STF

Specification Review: Independence-class Heavy Frigate (TOS) - Review OPEN Until June 14, 2020

Posted July 5, 2020, 10:13 a.m. by Captain Nicholas Villarreal (Engineering Director) (Nicholas Villarreal)

Posted by Captain Nicholas Villarreal (Engineering Director) in Specification Review: Independence-class Heavy Frigate (TOS) - Review OPEN Until June 14, 2020
Robert Archer has worked diligently since the passing of the USS Sentinel’s provisional charter to provide the crew with a vessel design that is more appropriate to what the proposal had in mind. Although the Governor-class is a serviceable place holder, it has several aspects which make it less than desirable as a specification for an exploration sim set between 2250 and 2270. These include:

  • A launching date of 2257
  • A classification as a Destroyer
  • Use a a template for the Abrams-verse Kurtzman-class which the USS Chernov currently uses, which would mean that a historical Alt-RPG would have basically the same specification as another (technically) historical Alt-RPG

Bearing this in mind, Rob has submitted a ship that is more in line with the plans for the USS Sentinel going forward. Feel free to take a look at it, especially if you are currently on the Sentinel or have a soft spot or interest in TOS, TAS, or Discovery. Remember to keep your replies focused on the specification itself. As there is a US holiday the day after this is posted, the review period will be one week longer than usual. The final day of reviews is June 14, 2020.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Nicholas “Pelican” Villarreal
Engineering Director


Independence-Class
Category: Frigate
Variant: Heavy
Designer: Robert Archer
Mark I
Draft 1
Date: 05/19/2020

History and Mission Overview

The dawning of 2240 was a generally peaceful one for the Federation. Though there were random border raids near Klingon space, and the occasional issue with Orion pirates, Starfleet felt confident that the immediate future would be one of expansion and discovery. But still one where they had to remain vigilant for possible threats of old enemies and new discoveries.

The bolded sentence is a sentence fragment.

It was with this in mind that Starfleet put the call out for a multi-role rugged frigate, one which though smaller <strike>then</strike> than common cruiser designs could perform just as well in a variety of situations.

This needed some slight grammar fixes.

It took the Starfleet design bureau almost five years of design and construction before the first five Independance class frigates came out of the assembly yards around Earth, with another three ready for commissioning should the need arise. Built around the 21st century idea of the United States Navy’s littoral combat ship, the Independence took many of the same cues of these multi-role frigates from history. The intent was to build a small, fast, maneuverable and relatively inexpensive ship that could be easily reconfigured for a variety of different roles should the need arise. This would range from system patrols, to scientific surveys, anti-pirate/raider action ships, and service as a logistics transport.

I kind of agree with Joe here, mostly due to my own experience with the Balao - using a US Navy vessel as a basis for a starship might not be the best approach. Additionally, the LCS program has been a massive failure, with the Navy retiring the first two vessels in each class without refit. The other ships in the Freedom and Independence classes in modern times can’t even be deployed because their mission modules still aren’t operational. They’re far more expensive to build and maintain than advertised. The Navy is probably going to abandon the LCS in favor of a new frigate design. Admittedly, this is the Star Trek timeline, so who knows how well the LCS did in a timeline where the US has a successful self-contained tower city (the Millennial Gate) before the LCS was even introduced? Still, you may want to rethink this.

Mission Profiles

The Independence Class Frigate is suited to the following mission profiles:

Survey, analysis and cataloging of anomalies and uncharted systems.
Planetary and astrological event crisis response, management and containment.
<strike>Deployment of scientific and engineering response efforts in a crisis.</strike>

This is redundant when read with the above mission profile.

System and border patrols, anti-piracy/raider combat roles.
Cargo supply and relief efforts in emergencies.

These are list items, so they don’t need punctuation a the end. What about the “new life and new civilizations” part of Starfleet’s aims?

Structure And Construction

The Independence Class Frigate was designed from the ground up to be rugged, dependable, and functional for its missions. Starfleet decided to accelerate the construction of the Independence-class by reusing structural designs from previous vessels, but with new materials. The forward section has exactly the same shape and structural outline as the upper-fore of the old Daedalus-class starship from a century prior.

I know I was the one who sort of gave you this wording, but maybe “upper half of a sphere” would read better and be more clear here.

The rearward sections of the ship are shaped as rectangular platforms which then connect seamlessly as one unit into a half dome shaped saucer. Projecting upwards at the rear of the ship, on short V shaped pylons are the ship’s two warp nacelles.

Given that you state that the “saucer” is a half dome here, the Daedalus-class inclusion is a little clunky. Then again, “half dome shaped” seems awkward, too, but I’m not sure how to get around it other than “quarter sphere”.

The entire frame of the ship spans 12 decks across a triple layered duranium hull structure, in between each hull layer are 5cm of dura plastic foam.

The term “span” typically refers to horizontal measurements, not vertical ones. I don’t know why we’ve used it otherwise in the past. Try using “extends”, or maybe even the boring but simple “is” as an alternative.

The outer layer of hull plating is in a state of permanent polarisation to enable greater unprotected resistance to enemy weapons fire. The duranium trusses that support the outer hull are <strike>then</strike> laser welded to form a permanent support chassis.

Order of operations would actually have the trusses laser welded before the outer layer is placed, so you probably should leave out the sequential modifier.

The Independence class is capable of atmospheric entry and flight, though not landing, on gravity up to 2.5 times Earth standard gravity. Atmospheric flight is handled through a combination of the ship’s impulse reactors fed through special atmospheric RCS thruster packets along the ship’s frame.

Is there a reason for this, or is it just tossed in because it seems cool? I just seem to recall that Voyager’s capability for atmospheric entry was seen as a novelty. I haven’t watched Discovery much, so I don’t know if this is more common or not.

SNIP

Tactical Systems

Defensive Shields and Hull Polarization Systems

The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with the Type 5 shield system; made up of 5 shield generators located at key points around the ship. The system has a maximum dissipation rate of 109,500 kilowatts, and a maximum graviton load of 403 megawatts.

Finally, the class was one of the last to be equipped with a hull polarization system that strengthens the ship’s hull by nearly 100% above normal. In an emergency of shield failure, it also has a maximum energy dissipation rate of 54,750 kilowatts.

Phaser Systems

The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with the Type-5 phaser bank system. The system has a maximum energy output of 0.3 MW out to a range of 18,750km. The ship has two, triple paired banks to port and starboard along the forward lines of the ship to dorsal and ventral.

I can’t tell if you are saying that there are two phaser banks with six emitters, six phaser banks, or twelve phaser banks. Reword this with exact numbers instead of modifiers.

With an additional pair of banked emitters to port and starboard, dorsal and ventral along the aft end of the ship next to the ship’s nacelle pylons.

This is a sentence fragment, and I don’t know if this is two emitters, four emitters, or eight emitters.

SNIP

Command And Support Systems

SNIP

Conference Room

The Independence’s conference room is located on deck 3 to the forward port areas along the outer hull edge with a pair of oval shaped windows. It has seating room for up to six people around a fold up and adjustable table. Along the aft quarter of the wall is a 30 inch briefing and communication screen.

Why does the table fold away if this is a permanent location, and why does it adjust if the capacity is so limited anyway?

Brig

Located on deck 5 to starboard is the ship’s brig, it can hold up to 3 occupants if needed.

Make this two sentences.

The cell’s utilise a series of two recessed force field generators which deliver a painful, but relatively harmless shock to anyone who touches the field while it is active. When activated, the generators slide into place and glow with a soft yellow light. Feeding of the brig occupants is processed by an air pushed delivery tube from outside ensuring no direct access between the cell occupant and watch officer. A single shared waste dispenser with a lower body covering for semi-privacy is also present

SNIP

Scientific, Medical and Engineering Labs

The scientific, medical and engineering labs of the Independence class span the central areas of decks 9 through 12. Each grouping of labs for both the science and engineering departments contain 10 dedicated duotronic computer cells for lab processing and faster archival storage to the main computer system. The labs also contain basic 2-D holographic projection systems for object analysis and study.

Is this something we see on multiple Starfleet ships in Discovery? If not, TOS only had flat panel displays, and the Constitution-class was ostensibly more advanced than the vessel you’re proposing.

Each lab layout is modular, though in general contains two work areas with 1 or 2 consoles and work tables each, for their specific individual fields of focus. Each section can also be isolated by force fields or exposed to the vacuum of space, in case of experiment containment breach. Each science and medical lab also has a 5x5 meter cold storage stasis unit for resuming experiments at a later time.

A single access lift connects each of the lab clusters to those above to aid in joint fields of work.

The Independence’s scientific, medical and engineering labs are divided as follows:

On Deck 9 are the hydroponics, botany, agronomy, zoology, animal anatomical/physiological labs. The Chief Science Officer’s office is also located here
On Deck 10 are the geology, hydrology, volcanology and meteorology labs.
On Deck 11 are the chemistry and their assorted sub-disciplines, general physics, astrophysics, astronomy, cosmology, and stellar cartography labs. The last of which extends down to the port side of deck 12.
On Deck 12 are the mechanical science, computer science, robotics labs and the access point for the stellar cartography lab.

SNIP

Utility Systems

SNIP

Machine Shop

The Independence has a small mechanical machine shop for the processing of raw ore and minerals to allow the manual fabrication of simple parts and tools up to the size able to be carried on a common grav cart on deck 4 above the ship’s primary cargo bay. This shop then connects by inter-bay lift to this bay for storage purposes.

This is a hard no. The Machine Shop was developed with the Pendragon-class in mind. It is acceptable on TNG-era ships and beyond, but not in DSC/TOS era vessels.

Crew Support Systems

SNIP

Galley/Crew Lounge

The ship’s Galley and crew lounge is located on the forward section of deck 9. It has a pair of small but appreciable viewing windows out into space. The room also contains seating for up to 10 people at a time, though more could be made with appropriate table and chairs removed.

Although capable of reproducing a variety of food selections, the Independence Class is equipped with both a food synthesizer system, and a fully functioning Galley. Food stuffs for the Galley are stored in two separate fully compartmentalized pantries, each compartment is equipped with their own stasis field generators to preserve freshness. This provides something of an alternative to the standard cubed nutritional supplements offered by the food synthesizer system.

The food synthesizer system is a matter resequencer system connected to the waste reclamation system. The matter resequencer recycles biological waste materials into simple protein and sucrose compounds in taste similar to meat/dairy/vegetable byproducts such as ground beef, fish or poultry, cheeses, fruit juices and preserves but in appearance simple multicoloured cubes. Although highly efficient, the re-sequencer is incapable of creating food stuffs with a complex layered formation as found in a turkey leg (with fat, bone and skin attached to the meat), or the fibrous consistency of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Galley prepared or processed synthesized food stuffs are distributed via a computer controlled network of food dispensers. Any materials left over from the meal such as the dinner ware, or undigested food stuffs placed back into the dispenser are automatically recycled into the waste reclamation system. Each dispenser consists of a closed circuit micro transporter mounted as an enclosed wall unit in specified areas throughout the ship. These areas include: the crew lounge, the Captain’s, XO’s, and VIP’s quarters, Main Engineering, and the ship’s Sickbay.

A proto-replicator is definitely an interesting option. Maybe you should include something like an Auto Chef (like in the JD Robb book series) as a Galley function when the Galley staff is limited or off duty.

SNIP

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SNIP

Phasers

4x Type-5 tri-emitter banks
4x Type-5 dual-emitter banks

You definitely need to make this more clear in the next draft. In fact, use this exact wording in the tactical systems section above.

DECK LAYOUT

I’ll check this on the next draft, given the other issues that need to be addressed.

SHIPS OF THE CLASS

Ships of the Independence class are named, barring the first ship of the class, after Continental Navy naval frigates of the age of sail.

USS Independence - NCC 1600
USS Alliance - NCC 1601
USS Bonhomme Richard - NCC 1602
USS Boston - NCC 1603
USS Bourbon - NCC 1604

I don’t really get this part. You say at the top that this is based on the LCS battle group of vessels, but then don’t connect to them in the naming convention. The method of naming does not connect to the provenance of the vessel in any way, shape, or form.

The following ships are NPC ships and can be reused as needed.

USS Bricole - NCC 1605
USS Confederacy - NCC 1605
USS Congress - NCC 1606

That’s a hard pass on the Confederacy. The Congress is also questionable.

Conclusion

The Independence class are small, rugged, multi-role frigates capable of many duties of larger cruiser designs at half the cost and build time. Capable and functional, though not the prettiest, they will likely be in use for many years to come.

Submitted: 5/19/2020

Sorry again for the delay on this. There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed here, but the overall intentions are good, so I think we can move forward. The review is closed and the specification is returned to the designer for further revisions.

Nicholas Villarreal
Engineering Director


Posts on Engineering Department

In topic

Posted since


© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service

Version 1.15.9