- For additional meanings of "Intrepid class", please see Intrepid class (disambiguation).
The Intrepid-class was type of Starfleet starship that entered service in 2370. It was designed to serve as a long range exploration vessel.
History[]
Technical information[]
From stem to stern, the Intrepid-class was one of the most advanced starships in Starfleet during its time. First introduced in 2370, the Intrepid-class featured many unique innovations. The class employed a new warp core, variable geometry warp nacelles, and was the first to field both bio-neural gelpaks and the Emergency Medical Hologram system.
Originally designed to counteract the subspace damage found to be occurring through the use of older warp drive technology, the new nacelle system also allowed the Intrepid to reach sustainable speed of nearly Warp 10. Nearly three-hundred-fifty meters long, the Intrepid-class was built sleek and long, and by the late 2370s it was third on the fastest top speed on record for a Starfleet vessel, falling behind the Sovereign-class and the ground-breaking Prometheus-class in field trials. The tilting, wing-like nacelles could shift microns in their positions, emitting minutely adjustable warp fields that were more efficient and safer when traveling in subspace. This, combined with new verterion manufacturing and the APD-01 Warp Core, made its propulsion systems highly advanced for its time.
The Intrepid-class served multiple functions based on its load out, as well as size. A starship could be seen on patrol or escort duty as easily as long-range exploration or survey. State of the art computers gave it unprecedented storage capacity, access speed, and rigor conditioning. This, combined with a wide array of sensors covering a large amount of the exposed surface, made the Intrepid-class a premier ship of the line for Starfleet's scientific endeavors. Fast, agile, and well armed, these science vessels were among the more capable multi-role platforms when faced with combat situations. Advanced shielding and Type-X phaser arrays equipped admirably, with several representatives of the class serving during the Dominion War with amazing success.
Very fast and maneuverable while at the same time heavily armed, the Intrepid was the light cruiser of the fleet. Starships of the class were 15 decks thick and carried a crew compliment of 140 and a sustainable cruising velocity of warp factor 9.975.
The prototype ship, the USS Intrepid, was the third starship to bear the name Intrepid. The USS Voyager was a notable Intrepid-class starship because of the fact that it surpassed the class's original intentions.
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Aeroshuttle[]
The Intrepid-class was equipped with a ventrally docked subordinate craft: the Aero-class shuttle (generally known as an "aeroshuttle"). The craft was designed for atmospheric operations and short-term missions as a support vessel.
Subclasses[]
Dorsal and starboard view of the standard Intrepid-class and its four subclasses.
After Voyager's return from the Delta Quadrant, Starfleet Command realized the exceptional potential of the Intrepid class. When the Modular Design Program was introduced in the early 2390s, resources were devoted towards developing subclasses that the would build on that potential.
Cochrane[]
The first subclass of the Intrepid line was a rugged design named after the inventor Dr. Zefram Cochrane, although it was not the first craft to bear his name. The Cochrane class was designed so that it could be even more self sufficient outside of Federation borders than the standard Intrepid. The saucer was made longer, the hull shorter, and the nacelles were given a hefty upgrade. The subclass was launched in 2381.[1]
Discovery[]
As the first Cochrane-class vessel left the shipyard, Starfleet starship designers had already begun to revisit the design of the Intrepid class. From that class engineers at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards developed the Discovery subclass, which they intended to be just as capable as the original Intrepid and the Cochrane subclass. The Discovery class sported a brand new nacelle design and highly experimental pylon fins, which aimed at creating a more efficient and stable flight during warp travel when nacelles were in the upward position. The USS Discovery was launched in 2384.[1]
Bellerophon[]
The Bellerophon subclass was developed in a galaxy that had drastically changed in the few short years since the launch of the first Discovery starship. Combining the best of the standard Intrepid class and the two subclasses already in production, the Bellerophon class was designed to be a hearty, combat-ready, long range explorer. The vessels entered service in 2394.[1]
Nadeon detonators also became standard equipment on Bellerophon starships. These detonators allowed standard torpedoes to be modified to generate a photonic shockwave upon impact.
Pathfinder[]
When planning first began for Operation Delta Rising, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers quickly realized that another update of the Intrepid class was in order. This led to the creation of the Pathfinder II-class. Most of the advanced technology used in the Pathfinder subclass was first tested on the USS Voyager, which itself was completely updated before it departed for the Delta Quadrant. When Admiral Tuvok was satisfied with Voyager's performance with the upgrades, the class entered full production with the USS Pathfinder launching in 2409.[1]
Janeway[]
By the late 27th century after the event known as the "Burn" which mass detonated Dilithium powered vessels a heavy demand for ships built for security and not exploration was sorely needed to protect the remaining resources and assets of the Federation and Earth. Thus the Janeway subclass was developed as not only a multi-mission science vessel but as one of the most advanced security ships in the remainder of starfleet.
Armed with 2 Particle Disruptor arrays and 3 Photonic Cannons and given an advanced Cloaking device from the now allied Romulans the Janeway class is only second to Imperial Federation and some Terran imperial technology after nearly 900 years of Ship evolution.
Ships commissioned[]
- USS Bellerophon (NCC-74705)
- USS Bellerophon (prototype Bellerophon-class)
- USS Cochrane (prototype Cochrane-class, NX-95400)
- USS Discovery (prototype Discovery-class, NCC-85527)
- USS Intrepid (prototype, NCC-74600)
- USS Pathfinder (Bellerophon-class, NCC-74562-B)
- USS Pathfinder (prototype Pathfinder II-class, NCC-47656)
- USS Voyager (NCC-74656)
- USS Yorktown (NCC-1717)
- USS Ares (NCC-7968)
- USS Edison (NCC-1683-C)
- USS Odin (NCC-74675)
- USS Voyager (Janeway-class NCC-74656-J)
Gallery[]
Appendices[]
| Intrepid-class starships |
|---|
| Federation: USS Challenger • USS Falcon • USS Voyager • USS Yorktown |
| Alternate reality: USS Voyager |
| Vanguard universe: USS Voyager • USS Challenger • USS Falcon • USS Moribus • USS Pursuer • USS Starchaser • USS Pioneer • USS Illion |
External links[]
- Intrepid class article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Intrepid class article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Long Range Science Vessel article at The Star Trek Online Wiki.
- Intrepid class article at Star Trek Expanded Universe.
- Discovery class (Federation) article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Long Range Science Vessel Refit article at The Star Trek Online Wiki.
- Pathfinder class article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Pathfinder Long Range Science Vessel article at The Star Trek Online Wiki.
- "Starfleet's Four-Quadrant Strategy," TTC Jayce's Navy Interstellar 244, no. 1 (Stardate 87086.07): 58-61.