Post by LoonyEclipse on Nov 11, 2013 23:37:01 GMT
Excerpt from Jane's Fighting Starships 2409
Class name: Prometheus (Agincourt-type variant)
Type: Multimission Patrol Escort
Length : 420m
Beam : 150m
Height : 62m
Decks : 15
Crew complement: 180
Class history
The Agincourt variant is a heavy modification of Starfleet’s primary advanced escort class, the Prometheus. Experience in the Dominion War, the Narada incident and the numerous small-scale skirmishes that led to the outbreak of the recent Klingon war illustrated that while a solid and effective design, there were a number of areas upon which the Prometheus class could be improved. While not enough to merit the design of an entirely new class, they nonetheless merited modification of the currently existing space frame.
Three areas were identified as areas upon which the Prometheus could be improved: durability, space frame versatility and addressing the class' noted issues with protracted combat engagements.
Minor modifications to the space frame were enough for the former, with the saucer section being narrowed and reinforced, the secondary hull underwent a minor redesign and the warp nacelles brought closer to the secondary hull. This had the side benefit of reducing the ship’s target profile as well.
The third concern was addressed, much to the chagrin of the crew, by reducing the number of creature comforts available to them: specifically, the elimination of the two small holodecks present on the primary class as well as their associated power supplies and computing cores. This freed up increased space for torpedo magazines as well as replacement parts and replicator slurry and an enhanced sensor array, allowing for increased patrol times and greater combat effectiveness and sustainability
Addressing the versatility issue involved the most radical redesign element of the Agincourt pattern. All weapons systems mounts on the ship were designed to be self-contained, modular hard point systems, allowing for far swifter replacement of damaged weapons, as well as the ability to swap out entire weapons systems for different types, allowing the entire weapons profile of the ship to be radically altered between missions allowing for it to be ‘custom-tailored’ for specific enemy profiles, if need be. This enables the ship to fulfill a variety of different tactical roles within a fleet, given a brief time to refit at a starbase: for example, it can vary between a heavy torpedo boat, an anti-fighter support craft, or as its typical role as a hunter-killer ship.
There remains considerable discussion among the admiralty as to whether the ship, after all these modifications, has become an entirely new class or simply a heavy modification to the existing Prometheus design. At this time, it remains registered under the Prometheus banner, but as production numbers of the call increase, this is subject to change. Nonetheless the small number produced thus far (Exact numbers remain classified, though estimates vary between 10 and 20 vessels of this type produced to date) have demonstrated excellent combat performance.
All vessels of this type follow a consistent naming pattern: each is named after major planetary battles of Federation member civilizations.
Standard armament (conjectural): 1 forward mounted warhead launcher, 2 forward-mounted dual heavy cannons, 1 forward-mounted beam array, and 3 rear-mounted energy turrets
Confirmed members of the class: Agincourt, Jutland, Passchendaele, Guadalcanal, Red Cliffs
Class name: Prometheus (Agincourt-type variant)
Type: Multimission Patrol Escort
Length : 420m
Beam : 150m
Height : 62m
Decks : 15
Crew complement: 180
Class history
The Agincourt variant is a heavy modification of Starfleet’s primary advanced escort class, the Prometheus. Experience in the Dominion War, the Narada incident and the numerous small-scale skirmishes that led to the outbreak of the recent Klingon war illustrated that while a solid and effective design, there were a number of areas upon which the Prometheus class could be improved. While not enough to merit the design of an entirely new class, they nonetheless merited modification of the currently existing space frame.
Three areas were identified as areas upon which the Prometheus could be improved: durability, space frame versatility and addressing the class' noted issues with protracted combat engagements.
Minor modifications to the space frame were enough for the former, with the saucer section being narrowed and reinforced, the secondary hull underwent a minor redesign and the warp nacelles brought closer to the secondary hull. This had the side benefit of reducing the ship’s target profile as well.
The third concern was addressed, much to the chagrin of the crew, by reducing the number of creature comforts available to them: specifically, the elimination of the two small holodecks present on the primary class as well as their associated power supplies and computing cores. This freed up increased space for torpedo magazines as well as replacement parts and replicator slurry and an enhanced sensor array, allowing for increased patrol times and greater combat effectiveness and sustainability
Addressing the versatility issue involved the most radical redesign element of the Agincourt pattern. All weapons systems mounts on the ship were designed to be self-contained, modular hard point systems, allowing for far swifter replacement of damaged weapons, as well as the ability to swap out entire weapons systems for different types, allowing the entire weapons profile of the ship to be radically altered between missions allowing for it to be ‘custom-tailored’ for specific enemy profiles, if need be. This enables the ship to fulfill a variety of different tactical roles within a fleet, given a brief time to refit at a starbase: for example, it can vary between a heavy torpedo boat, an anti-fighter support craft, or as its typical role as a hunter-killer ship.
There remains considerable discussion among the admiralty as to whether the ship, after all these modifications, has become an entirely new class or simply a heavy modification to the existing Prometheus design. At this time, it remains registered under the Prometheus banner, but as production numbers of the call increase, this is subject to change. Nonetheless the small number produced thus far (Exact numbers remain classified, though estimates vary between 10 and 20 vessels of this type produced to date) have demonstrated excellent combat performance.
All vessels of this type follow a consistent naming pattern: each is named after major planetary battles of Federation member civilizations.
Standard armament (conjectural): 1 forward mounted warhead launcher, 2 forward-mounted dual heavy cannons, 1 forward-mounted beam array, and 3 rear-mounted energy turrets
Confirmed members of the class: Agincourt, Jutland, Passchendaele, Guadalcanal, Red Cliffs