Adamant Class XIII Dreadnought

from Starfleet Prototype – The Journal of Innovative Design and Ideas, David Schmidt & Mastercom Data Center

 
NOTES:
With tensions between the Klingon Empire and the Federation once again heating up, Star Fleet began to look into several new designs to supplement the aging Star League class of dreadnought. By 2285, Star Fleet was presented with a new design that would radically change the dreadnought design for ever.

Since the late 2250’s, the role of the dreadnought had been as a focal point for large scale fleets. The dreadnought was designed to move at high warp into a troubled area and engage multiple targets with varied support. Although this traditional role was extremely successful against cloaking devices, it was felt that the Romulan’s high mobility style of combat would be dangerous to a slow moving high firepower platform. Although dreadnoughts were becoming more maneuverable, they still lacked the high speed maneuverability required for combating pirates and other small attack forces. Sinnar Design quickly finished the design for the Adamant and presented it to the review board of Star Fleet R&D. By mid 2288, the prototype was completed and the Adamant was sent into production.

The Adamant was as maneuverable as current dreadnought designs, and in some cases was more maneuverable than comparable heavy cruisers. The Adamant’sheavy forward firepower design allowed the Dreadnought to disable a single enemy cruiser or battleship while still maintaining the ability to defend against pursuing lighter craft. The Adamant class also retained the large shuttle bays that were becoming standard on other Miranda variants, giving the dreadnought the ability to act as a frigate in times of crisis. Unfortunately, the Adamant class did not solve the cost problems associated with other dreadnoughts designs. Due to the higher fuel consumption of the trinary FWG drive system, the Adamant was considered extremely mission specific.

The Mk I, the least powerful of the class, was still considered comparable to the Klingon L-24 and Romulan Z-1. Armed with the new mega phaser cannon, the Mk I could defend against several targets while maintaining a constant attack posture against any heavy cruiser the Romulans or Klingons had in their inventory.

The Mk II was launched in 2296, increasing the shielding capability of the popular vessel. But the upgrade would soon be out-classed by the Excelsior heavy cruiser, which was more powerful and better equipped. Feeling their design had merits, Sinnar Fleets again upgraded the Adamant in 2300, enlarging the secondary hull slightly to provide for larger weapons. The upgrade was a success, and by 2313, all 14 remaining Adamants were converted to the new Mk III design.

Although well loved and found to be an excellent combat platform, the Adamant class was initially considered for retirement in late 2330. By 2340, all but one Adamant class vessel was in a stand-down configuration. However, conflicts with the Tzenkethi and increasing tensions with the Cardassians prompted Sinnar to once again propose a major upgrade. The Mk IV, launched in 2351 reactivated the Adamant class and brought the venerable platform into a new era. The Mk IV saw a replacement of the main computer and nearly all of the weapon system components. The Mk IV would go on to serve during the Tholian crisis, Cardassian War and eventually the Dominion War. All fourteen remaining vessels saw combat during the Dominion war, with no ships lost. However, nearly all 14 saw heavy damage, with several nearly scrapped due to combat damage. Sinnar use company funds to replace sub-systems that Star Fleet Procurement felt warranted the removal of the vessels, and the remaining 14 ships were eventually brought to fully functioning condition after the war.

Of the 16 Adamants built, one Mk I was destroyed in a confrontation with Klingon forces near Orion space, and one Mk II has been scraped after colliding with an asteroid. The remaining 14 are still in service along the Romulan and Cardassian boarders. The Adamant was built at the Arcturus, Daran and Sol III facilities.