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Constitution class

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STARSHIP CLASS
Constitution Class
Affiliation: Federation Starfleet
Dimensions
Length: 288.6 (305 in refit version) meters
Width: 127.1 (141 in refit version) meters
Height: 72.6 meters
Specifications
No. of decks: 23
Crew: 430
Speed: Warp 7/9
Armaments: 4 twin bank Phaser Emitters
2 single bank Phaser
2 Photon tubes
Defenses: shields
Auxiliary craft: 5-7 shuttlecraft
Refit:
4 Shuttlecraft
8 Work Bees

The refitted USS Explorer NCC-1966

The Constitution-class was a Federation heavy cruiser starship in Starfleet service in the mid-to-late 23rd century. The design underwent several refits in its many decades of service. The original configuration and refit variants of this class influenced starship design significantly, and accelerated the standardization of the fleet.

Celebrated members of the class included USS Enterprise and USS Enterprise-A -- two of the most venerated starships in Federation history, having risen to prominence under the captaincy of James T. Kirk.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Development

Development of the Constitution-class began in the 2230s when key Fleet personnel, including Admiral William M. Jefferies and Captain Robert April, came to see the necessity of an all-purpose vessel that could explore space while protecting Federation interests and expanding its reach. When a design team led by Doctor Lawrence Marvick finished plans late in that decade for just such a ship, a new class was swiftly approved by Starfleet Command.

Starfleet authorized its Fleet Yards in San Francisco to build two vessels, with Admiral Jefferies overseeing NX 1700 -- christened Constitution -- and Captain April supervising its sister ship 1701, as yet unnamed. (TOS novel: Final Frontier)

The USS Constitution's hull was completed in 2244, with enhanced sensor and deflector shield systems installed. When hostilities broke out late in the year, Jefferies pulled her from drydock to take decisive part in the Battle of Donatu V. Blunting the Klingon invasion force -- without weaponry -- she rescued USS Yorkshire but was badly damaged and required extensive repairs. (TOS - Errand of Vengeance novel: Killing Blow)

The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Construction on NX 1701 continued apace, employing new Duotronic computer systems designed by Doctor Richard Daystrom, which afforded 1701 better control of her systems. After a secret mission into the Romulan Neutral Zone, April christened her the Enterprise. (TOS novel: Final Frontier)

By 2245, the both Constitution and Enterprise had begun their first five-year missions of exploration, the results of which led Starfleet to order nine more ships of the class. (TOS reference: Star Fleet Technical Manual)

[edit] Refit

One of many proposals for the Constitution refit project
One of many proposals for the Constitution refit project

Beyond minor modifications, the successful design saw no major changes until the 2270s, when a significant refit had been more than earned. Upgrade proposals all shared a more efficient power plant, with some versions streamlining the hull for greater warpfield geometrics, and others emphasizing enhanced weaponry or science capability; the final design merged many of the proposals. (ST reference: Ships of the Line)

The refitted USS Enterprise
The refitted USS Enterprise

The first major refit was Enterprise, and its success ensured the refit of the rest, bringing the fleet in line with newer technologies and extending its life. (ST reference: Starship Spotter)


[edit] Later service

A Constitution-class ship served into the late 24th century and was destroyed in battle at Wolf 359; others, reactivated or still in service, fought in the Dominion War, and took part in the task force to retake Deep Space 9. (TNG episode: "The Best of Both Worlds"; ST reference: Fact Files)

At least one decommissioned Constitution-class ship was sold to a private entity; later known as Glory, it was acquired by Romulans and given to privateer Deigo DeBlazio to harass Federation shipping. (TNG novel: Blaze of Glory)

[edit] Features

Aft view, with a shuttle exiting the open hangar bay
Aft view, with a shuttle exiting the open hangar bay

The largest and most elaborate vessel class Starfleet had yet fielded, with an unprecedented fourteen research labs each, ships of the Constitution class became the most extensive mobile research platforms ever deployed by the Federation, and were responsible for expanding known space by thousands of cubic parsecs.

The class utilized a greater level of modularity, which allowed for incremental changes to configuration -- so flexible that it became standard starship design practice. As other classes began to employ such modularity, Fleet design became increasingly more uniform (ST reference: Starship Spotter).

The Enterprise enroute to Starbase 13 after a saucer separation
The Enterprise enroute to Starbase 13 after a saucer separation

The Constitutions were also among the first to allow for primary-hull saucer separation -- though only in emergencies, since the separation's use of explosive bolts required starbase facilities for reconnection (TOS comic: "'Til Death").

By the late 24th century, the saucer separation had become a routine maneuver with both the Excelsior-class and Galaxy-class starships having the ability to separate their saucers. (TOS novelization: Encounter at Farpoint)

[edit] Subclasses

[edit] Tactical summary

subseries beam armaments launcher armaments defensive arrangement
Constitution (mk I) FL-6 laser weapons (6 in 3 banks, port, starboard, fore) FAC-3 accelerator cannons (2, fore) FSG deflector shield
Bonhomme Richard (Constitution mk II) FH-3 phasers (6 in 3 banks, port and starboard or aft, fore) FP-1 torpedo launchers (2, fore or fore and aft) FSN deflector shield
Achernar (Constitution mk III) FH-3 phasers (6 in 3 banks, port, starboard, fore) FP-1 torpedo launchers (2, fore) FSO deflector shield
Tikopai (Constitution mk IV) FH-3 phasers (6 in 3 banks, port, starboard, fore) FP-1 torpedo launchers (2, fore) FSO deflector shield
Enterprise (mk I) FH-11 phasers (6 in 3 banks, port, starboard, fore) FP-4 torpedo launchers (2, fore) FSP deflector shield
Enterprise (mk II) FH-11 phasers (6 in 3 banks, port, starboard, fore) FP-4 torpedo launchers (2, fore) FSP deflector shield
Enterprise (mk III) FH-11 phasers (8 in 4 banks, port, starboard, fore, aft) FP-4 torpedo launchers (3, fore, aft) FSP deflector shield

The Constitution vessels of the original series had slightly different features than the succeeding subclasses Bonhomme Richard, Achernar, Tikopai and Enterprise, with early laser and phaser weapons available to security teams onboard as hand-held weapons, as well as ship-mounted emplacements, in concert with accelerator cannons and photon torpedo launchers. The Constitution vessels of the 2240s and 2250s began the use of the class's standard emplacements, with forward arcs of fire. Most early Constitution variants had 6 phasers, usually dual mounted, in 3 or more phaser banks, although some variation exists between the various subseries. For example, the one modifications of the Enterprise modification had a series with 8 phasers in 4 banks. (TOS RPG sourcebook: Federation Ship Recognition Manual)

Starships of the Bonhomme Richard modification, such as the Enterprise, had forward firing phaser banks that could fire beams or pulses, located on the lower saucer section, just above the sensor dome and a torpedo launcher. The Defiant was noted to use, with dramatic effect, its rear firing phaser and torpedoes located above the secondary hull's shuttlebay, as well as the upper saucer banks. (ENT episode: "In a Mirror, Darkly")

Some vessels of the Achernar series, such as the USS Constitution had port and starboard upper saucer phasers as well as a forward firing phaser on the lower saucer and upper and lower saucer torpedo tubes. All of the Achernar series weapons were forward or side firing, leaving the rear arc uncovered. (TOS reference: Star Fleet Technical Manual)

The Enterprise-subclass, with one more launcher than the preceding series, had a move in the torpedo launchers to an outrigged tube control room at the separation between the secondary hull and the connecting hull. By subsequent Enterprise modifications, the rear arcs had been restored. (TOS movie: [citation needed])

[edit] Known vessels

The USS Defiant
The USS Defiant
The USS Intrepid
The USS Intrepid

[edit] Various Constitution configuration

[edit] Constitution (mk I)

[edit] Bonhomme Richard (Constitution mk II)

[edit] Achernar (Constitution mk III)

[edit] Tikopai (Constitution mk IV)

[edit] Various Enterprise configuration

[edit] Enterprise (mk I)

[edit] Enterprise (mk II)

[edit] Enterprise (mk III)

[edit] Mirror universe

[edit] Appearances

The Constitution class appeared as the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and (NCC-1701-A) and a handful of other vessels throughout TOS and other TOS subseries including TAS and the Early and Untold Voyages in all media. Appearances, apart from the Enterprise in TOS and related series include:


[edit] Connections


Starship classes of the United Federation of Planets
Emblem of the United Federation of Planets
Seal of the Federation Starfleet
Aakenn • Achernar • Achilles • Advance • Aegian • Aeolus • Aerie • Akira • Akula (destroyer) • Akula (frigate) • Alaska • Ambassador • Andes • Andromeda • Andor • Antares (starship) • Anton • Apache • Apollo • Archer • Ariel • Ascendant • Ashanti • Avenger • Babcock • Bader • Baker • Baton Rouge • Bode • Bolarus • Bonaventure • Bonhomme Richard • Bradbury • Brenton • Canada • Canopus • Capella • Centaur • Centaurus • Challenger • Chandley • Charger • Chariot • Chesapeake • Cheyenne • Chimera • Cle Dan • Cochise • Cochrane • Constellation • Constitution • Continent • Copernicus • Curry • Cygnus • Daedalus • Danube • Decatur • Decker • Defender • Defiant • Discovery • Deneva • Derf • Dollond • Doppler • Dreadnought • Drexler • Durrett • Eagle • Edward • El Dorado • Enterprise (23rd century) • Enterprise (alternate future) • Epoch • Epsilon • Erewon • Excelsior • Federation • Fenlon • Fermi • Fiji • Freedom • Frontier • Gagarin • Galaxy • Geneva • Genser • Graceful • Grayson • Griffon • Hale • Hardin • Hellespont • Hermes (scout) • Hermes (fast cruiser) • Heston • Hogan • Hokule'a • Horizon • Huron • Icarus • Incursion • Indomitable • Intrepid • Iowa • Istanbul • Iwo Jima • Karekh • Keith • Keppler • Kethkin • Kiev • Kitty Hawk • K'Kmarak • Kolm-An • Korolev • Larson • Lauro • Laweya • Legacy • Lenthal • Lexington • Liberty • Loki • Loknar • London • Luna • Mackenzie • Makin • Mann • Marklin • Marshall • M'Benga • Mediterranean • Merced • Midway • Minuteman • Miranda • Mission • Missouri • Mockingbird • MoKal • Monoceros • Moscow • Nebula • Nelson • New Orleans • Newport • Niagara • Noble • Nomad • Northampton • Norway • Nova • Oberon • Oberth • Odin • Odysseus • Okinawa • Olympic • Oppenheimer • Orion • Osaka • Overfield • Paladin • Philadelphia • Pinnacle • Piper • Polarity • Pollux • Portsmith • Poseidon • Premonition • Prometheus • Proxima • Ptolemy • Pyrenees • Rakota • Ranger (cruiser) • Ranger (scout) • Reliant • Remora • Renaissance • Rickenbacker • Rigel • Royal Sovereign • Saber • Sagan • Saladin • Samson • Santa Fe • Sawyer • Scorpio • Scylla • Sequoia • Sherman • Shi'Kahr • Sierra • Siva • Solar • Sovereign • Soyuz • Springfield • Steamrunner • Strider • Surak • Sydney • Venture • Tangent • Thomas Paine • Thucydides • Thufir • Ticonderoga • Tikopai • Tritium • Typhon • Ukora • Ulysses • Ural • Utah • Vigilant • Wambundu • Wilkerson • Wei-Fa • Wellington • Wells • Yeager • Yorkshire • Yorktown • Zodiac • unnamed: Federation cargo ship • Federation colony ship • Federation construction ship • Federation mining freighter • Federation repair ship
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