from FASA Star Trek© Role Playing Game (1st Edition) – Denial of Destiny
NOTES:
Known Sphere Of Operation: Orion controlled space;
Data Reliability: C
Major Data Source: Orion Sector Intelligence
The Whaler class of vessels began construction in secret in Orion shipyards in 2265. Constructed at a rapid rate, they incorporated several design changes which the Orions had learned in combat encounters during previous years. The class was a much improved design in many ways, especially when compared to the hodge-podge assortment of rust buckets that had been cluttering the Orion yards up to that point.
These ships are designed to hold over ten thousand tons of cargo and have been equipped with a squadron of armed shuttles that utilize miniature tractor beams to allow them to double as salvage vessels and boarding boats in action against target vessels. The tractor beam aboard the Whaler itself is twice as powerful as those originally used by the Constitution class vessels, allowing the Whaler to tow a ship up to three times it’s mass with relative ease. These ships have not had their hulls reinforced to the degree that older style blockade runners are known for.
In 2268, a number of Whalers were contracted for refit, enlarging the impulse drive and improving the shield efficiency with new shield generators. Many Orion families that had purchased these ships had found them capable as salvage ships, but lacking as classic raiders. Roughly 1/3 of existing Whalers were updated to this configuration.
In 2275 many Whalers began entering yards to be refitted to the improved A-3 variant. This variant replaced the OIE-1 impulse engine with the more powerful OID-3, giving the Whaler a substantial increase in operating power. The refit also involved upgrading the computer to the more sophisticated Mark VI in order to control a number of other improved systems. Sensors were upgraded and the shuttle facilities were modernized, as well as replacement of the fairly weak shield systems. These improvements made the Whalers class a far more potent opponent for freighters unfortunate enough to be caught by these ships.
The Whaler is no longer in production, having ended general construction sometime in the early 2300s.
| Construction Data: | |||
| Model Number — | A-1 | A-2 | A-3 |
| Ship Class — | V | V | V |
| Date Entering Service — | 2265 | 2268 | 2275 |
| Number Constructed — | 73 | Refit | Refit |
| Hull Data: | |||
| Superstructure Points — | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Damage Chart — | C | C | C |
| Size: | |||
| Length — | 285.3 m | 285.3 m | 285.3 m |
| Width — | 170.3 m | 170.3 m | 170.3 m |
| Height — | 70.4 m | 70.4 m | 70.4 m |
| Weight — | 56,540 mt | 57,100 mt | 56,675 mt |
| Cargo: | |||
| Cargo Units — | 210 SCU | 210 SCU | 210 SCU |
| Cargo Capacity — | 10,500 mt | 10,500 mt | 10,500 mt |
| Landing Capacity — | None | None | None |
| Equipment Date: | |||
| Control Computer Type — | Mark IV | Mark IV | Mark VI |
| Transporters: | |||
| Standard 5-person — | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Emergency 14-person — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cargo — | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Other Data: | |||
| Crew — | 78 | 78 | 80 |
| Passengers — | 48 | 48 | 50 |
| Shuttlecraft — | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Engines And Power Data: | |||
| Total Power Units Available — | 34 | 38 | 42 |
| Movement Point Ratio — | 3/1 | 3/1 | 3/1 |
| Warp Engine Type — | OWD-2 | OWD-2 | OWD-2 |
| Number — | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Power Units Available — | 16 ea. | 16 ea. | 16 ea. |
| Stress Charts — | K/M | K/M | K/M |
| Max Safe Cruising Speed — | Warp 6 | Warp 6 | Warp 6 |
| Emergency Speed — | Warp 8 | Warp 8 | Warp 8 |
| Impulse Engine Type — | OIB-2 | OIE-1 | OID-3 |
| Power Units Available — | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| Weapons And Firing Data: | |||
| Beam Weapon Type — | OD-5 | OD-5 | OD-11 |
| Number — | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Firing Arcs — | 3 p/f/s, 3 p/a/s | 3 p/f/s, 3 p/a/s | 3 p/f/s, 3 p/a/s |
| Firing Chart — | U | U | U |
| Maximum Power — | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Damage Modifiers: | |||
| +3 | (-) | (-) | (-) |
| +2 | (1-10) | (1-10) | (1-20) |
| +1 | (11-20) | (11-20) | (-) |
| Shield Data: | |||
| Deflector Shield Type — | OSH | OSI | OSNH |
| Shield Point Ratio — | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| Maximum Shield Power — | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| Combat Efficiency: | |||
| D — | 65.7 | 90.2 | 108.2 |
| WDF — | 33.6 | 33.6 | 39.6 |
Designer Notes: The Whaler is from the 1st edition module Denial of Destiny and was designed before the 2nd edition of the ship construction rules was published. The fact that they designers used Federation equipment mixed with Orion equipment showed the need for more expansive construction charts and material – which arrive in the way of the 2nd edition Ship Construction Manual. Rat, Lee and Steve all managed to put together a nice take on the Whaler, including the image we are using at this time. I realized pretty quickly it could be possible to do an all-Orion version and have it pretty close to the great design they had done in the first place. If you like their version – you can grab it here – as it really is a nifty design. Which ever version you use, the Whaler can make for some interesting game play.