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Specification Review: Independence-class Heavy Frigate (TOS), Draft 2 - Review OPEN Until August 31, 2020

Posted Aug. 24, 2020, 1:41 a.m. by Fleet Captain Russell Watt (Assistant Engineering Director) (Russell Watt)

Posted by Captain Nicholas Villarreal (Engineering Director) in Specification Review: Independence-class Heavy Frigate (TOS), Draft 2 - Review OPEN Until August 31, 2020
Robert Archer has submitted a second draft of the TOS/DSC-era Independence-Class Heavy Frigate for review. It is intended for use with the TOS-themed USS Sentinel, given that the Governor-class has a duplicate in the Kurtzman-class USS Chernov, and the design states that it was built in 2257, which is after the intended start point of the Sentinel. Feel free to take a look and give your feedback, especially if you have knowledge particular to either series that could be helpful.

The review period will end on 31 August 2020.

Nicholas Villarreal
Engineering Director

== SNIP ==

HISTORY AND MISSION OVERVIEW

The dawning of the 2240’s 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. They still had to remain vigilant for possible threats from old enemies and potential new adversaries. It was with this in mind that Starfleet put the call out for a multi-role rugged frigate, one which though smaller then common cruiser designs could perform just as well in a variety of situations.

Ben has already pointed out that then should be than, but I also wonder if commas should be around though small than common cruiser designs as that can be removed from that sentence and it still makes sense.

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. 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.

In the above you call it “Independance” not “Independence”. I’ve done a search on your specification and only found this one and my Independance. All the rest have the correct spelling of “Independence”.

Mission Profiles

==SNIP==

STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

The Independence Class Frigate was designed from the ground up to be rugged, dependable, and functional for its missions. 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.

I think you need a comma after pylons in the above, Rob. So, it would read: ‘Projecting upwards at the rear of the ship, on short V shaped pylons, are the ship’s two warp nacelles.’ This is because of the same reason as above ie ‘on short V shaped pylons’ could be removed and the sentence still makes sense. also, should it be V-shaped or V shaped? Just a stylistic thing to me really

The entire frame of the ship extends 12 decks across a triple layered duranium hull structure, in between each hull layer are 5cm of dura plastic foam. 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 laser welded to form a permanent support chassis.
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 packs along the ship’s frame.

SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS

Sensor Systems
The Independence class makes use of 150 sensor palettes arranged across the ship in clusters of four. The ship’s circular navigational deflector is located on decks 7 and 8 in a square shaped inset. These together make up the standard TOS-Type-5 sensor system. It has a high-resolution scan range of 2 light years and a low resolution scan range of 6.5 light years. Through the application of high power emission diodes, the sensor array can be utilized as a jamming system to prevent enemy vessels from sending or receiving transmissions. Effective jamming range for this system at full power is 100,000km. It should be noted that activating this jamming system also prevents the jamming vessel from utilizing their own communications systems.

For my own information, does ‘TOS-Type-5’ mean The Original Series in the above paragraph? or something else?

Computer and Network Systems
The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with a single duotronic computer mounted vertically on the rear sections of decks 2 and 3. Any requests from the library computer must be issued through the main Computer Room and any portable information must be copied to recorder tapes. The only information terminals capable of accessing the library computer without passing through the computer room are those in the Captain’s Quarters, the Main Conference Lounge, Main Engineering, the Science Labs, Sickbay and the Bridge.

Warp Propulsion Systems
The Independence Class Frigate is equipped with the Class V warp core system. It has a maximum Cochrane output of 615, with a standard cruising speed of TOS-Warp 5, a maximum sustainable speed of TOS-Warp 7, a maximum speed for 12 hours of TOS-Warp 8, and an emergency speed for 2 hours of TOS-Warp 8.5.
The core is positioned vertically on decks 11 and 12 with support systems on deck 12 with the matter/antimatter pods. Emergency ejection systems propel the core and pods out the bottom of the ship.

Impulse Propulsion Systems
The Independence Class Frigate has one quad-injector impulse engine positioned at the rear of deck 1. The engine has a maximum output of .23c and can accelerate or decelerate the ship, coupled with the RCS thruster system, in 35 seconds.

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 1.46x10^5 kW, and a maximum graviton load of 806 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 has a maximum energy dissipation rate of 5.475x10^4 kW.

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, twin emitter banks to port and starboard along the forward lines of the ship positioned dorsal and ventral. With an additional pair of twin emitters to port and starboard, dorsal and ventral along the aft end of the ship next to the ship’s nacelle pylons.
Forward phaser fire can angle 90 degrees to port and starboard respectively providing a full 180 degree length of coverage along the forward dorsal and ventral beam of the ship. The aft phasers cover an additional 180 degrees of the aft quarter except for a narrow line between the ship’s nacelles and pylons.
Fire control for the forward banks is handled by the control room on deck 7, while the aft control is handled by the control room on deck 8.

Torpedo Systems
The Independence Class Frigate has two Type 2 standard fire torpedo launchers positioned with 1 forward and 1 aft facing on deck 2. Each launcher is capable of firing a single torpedo or probe every 4 seconds.
Feeding, storage, fire control and servicing system rooms for both launchers are located centrally on deck 2. The ship carries 55 Mark-II torpedoes, and 20 assorted class 1-9 scientific probes.

COMMAND AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

==SNIP==
All of this looks fine to me.

UTILITY SYSTEMS

==SNIP==
Once again, it all looks fine to me.

CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS

==SNIP==
And once again, it all looks fine to me

AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS

==SNIP==

All looks fine to me

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

==SNIP==
I’m sure all of this would be directly from the relevant tables and that others would pick them up if they weren’t correct.

DECK LAYOUT

== What? No Roach farming equipment? Just kidding, looks good to me.==

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

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

USS Bonhomme Richard - NCC 1602
USS Boston - NCC 1603
USS Bourbon - NCC 160

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 10 AUGUST 2020
Robert Archer

Thank you for the spec submission, Rob.
I personally like it a lot, the commas I identified up the top are minor in nature.

One thing I did notice, and it might be something you could consider for the future, is that the start of a lot of your paragraphs start with “The Independence class” or similar phrasing. I’m just wondering whether it would be worthwhile for you to try to alter the choice of words used so that there is more variety for the reader. The reader should already know it is the independence class, so alternating that with ‘The ship specs …” or “The weapons systems have been …” or similar might be worthwhile to consider in the future. I don’t see anything as an issue with the spec from my perspective, and that’s only a suggestion for the future.

I presume you’ve been working with the crew of the Sentinel regarding the specs and that they meet their needs/desire in their RPing environment. I’ve been promoting the review of your specs in the Discord server (both this one and your NPC ship class) so hopefully people will be able to pop by and review them before 31st August and 5th September respectively.

Russell Watt
Tribble
AEDir


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