NEW ORLEANS-CLASS FRIGATE
Class:
The New Orleans class frigate was created as part of the “New Fleet” initiative started in the mid-2330s. She was designed to be a less capable, but less expensive, companion vessel to the Challenger class light cruiser. The vessel was not expected to operate along the frontier, so a fateful decision not to fi t the ship with photon torpedo launchers, freeing the space up for a more effective exploration suite.
Classification:
Smaller than the Challenger class light cruiser, and more capable than the Steamrunner class destroyer, Star Fleet decided to classify the vessel as a frigate.
Design:
Many of Star Fleet’s vessels leverage the design philosophies of the New Orleans class, especially the Galaxy class. Her primary and secondary hulls, as well as warp nacelles, became the “standard” that future vessels, such as the Nebula and Galaxy were designed from.
A controversial decision was made to not mount any photon torpedo launchers on this vessel, instead relying on seven Type IX phasers for offensive punch. This was decided due to the fact that too much internal space would have to be dedicated to torpedo launching mechanisms and storage, impacting on the scientifi c suite. As things were “quiet” at the time, and such vessels were not designed to operate on the extreme frontier, the tradeoff was considered acceptable.
Engineering: The New Orleans class mounts the Leeding Energies LF-30 warp drive, a direct descendent of the Ambassador’s LF-10 and advancement of the LF-15. The Kloratis FIG-3 impulse drive system was also fi tted. Top speed is structurally limited by the torpedo launchers to Warp 9.1, though the vessel is able to maintain a top cruising speed of Warp 9 and a standard speed of Warp 6.
Tactical:
When the Federation went to war with the Cardassian Union in 2356, the lack of a photon torpedo launcher became a signifi cant liability to the New Orleans class, which suddenly found themselves unable to defend themselves against Cardassian ships equipped with such weapons. All New Orleans vessels were immediately withdrawn from areas of confl ict and redistributed in safer areas of the Federation. However, it was immediately obvious that this situation could not be tolerated. The ship’s phaser and shielding were equal to the Ambassador class, which was deeply involved in Fleet operations against the Cardassians. The ASDB convened a special design team to fi gure out how to add photon torpedo launchers to the New Orleans class as fast as possible.
In two months of round-the-clock meetings, the team fi gured out a way to mount three of the new Mk 80 photon torpedo launchers in special “bolt-on” tubes to the ship. Two were placed on top of the saucer, and a third placed underneath the secondary hull.
The new photon torpedo launchers greatly improved the combat effectiveness of the New Orleans class while sacrifi cing none of her scientifi c and exploratory capabilities. The initial ships modifi ed suffered some minor reductions in top speed and maneuverability due to stresses imposed on the mounting brackets and the effect of the pods on the ship’s warp dynamics. Launchers were immediately built and all of the ships were sent to the yards for modifi cation. This process took about a month and the ships were then deployed to the front lines with groups of Steamrunner class ships.
All New Orleans class ships carry the FSP shield system.
Computer Systems:
The New Orleans carries the M-14 Isolinear II computer system. A signifi cant improvement on the M-12 Duotronic unit, it packs more processing power and storage capacity in the same space. The new system uses isolinear optical chips composed of linear memory crystal material. This new technology is expected to replace duotronic-based computers in all new starship and computer systems.
Builders:
Cosmadyne Corporation was chosen as the primary contractor for the New Orleans class, with the initial batch of ships being built at the San Francisco Fleet Yards. Four additional batches of ships were ordered with construction spread out across a number of separate Fleet and civilian yards.
Development and Construction History:
The design for New Orleans was approved in 2335. The lead vessel’s keel was laid in 2340 and construction took a little under four years. Shakedown and acceptance trials added another year and the lead ship entered service in 2345 followed over the next few months by her sisters. Additional batches were ordered between 2343 and 2346.
Current Specifications for the New Orleans class:
Displacement 1,200,000 mt
Overall Length 360 m
Overall Draft 53 m
Overall Beam 258 m
Propulsion:
Two LF-30 Mod 1 energized-energized antimatter warp drive units
Two FIG-3 subatomic unifi ed energy impulse units
QASR-2 particle beam maneuvering thrusters
“Trentis IV” pulsed laser reaction control system
Velocity:
Warp 6 Standard Cruising Speed
Warp 9.0 Maximum Cruising Speed
Warp 9.1 Maximum Attainable Velocity
Duration:
5 years, standard
Complement:
83 Offi cers
377 Enlisted Crew
127 Passengers (Normal – Up to 500 maximum)
460 Total Crew (Standard)
Embarked Craft:
0 Danube Class Runabout
4 Type 6 Personnel Shuttle
4 Type 7 Personnel Shuttle
4 Type 9A Cargo Shuttle
8 Type 16 Shuttlepod
0 Peregrine Class Fighter
0 S-3 Sentry SWAC Shuttle
Navigation:
RAV / ISHAK Mod 3 Warp Celestial Guidance
Computers:
M-13 Isolinear I
Phasers:
5 Type IX Collimated Phaser Array
Missiles:
3 Mk 80 Photon Torpedo Launchers
Defense:
FSP Primary Force Field
Life Support:
NAG2 Modular Gravity Unit
AL2 Life Support System
