Ticonderoga Class X Medium Cruiser

«Last Updated on January 3, 2024 »

from StarDate Magazine, by Matt Burke & Dale L. Kemper

 
NOTES:
In early 2285, the Ticonderoga class light cruiser is the newest class of vessels to come from the Federation assembly line. By mid 2285, only the USS Ticonderoga had been completed, with the construction of 24 more vessels to begin if and when she successfully completed her trials.

The Ticonderoga class was the first Starfleet medium cruiser with up and down warp nacelles, as opposed to the conventional side to side method of dual engines in the past. Great study and design experimentation has gone into this alignment, with a number of new theories in warp engineering occurring as well. Not until the evidence of improved performance (see the Orion Swift Solaria class) came about was this radical design ever seriously considered.

Tests showed that through some still not entirely understood principle of warp matter/antimatter balance a vessel using this engine configuration was able to attain greater speeds with more safety than a vessel using the standard configuration. Practical trials had only been conducted with vessels less than 40,000 tons but designers and warp engineers believed this advantage should would translate successfully to larger ships as well. Ticonderoga class was the first long range class to be built to ensure that this was indeed so.

Starfleet initially intended to use the vessels for such tasks as escorts for important convoys, and pirate suppression. It was hoped that the privateers who often preyed on helpless shipping would come up against a vessel that could both outgun them and outrun them. This never-before-seen situation was looked upon with great expectation by many merchant corporations and far-flung frontier worlds.

The trials of the Ticonderoga class were scheduled for later in the year. By 2286, Starfleet declared the class a success; however, it was believed that the Ticonderoga class was to be the last major Starfleet vessel to equipped with standard warp engines. The continuing tests of the new Excelsior class and her transwarp drive was anticipated to make all other means of interstellar propulsion obsolete before the final ship of the Ticonderoga class was complete. The failure of Transwarp would go down as one of the greatest miscalculations in Starfleet Engineering history.

Despite it’s maneuverability and the lengthy sustained Emergency Speed capability of the Ticonderoga class, some felt that the designs militaristic approach was not in line with the values of Starfleet and the Federation. Only the class’ reduced cost kept it in production after the early round of budget cuts in 2288. 20 Mk Is were completed before the Mk II was launched.

The Mk II saw a more standardized approach to the internal layout of the class. With the success of lighter and more capable escorts, the mission profile of the Ticonderoga class changed to that of research escort. The ease of internal compartment rearrangement meant that the Mk II was launched ahead of schedule despite the addition of expanded lab spaces and a new improved short range sensor suite. The Mk II retained the maneuverable FWD-2 main warp drive, but added two phasers and an aft torpedo launcher.
 

Construction Data:
Model – Mk I Mk II Mk III Mk IV
Ship Class – X X X X
Date Entering Service – 2285 2294 2299 2339
Number Constructed – 20 4 Refit Refit
Hull Data:
Superstructure Points – 28 28 30 34
Damage Chart – B B B B
Size:
Length – 243 m 243 m 243 m 243 m
Width – 130 m 130 m 130 m 130 m
Height – 69 m 69 m 69 m 69 m
Weight – 150,920 mt 152,440 mt 157,095 mt 140,836 mt
Cargo:
Total SCU – 250 SCU 250 SCU 250 SCU 250 SCU
Cargo Capacity – 12,500 mt 12,500 mt 12,500 mt 12,500 mt
Landing Capacity – None None None None
Equipment Date:
Control Computer Type – M-4 M-6 M-6A I-5
Transporters:
Standard 6-person – 3 3 3 3
Emergency 22-person – 4 4 4 4
Cargo – 1 1 1 1
Other Data:
Crew – 330 334 339 223
Passengers – 40 40 40 60
Shuttlecraft – 6 6 6 6
Engines And Power Data:
Total Power Units Available – 42 42 42 64
Movement Point Ratio – 2/1 2/1 2/1 3/1
Warp Engine Type – FWD-2 FWD-2 FWD-2 FWL-1
Number – 2 2 2 2
Power Units Available – 18 ea. 18 ea. 18 ea. 20 ea.
Stress Chart – M/G M/G M/G E/F
Max Safe Cruising Speed – Warp 6 Warp 6 Warp 6 Warp 8
Emergency Speed – Warp 8 Warp 8 Warp 8 Warp 10
Impulse Engine Type – FIC-3 FIC-3 FIC-3 FIG-1
Power Units Available – 6 6 6 24
Weapons And Firing Data:
Beam Weapon Type – FH-10 FH-10 FH-11 FNH-15
Number – 5 7 7 7
Firing Arcs – 2 f/p, 1 f, 2 f/s, 1 a 2 f/p, 1 f, 2 f/s, 1 p/a, 1 s/a 2 f/p, 1 f, 2 f/s, 1 p/a, 1 s/a 2 f/p, 1 f, 2 f/s, 1 p/a, 1 s/a
Firing Chart – W W Y W
Maximum Power – 7 7 10 15
Damage Modifiers:
+3 (1-10) (1-10) (1-10) (1-7)
+2 (11-17) (11-17) (11-17) (8-15)
+1 (18-20) (18-20) (18-24) (16-20)
Torpedo Weapon Type – FP-5 FP-5 FP-4 FP-9
Number – 1 2 2 2
Firing Arcs – 1 f 1 f, 1 a 1 f, 1 a 1 f, 1 a
Firing Chart – R R S R
Power to Arm – 1 1 1 1
Damage – 16 16 20 28
Shield Data:
Deflector Shield Type – FSO FSP FSS FNSL
Shield Point Ratio – 1/3 1/4 1/4 1/4
Maximum Shield Power – 16 16 20 33
Combat Efficiency:
D – 152.5 184 190.9 218.6
WDF – 46 70.1 99.9 123.7