid-23rd century.[1]
The Daedalus class had a maximum speed of warp 4, and its underpowered impulse drive struggled at sublight speeds. The class mounted first-generation phase cannons and guided missiles with thermonuclear payloads. The simpler design, however, proved an advantage during the Romulan War, as Starfleet could build nearly four Daedalus class vessels in the same amount of time as a single NX class ship, and its simpler systems proved easier to maintain and repair. Upgrades toward the end of the war gave the class greater capabilities by replacing the nuclear warheads with photonic torpedoes and more advanced sensor suites developed in conjunction with the Vulcans and Andorians. Many were decommissioned and mothballed after the war, and were used for parts to maintain those vessels that remained in service. The class would go on to see dozens of minor and major refits over the decades, until the limitations of the spaceframe became apparent and the class was retired in 2196. Increasing hostilities with the Klingon Empire in the 2250s saw several of the ships hastily returned to service, supplementing the fleet until they could be replaced by newer Constitution and Hermes class vessels.[1]
Daedalus class vessels
U.S.S. Adirondack • U.S.S. Anson • U.S.S. Archon NCC-189 • U.S.S. Carolina NCC-160 • U.S.S. Zefram Cochrane • Daedalus • U.S.S. Stephen Decatur • U.S.S. Drake • U.S.S. Dykstra • U.S.S. Essex NCC-173 • U.S.S. Heinlein • U.S.S. Horizon NCC-176 • U.S.S. Kearsarge • U.S.S. Kon-Tiki • U.S.S. Lindbergh • U.S.S. Lovell NCC-470 • U.S.S. Nimrod • U.S.S. Olympus • U.S.S. Probert • U.S.S. Ptolemy • U.S.S. Republic • U.S.S. Rochelle • U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt • U.S.S. Shepard • U.S.S. Valley Forge • U.S.S. Wakefield • U.S.S. Yeager NCC-76 • U.S.S. Yorktown NCC-108
UFP150 Timeline
U.S.S. Archon NCC-189 • U.S.S. Essex NCC-173 • U.S.S. Horizon NCC-176 • U.S.S. Rochelle • U.S.S. Valiant
STA Timeline
U.S.S. Daedalus NCC-129 • U.S.S. Essex NCC-173 • U.S.S. Horizon NCC-176
STO Timeline
U.S.S. Daedalus NCC-129 • U.S.S. Essex NCC-173 • U.S.S. Horizon NCC-176 • U.S.S. Ptolemy • U.S.S. Zheng He NCC-150
Notes and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Birch, Chris (Producer). The Command Division: Supplemental Rulebook. Star Trek Adventures. Book MUH051063 . Written by Jim Johnson, Nathan Dowdell, and Aaron Pollyea. Cover art by Eli Maffei. Internal artwork by Rodrigo Gonzalez, Connor Magill, Wayne Miller, Grzegorz Pedrycz, Ángel Alonso Miguel, Martin Sobr, Jack Kaiser, Nick Greenwood, Doug Drexler, Tobias Richter, David Metlesits, Michele Frigo, and Joseph Diaz.. Modiphius Entertainment Ltd.. June 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Roddenberry, Gene et al (Executive Producers). "Power Play". Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 5, episode 15 (Production number 215). Directed by David Livingston. Story by Paul Ruben and Maurice Hurley. Teleplay by Rene Balcer and Herbert J. Wright and Brannon Braga. Paramount Pictures. 24 February 1992.
- ↑ Okuda, Michael and Denise Okuda (Authors). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Star Trek. Book, Second Edition. Illustrations by Doug Drexler. Photo Editing by Margaret Clark. Research Consulting by Robert H. Justman, Greg Jein, and Bjo Trimble. Additional Research by Curt Danhauser and S.J. Casey Bernay. First Edition with Debbie Mirek. Pocket Books. December 1997.
- ↑ "The Homecoming." Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," Episode 421. Television. 27 September 1993.
