graphics by Steven Bacon, story & stats by Lee Wood and Steven Bacon
NOTES:
The Atlas class warp-tender is a unique vessel, able to tow almost three and a half times its own weight. It is used primarily as a salvage vessel for ships which have been heavily damaged and the use of tractor beams to tow the ship is not preferred, however it is equally well suited as a transport for nonstandard cargoes. Its two large arms and large resting platform help secure vessels or oddly shaped pieces of cargo while being towed. The Atlas is frequently used by Starfleet Merchant Marines Command in its role in investigating starship accidents, where preservation of any evidence in the form of ship parts is crucial.
The vessel is a combination of cutting-edge technologies. The end platforms of the mechanical holding arms contain a pad containing extremely sensitive sensors that enable the arms to secure cargo or vessels without damaging them. Using advanced bio-circuitry, the arms can sense the amount of pressure being applied within 0.001 grams per square millimeter. The end platforms also house advance molecular-adhesion emitters, which uses state-of-the-art molecular-adhesion technology to help secure cargo or vessels.
The large, lower platform- or “top deck”- acts as a resting platform, but also contains scores of tractor field emitters. These differ from tractor beams in that tractor fields are passive. Tractor beams can cause strain to damaged metals and other material; however tractor fields do not cause this strain. Once activated, the tractor field creates a barrier keeping any cargo or vessels secure. The field can be tightened, creating a very secure hold along with the holding arms and molecular-adhesion emitters.
The Mk II Atlas is outfitted with the highly efficient FSI shield generator. The Mk II is designed for use in support of frontline vessels, rescuing starships immediately after being damaged. It also is outfitted with 6 additional emergency 22-person transporters for use in rescuing the crew of damaged vessels. Due to the size of the resting platform, much of the interior of the Mk I is empty space. This empty space has been converted to house 220 passengers and the additional emergency transporters.
Frequently, ships of this class are witnesses to the aftermath of tragedies. In 2268, the USS Caterpillar was used to carry the damaged Constitution class vessels Excalibur and Lexington back to dry dock after having been severely damaged by the USS Enterprise while under control of the M-5 computer.
Although the production of the Atlas ended in 2288, these capable ships remained in service for nearly 80 more years until the Atlas herself was officially retired. Of the 207 Atlas’ built, 52 Mk Is and 39 Mk IIs are in reserve fleets. 3 Mk Is and 2 Mk IIs have been destroyed. 1 Mk II was captured by Cardassian forces. 1 Mk I is listed as missing. 6 Mk Is and 5 Mk IIs have been scrapped. 50 of each variant have been sold to a wide range of clientele.
| Construction Data: | ||
| Model Number — | Mk I | Mk II |
| Ship Class — | VIII | VIII |
| Date Entering Service — | 2265 | 2273 |
| Number Constructed — | 112 | 97 |
| Cost — | 394.2 MCr | 416.2 MCr |
| Hull Data: | ||
| Superstructure Points — | 16 | 16 |
| Damage Chart — | B | B |
| Size: | ||
| Length — | 212 m | 212 m |
| Width — | 225 m | 225 m |
| Height — | 90 m | 90 m |
| Weight — | 108,480 mt | 109,648 mt |
| Cargo: | ||
| Internal Cargo: | ||
| Total SCU — | 25 SCU | 25 SCU |
| Cargo Capacity — | 1,250 mt | 1,250 mt | External Cargo: |
| Total SCU — | 9,325 SCU | 9,303 SCU |
| Cargo Capacity — | 466,250 mt | 465,150 mt |
| Landing Capacity — | None | None |
| Equipment Date: | ||
| Control Computer Type — | M-2 | M-3 |
| Transporters: | ||
| Standard 6-person — | 3 | 3 |
| Emergency 22-person — | 2 | 8 |
| Cargo — | 1 | 1 |
| Other Data: | ||
| Crew — | 75 | 75 |
| Passengers — | 10 | 220 |
| Shuttlecraft — | 10 | 10 |
| Engines And Power Data: | ||
| Total Power Units Available — | 34 | 42 |
| Movement Point Ratio: | ||
| unloaded — | 4/1 | 4/1 |
| loaded — | 7/1 | 7/1 |
| Warp Engine Type — | FWE-2 | FWE-2 |
| Number — | 2 | 2 |
| Power Units Available — | 13 ea. | 13 ea. |
| Stress Charts — | G/K | G/K |
| Max Safe Cruising Speed: | ||
| unloaded — | Warp 6 | Warp 6 |
| loaded — | Warp 4 | Warp 4 |
| Emergency Speed: | ||
| unloaded — | Warp 8 | Warp 8 |
| loaded — | Warp 5 | Warp 5 |
| Impulse Engine Type — | FIE-2 | FIF-2 |
| Power Units Available — | 8 | 16 |
| Shield Data: | ||
| Deflector Shield Type — | FSM | FSI |
| Shield Point Ratio — | 1/1 | 1/3 |
| Maximum Shield Power — | 12 | 13 |
| Combat Efficiency: | ||
| D — | ||
| unloaded — | 51.9 | 84.4 |
| loaded — | 51.9 | 84.4 |
| WDF — | 0 | 0 |