Hollingsworth Class XI Penetration Cruiser

from Jackill’s Star Fleet Reference Manual-Ships of the Fleet Volume II – by Eric Kristiansen

 
NOTES:
The Hollingsworth class of cruiser is considered the most mission/target specific vessel ever devised by Star Fleet. The newly created classification of Penetration vessels describes the Hollingsworth class perfectly. When design specifications were drawn up, many within Star Fleet Engineering felt that the mission parameters would be to difficult to fulfill within the required guidelines. Hiemdahr-Gan Rixik, one of several companies that vie for the design, are the first to submit a design idea. The original idea called for a standard primary hull with inboard warp engines, a design dropped nearly 50 years earlier. Design one, similar to several other designs from other production companies, does not meat enough of the design criteria. Nor does the second or third design.

Chandley Works submits a design that meats nearly 70% or the criteria, but no single company is able to design a vessel capable of fulfilling the desired military ability. Finally, a young Andorian designer strays from the standard Star Fleet design and created a unique design that fulfilled nearly every criteria laid down by Star Fleet Procurement. The design’s radical ness nearly got it canceled several times, but in the end after nearly a year of searching, Procurement finally agreed to fund design work on the new platform. The Hollingsworth class design was immediately besieged with problems, most notably the warp drive. The original design had two standard LN linear warp drives mounted on outer pylons. Requirements specified that the vessel have a very low warp signature, and the mounted engines, while reducing the sub-space signature, still created a large enough, detectable reading that designers were forced to bring the drives closer and closer to the main hull. Two attempts to mount the drives inboard fared no better. In the end, Hiemdahr-Gan Rixik adopted a specially created warp nacelle design which was currently in use on the Kodiak class battleship. Although the nacelle cowling required nearly 6 month longer to build, the overall effect was very successful. No special shielding was required to protect crew working near the warp engines. As construction began, the Mk I was modified again, cutting the craft width by nearly 45%. The change surpassed many of the detection expectations, but cut crew quarters to nearly nil. As a result, radical changes in mission profile were required. Crews were forced to “hot-bunk”, including officers, and nearly every amenity was removed. A number of modified systems were required, including specially designed conduits for power, air and other internal systems. Even staterooms had power couplings and data nodes running under bunks and through storage closets. The result was a vessel so cramped that few would be assigned missions longer than 6 months. But the resulting combat platform was unmistakable.

The Mk I Hollingsworth could enter a system nearly undetected, strafe a single target with devastating results and move off with little or no damage. Exercise upon exercise continued to support the original combat assessment, and in 2283 the USS Campbell, following her wartime orders during the Taal Tan offensive, crosses the boarder and engages the Klingon 16th Cruiser/Frigate Squadron. Targeting the IKV may’ joH (Battlelord), the Campbell made a single strafing run, devastating the squadron command vessel. The Campbell was able to leave the systems, while under fire and escapes pursuing vessels. Outgunned 10 to 1, the Campbell proves the value of the Hollingsworth class.

In 2298, with the success of the FSS shielding, the Mk II was proposed and adopted. The Mk II increased computing power and replaced the FSP with the more powerful FSS. The Hollingsworth remained a potent vessel class until 2309 when the USS Cook was called upon to engage an IKS L-13 battleship. The Cook engaged the L-13 using her standard tactics, but was forced to make several strafing runs to complete her mission. The Cook was severely damaged and forced to withdraw before confirming the destruction of the L-13.

Designers realized that the Hollingsworth cruisers mission capabilities needed updating and turned to Hiemdahr-Gan Rixik, the original designers of the Hollingsworth class for and upgrade. Hiemdahr-Gan Rixik designers immediately redesigned the primary weapon capability, installing the massively powerful FMF-11. The new mega-phaser design could easily punch through the strongest shields of the period. Combined with the powerful FP-9 torpedo system, the Hollingsworth class continued to be a dangerous opponent. But the Hollingsworth cruisers inability to adapt to multi-mission requirements forced the cancellation of the project after only five were completed. All five were constructed and updated at the Hiemdahr-Gan Rixik Andor facility. The Hollingsworth class is believed to be stationed along the Romulan boarder.