from FASA Star Trek© Starship Tactical Combat Simulator – Romulan Ship Recognition Manual (1st Edition)
NOTES:
Known sphere Of Operation: Empire-wide use
Data Reliability: C
Major Data Source: Romulan Sector Intelligence
The N-8 Class gunboat is one of the first ships the Romulans acquired (Stardate 2/0905) from the Klingons to supplement gunboat and cutter squadrons along the Federation and spinward borders. Though intelligence reports that the Klingons required this disposition as part of the trade agreement, agents reported that, in response to pressure along the Romulan-Klingon border, these ships began to see service in there as well.
Reports from agents within the Klingon Empire show that the Klingon K-3s traded were not fully operational, the Romulans having requested that no engines, weapons, or shields be mounted. Comparison of the Romulan-refitted model with that which the Klingons delivered show that several major structural changes were required in order for the Romulan equipment to be installed. Of these changes, the most notable was the reduction of internal structural components that lessened the superstructure strength, which likely accounts for the vessel’s tendency to break apart during high speed maneuvers. The vessel reportedly was not popular with crews. It was removed from service by Stardate 2/1703.
Soon after the Type 1 was put into service, it was found to have inadequate weapons mountings and to be underpowered. The Type 2, brought into service Stardate 2/10, corrected these problems, and, by Stardate 2/13, all Type 1s had been refitted with the newer engines and an additional bank of beam weapons. In making these changes, the superstructure strength was Increased somewhat, but not enough to correct the the problems with structural integrity during high-speed maneuvers.
Of the 123 K-3 gunboats exchanged, about 30 N-8s are known to be in reserve fleets. Of the remainder, approximately 10 Type 1s and 35 Type 2s are at work in the civil sector; two Type 1s and six Type 2s operate exclusively in the Triangle.
The class is named in reference to its mission, from the Romulan mandukam (vigilant one).
| Construction Data: | ||
| Model Number — | Type 1 | Type 2 |
| Ship Class — | II | II |
| Date Entering Service — | 2268 | 2268 |
| Number Constructed — | 83 | 40 |
| Hull Data: | ||
| Superstructure Points — | 4 | 4 |
| Damage Chart — | C | C |
| Size: | ||
| Length — | 53 m | 53 m |
| Width — | 23 m | 23 m |
| Height — | 9 m | 9 m |
| Weight — | 10,883 mt | 11,083 mt |
| Cargo: | ||
| Cargo Units — | 10 SCU | 10 SCU |
| Cargo Capacity — | 5,500 mt | 5,500 mt |
| Landing Capacity — | Yes | Yes |
| Equipment Date: | ||
| Control Computer Type — | R-2M | R-2M |
| Transporters: | 0 | |
| Other Data: | ||
| Crew — | 14 | 14 |
| Passengers — | 0 | 0 |
| Shuttlecraft — | 0 | 0 |
| Engines And Power Data: | ||
| Total Power Units Available — | 8 | 11 |
| Movement Point Ratio — | 1/2 | 1/1 |
| Warp Engine Type — | RWA-1 | RWA-2 |
| Number — | 1 | 1 |
| Power Units Available — | 6 | 8 |
| Stress Charts — | K/M | J/L |
| Max Safe Cruising Speed — | Warp 7 | Warp 7 |
| Emergency Speed — | Warp 8 | Warp 8 |
| Impulse Engine Type — | RIA-2 | RIA-3 |
| Power Units Available — | 2 | 3 |
| Weapons And Firing Data: | ||
| Beam Weapon Type — | RB-2a | RB-2a |
| Number — | 2 | 3 |
| Firing Arcs — | 1 p/f/s, 1 p/a/s | 2 p/f/s, 1 p/a/s |
| Firing Chart — | K | K |
| Maximum Power — | 3 | 3 |
| Damage Modifiers: | ||
| +3 | (1-4) | (1-4) |
| +2 | (5-9) | (5-9) |
| +1 | (10-14) | (10-14) |
| Shield Data: | ||
| Deflector Shield Type — | RSC | RSC |
| Shield Point Ratio — | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Maximum Shield Power — | 10 | 10 |
| Combat Efficiency: | ||
| D — | 64.7 | 50.7 |
| WDF — | 4.2 | 6.3 |
Design Notes: This version of the N-8 includes an updated computer, as the original R-1M does not support the assigned firepower. For die-hard fans, the original stats can be found here.