Signature on Approval: Acting Engineering Director R.E. McCullick
Following the Borg Invasion of late 2366 and the subsequent demolition of a large percentage of Starfleet's defense wing in early 2367 [the events of "Best of Both Worlds"], it became clear to Starfleet Command that Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians, and other near-space forces were not the only Threats to the survival of the Federation. Dreadnaughts and Heavy Cruisers were to remain the backbone of Starfleet defense, but Command felt a need for a smaller, more maneuverable, and less costly ship. Following the Klingon Civil War one year later [the events of "Redemption"], Starfleet pushed the project into Priority One status, and by mid-2368 the specifications were ready. The project continued to be refined, and final specifications were produced, as shown below.
Those specifications were approved in late 2368 and construction on the new hulls began early the next year. At about the same time as the loss of the Enterprise in late 2371 [the events of Star Trek: Generations], the U.S.S. Trafalgar (NX-84708) underwent preliminary testing and was finally proclaimed spaceworthy two days after the Klingon invasion of Cardassia in early 2372.
The Trafalgar's job description is as follows:
"Patrol of Hostile Borders; Escort for top-security
shipments; Assistance in Military Maneuvers."
In military maneuvers, the Trafalgar is often used as a complement to more powerful ships such as the Aurora-Class and Trinitron-Class Heavy Cruisers or the Nimitz-Class Dreadnaught. While these ships can direct awesome amounts of firepower at the enemy, the Trafalgar uses its maneuverability to annoy the Threat and attempt to disable it, or act as a distraction while the HCs or DNs head in for the kill.
The plan of the Trafalgar looks much like a sharply-angled Intrepid-Class, only with a circular (rather than elliptical) saucer. It is only fourteen decks "high," and that, coupled with a slim secondary hull and tight engines, gives it a small target profile. Quick engines and corner-on-a-dime maneuverability make it even harder to hit. Seven torpedo tubes (four of them on rotating platforms) deliver PhoTorps to any spot on a 360-degree circle on all axes. More than two dozen phaser batteries, modeled after the Defiant-Class's "repeating phaser" design, provide ample firepower at sublight speeds. Room for a more powerful weapon, design yet to be determined, is provided directly above the deflector dish between the two forward stationary torpedo tubes. The Bridge is the only critical area that touches the outer hull, but if that facility is lost, Main Engineering can function as a backup bridge. Even with a crew of less than 100, the ship can sustain heavy casualties and still operate at almost-peak efficiency.
For the computer system on the Trafalgar-class,
Starfleet contracted independent computer manufacturer Nyetscape
Communications. The team, consisting of Nyetscape and
Starfleet personnel, focused on a system that would be easy to
use but be powerful enough to handle nearly all operations if the
crew is incapacitated. The final product was the GORBI AI
system, standard on all Trafalgar starships.
Space (as well as energy) on the Trafalgar is at a premium, so luxuries such as Holodecks and personal replicators are not available on Trafalgar-Class ships. A large gym, an arboretum, recreation room, holodeck, and phaser practice range keep the crew active off-duty. Three lounges (Ten-Backward Engineers' Lounge, the Rec Room bar, and the two-story Six Forward) provide ample room for the crew to gather and eat. The sickbay is fully stocked and six doctors attend to the injuries and physical checkups of the crew.
Dimensions: Not available at present!
Engines: 2 CWD-8 Superimpellor Warp Engines
Weapons
Shielding
Computer Systems
Major points of interest on the Trafalgar
(This is not a complete list of the decks, only major
areas):
List of the 17 ships of the Trafalgar class Commissioned by STF under Engineering Department allotment of Stardate 96060.5:
Project Trafalgar was put into RPG use
around 20 August 1996 (stardate 96082.0), when the USS Constellation
of Fleet
Two received the upgrade to that class.
The Trafalgar class ships have sevred in STF since then, with currently two ships on the WeBB, the USS Montygomery and the USS Brooklyn. They have served the Federation well above expectations, aside from the annoying habit of the bridge being destroyed to prevent hostile takeover, and has proven itself capable of functioning independently of larger craft.
Revision submitted to the Engineering Department and the STF Membership for final consideration and approval,
Captain Larry Garfield, USS Alliance,
Stardate 97122.7Originally submitted to the Engineering Council and the General Membership of STF for approval,
Commodore Mike Ballway, Engineering Director,
Stardate 96102.6
Design Approved on
Stardate:
Signature on Approval: Acting Engineering Director R.E. McCullick