from Klingon Academy
NOTES:
“The Federation does not build Battleships.” Statement attributed to Admiral/Sec Commander Sisko.
Following the devastation of the Four-Years War, and with continued tensions between the Federation and her allies and the Klingon and Romulan Empires, numerous members of the Star Fleet admiralty continued to push for the production of Battleships of various size and capability. Pubically, Star Fleet continued to face pressure for the production of warships, most notably from Vulcan pacifist groups. The destruction of multiple boarder outposts by the Romulans in 2268 served as a stark reminder that Star Fleet and the Federation itself faced violent and militaristic neighbors on multiple sides. Admirals and fleet planners continued to push for a more martial minded navy highlighting the need to defend member states, colonies and the numerous exploration efforts across the frontiers. Many believed that a true balance could be achieved between peaceful exploration and a powerful navy that could end potential conflicts quickly and decisively.
Despite the sympathetic position of Starfleet, funding for military projects continued to be hard fought battles. Losses in the Constitution class fleet during the 2250’s and 2260’s did little to persuade members of the Federation council that a larger military force was needed. Many pointed to the launch of the Federation class dreadnaught as sufficient, while other pointed to the massive fleet wide refit already underway as further evidence that Star Fleet had all it needed to defend the UFP. It was not until the near destruction of earth during the v’ger crisis of 2271 that it became clear that expansion of the fleet was indeed necessary. In early 2272, the Federation council took a nearly 180 degree turn on funding of the fleet. Designs and upgrades were soon pouring into Starfleet Procurement, including the production of a massive new battleship – the Yamato.
The funding “rethink” was short lived, however. Several major projects had been cancelled or retooled. The largest of these was the Komsomolsk dreadnought program. Despite construction on a number of components, the program was declared a failure and production on the design halted. New projects, including the Service Extension program, Saladin project and Avenger Design Refit (ADREFT) all took the forefront position in funding.
With the initial publication of the ADREFT in mid-2275 the then Chief of Starfleet Procurement Jinn Shuhlal sought a reprieve for the failed Komsomolsk dreadnought program of several years earlier. This failed project had left several major structural components half-completed including five large primary hulls, some ten pairs of FWG-1 heavy duty warp nacelles, and dozens of other partial systems. ADREFT called for the efficient application of technology introduced in the Constitution and Miranda refits and new engineering solutions, to be applied across the current fleet and to new designs still on the drawing board.
Shuhlal jumped at the opportunity and proposed a design he had been developing that used the components from the failed DN project as a basis for a new class of super battleships that could supplement the Excelsior program and allow them to be used primarily in a scientific/diplomatic role. These new ships would merge the current redundant parts with a new large catamaran secondary hull constructed from two Constitution engineering sections. They would be powered by two pair of FWG-1 engines allowing them to cruise at warp 7 and also carry a huge arsenal of “defensive” weapons. They would challenge anything the Klingons or Romulans currently had or were likely to produce for the next couple of decades.
5 years of development woes nearly cancelled the project as competitive designs were slowly over taking the project. Although the new FWG power-plant and nacelle design provided excellent levels of power, the second generation FIF impulse system proved unable to maintain motive power during extended combat operation. Multiple simulations indicated significant loss of the vessel impulse drive stability. The FIE impulse drive, now in its third generation, was equally taxed but did not indicate the frequency issued associated with the FIF system.
Experimentation with computer models of the then unnamed project showed that the Constitution catamaran space frame was unable to withstand the stress created by two pairs of warp engines and would limit the design to warp 3 at best. Unperturbed, Shuhlal proposed replacing them with a pair of the new Excelsior engineering hulls which by his own calculations would be able to handle such stress and more.
Almost a year of further testing gave the design not only a new stern, but replaced the proposed impulse deck with a more powerful system, allowed the installation of two mega phaser units and four shuttle bays capable of housing and servicing eighteen shuttles and six to twelve tactical craft if required. Deep space patrol weaponry included twelve heavy Phasers on the main hull, four medium phasers on the secondary hull plus three forward and two aft torpedo tubes in addition to the two mega-phaser units. With sufficient internal space to sacrifice this massive weapons suite could be carried without inconveniencing the crew of almost 1300. Spacious marine bunking and hospital areas were also available for, and even four general purpose laboratories could be installed.
None of the technology on these class XV behemoths was leading edge, and much of the development work for the four fold warp field had been performed under the project ADREFT already. The battleship met the expectations placed on it, as far as financing, project schedule and fleet escalation ambitions were concerned. What remained to be proven was the performance and operational viability of the vessels.
In March 2276, the newly christened USS Yamato left the huge carrier dock at Utopia Planitia for the first time, for a series of impulse tests. Later that year, tests verified the projected cruise performance of warp 8 and a maximum speed of warp 9.3 for seventeen hours was achievable and an emergencies speed warp 10 was available for short periods. This enabled her to conduct deep space operations, and a greater degree of warp maneuverability than that of the Federation and Ascension class dreadnoughts. Three other ships of the class were authorized to be launched within a year by using other space docks to complete the construction. The Federation had not only one of the best Battleships in known space but a battleship/shuttle carrier hybrid.
None-the-less, by years end, many in the Federation council were again looking to reduce the military capability of Starfleet. The extensive development time-frame and massive costs all but cancelled the Yamato project, despite the prototype’s completion and partial completion of her sister ships.
That was until the confirmation of the Nova class Romulan battleship was made public. By 2278, the need for vessels such as the Yamato was clear, and final design changes were implemented. She was finally commissioned after yet another yard change to her phaser installation suite fielding the less taxing and easier to maintain FH-10 and increase to the torpedo payload.
Posted to Romulan border, the Yamato allowed several other heavy patrollers to be relieved for much need refits. The Yamato was able to stay on station for nearly 2 years, proving that the ships capabilities we in-line with field commanders needs. Pleased by the economy of Yamato’s performance her sister ships received the funding to complete the 3 remaining hulls. Arizona, Nevada and Nagato, the last of which was deployed by 2284.
The Yamato’s size had its drawbacks, however. Resupply proved that they were unsuited for rapid redeployment, with load-out requiring additional man power and several weeks to ensure complete operational readiness. Even more significant was the aroused suspicion on any border that the Yamato class were deployed to. As with other Federation dreadnoughts and heavy combat craft, the arrival of a Yamato along either the Klingon or Romulan boarders quickly drew protests and the redeployment of enemy resources.
The Yamato and Nevada served well during the early parts of the Frist Tzenkethi War, proving their capability and reliability time and again; but the Yamato was now over 20 years old. By 2307, the increased tensions with the Romulans proved to strategic planners that the Yamato was no longer the deterrent it once was. When to Romulan crisis finally abated after the Tomed Incident, the decision to upgrade the Yamato class was confimed.
Beginning in 2315, the Yamato class saw a massive increase in her overall firepower, with all of her primary and secondary tactical systems upgraded. The new FIH impulse system was also incorporated, giving the Yamato class more maneuverability at sub-warp speeds. By 2320, all four Yamato Mk II’s were operational.
The Yamato’s would all be deployed to the Tzenkethi frontier during the second major conflict with the Fedreation. By wars end, all four had been damaged in combat but were able to continue their missions with minimal repair times. Once the conflict ended, the Yamato class was scheduled for the Service Life Extension program. As with it’s initial creation, funding for the Yamato class proceeded on a roller-coaster of approvals, cancellations and re-appropriations over the next 10 years. By 2340, all four Yamato class ships were once again fully operational. They would see extensive use during the Federation-Cardassian War, where the Yamato and Arizona were eventually lost. The Negato was severely damaged during the boarder conflict with the Tholians, and plans to repair her were eventually cancelled. The Nevada would see action in the Galen boarder conflict, but was also severely damaged. Although there was talk about repairing and reactivating the Negato and Nevada during the short but bloody Arcanis conflict, the decision was made to fund other projects during the Dominion War. The Negato and Nevada remain in mothballs at Qualor II.
| Construction Data: | ||
| Model – | Mk I | Mk II |
| Ship Class – | XV | XV |
| Date Entering Service – | 2276 | 2315 |
| Number Constructed – | 4 | Refit |
| Hull Data: | ||
| Superstructure Points – | 68 | 68 |
| Damage Chart – | C | C |
| Size: | ||
| Length – | 854.2 m | 854.2 m |
| Width – | 335.2 m | 335.2 m |
| Height – | 71.8 m | 71.8 m |
| Weight – | 323,579 mt | 340,475 mt |
| Cargo: | ||
| Total SCU – | 1,100 SCU | 1,100 SCU |
| Cargo Capacity – | 55,000 mt | 55,000 mt |
| Landing Capacity – | None | None |
| Equipment Date: | ||
| Control Computer Type – | M-6 (x2) | M-7 (x2) |
| Transporters: | ||
| Standard 6-person – | 7 | 7 |
| Emergency 22-person – | 10 | 10 |
| Cargo – | 8 | 8 |
| Other Data: | ||
| Crew – | 1,166 | 1,274 |
| Passengers – | 60 | 60 |
| Shuttlecraft – | 18 | 18 |
| Engines And Power Data: | ||
| Total Power Units Available – | 136 | 156 |
| Movement Point Ratio – | 8/1 | 8/1 |
| Warp Engine Type – | FWG-1 | FWG-1 |
| Number – | 4 | 4 |
| Power Units Available – | 30 ea. | 30 ea. |
| Stress Chart – | F/H | F/H |
| Max Safe Cruising Speed – | Warp 8 | Warp 8 |
| Emergency Speed – | Warp 10 | Warp 10 |
| Impulse Engine Type – | FIE-3 | FIH-2 |
| Power Units Available – | 16 | 36 |
| Weapons And Firing Data: | ||
| Beam Weapon Type – | FH-10 | FH-18 |
| Number – | 12 | 12 |
| Firing Arcs – | 2 f/p, 2 f, 2 f/s, 2 p/a, 2 s/a, 2 a | 2 f/p, 2 f, 2 f/s, 2 p/a, 2 s/a, 2 a |
| Firing Chart – | W | Y |
| Maximum Power – | 7 | 12 |
| Damage Modifiers: | ||
| +3 | (1-10) | (1-10) |
| +2 | (11-17) | (11-17) |
| +1 | (18-20) | (18-24) |
| Beam Weapon Type – | FH-6 | FH-9 |
| Number – | 4 | 4 |
| Firing Arcs – | 2 f/p/a, 2 f/s/a | 2 f/p/a, 2 f/s/a |
| Firing Chart – | N | X |
| Maximum Power – | 3 | 6 |
| Damage Modifiers: | ||
| +3 | (-) | (-) |
| +2 | (1-7) | (1-12) |
| +1 | (8-13) | (13-22) |
| Beam Weapon Type – | FMH-4 | FMH-10 |
| Number – | 2 | 2 |
| Firing Arcs – | 2 f/a | 2 f/a |
| Firing Chart – | S | V |
| Maximum Power – | 16 | 28 |
| Damage Modifiers | ||
| +3 | (1-8) | (1-10) |
| +2 | (9-14) | (11-16) |
| +1 | (15-18) | (17-21) |
| Torpedo Weapon Type – | FP-4 | FP-9 |
| Number – | 3 | 3 |
| Firing Arcs – | 3 f | 3 f |
| Firing Chart – | S | R |
| Power to Arm – | 1 | 1 |
| Damage – | 20 | 28 |
| Torpedo Weapon Type – | FP-5 | FP-4 |
| Number – | 2 | 2 |
| Firing Arcs – | 2 a | 2 a |
| Firing Chart – | R | S |
| Power to Arm – | 1 | 1 |
| Damage – | 16 | 20 |
| Shield Data: | ||
| Deflector Shield Type – | FSP | FSQ |
| Shield Point Ratio – | 1/4 | 1/4 |
| Maximum Shield Power – | 14 | 28 |
| Combat Efficiency: | ||
| D – | 215.2 | 249.2 |
| WDF – | 178.9 | 296.7 |