The
Galaxy Class Starship constructed as a replacement for the venerable
Ambassador Class. The ship incorporated the latest starship technology
that had been tested on the Akira, Cheyenne, New Orleans, and Nebula Class
ships. It features a full 300-degree phaser bank on the upper and lower
sides of the saucer, 3 photon launchers capable of firing 10 torpedoes at
a time, and a saucer separation system. However, from 2373 onward, the
primary front-firing torpedo launcher was upgraded to Quantum torpedo capabilities,
providing a far more effective arsenal.
Unlike the Akira's separation
systems, the Galaxy Class ships can separate at high warp into 2 fully
functional starships, allowing the crew to escape a warp core breach in
the Star Drive section or both sections of the ship to fight an enemy
target. It also has a large internal volume to accommodate foreign
delegations and to assist in emergency evacuations.
The Galaxy Class was officially commissioned into service in 2363. The
Galaxy class was developed to replace the ageing Ambassador and Oberth
class starships as Starfleet's primary exploration vessel. The design was
initiated in 2343 with a highly challenging specification which called for
a ship based on the Nebula design then being developed, but equally
capable of scientific, exploration, diplomatic, cultural, and combat roles
all within a single multi-mission hull. In fact, many came to regard the
requirement as too challenging; the project suffered from numerous delays
due to a wide range of design, manufacturing, and construction problems.
The first of the class, the USS Galaxy was launched in 2357 and
commissioned in 2362, nearly two decades after initial approval. The USS
Galaxy which emerged from the Utopia Planitia shipyard had very similar
lines to the Nebula class.
The Galaxy is slightly larger in volume, although its less compact design
gives it considerably greater length than the smaller vessel. The major
change between the two is the lack of a mission specific pod on the Galaxy
class, the increased volume allowing sections within the hull to be
mission customized. This combined with a more advanced systems level to
allow all functions to be performed by the single design. In addition the
saucer and engineering hulls are separated by an eleven deck connecting
neck section. This separation between the two hulls allows the nacelles to
be located outboard and above the engineering hull, a position which
increases the efficiency of the warp drive field slightly.
This gives the Galaxy class warp coils an efficiency of 88% at speeds of
up to Warp 7 and 52% through Warp 9.1 - the comparable figures for the
Nebula class are 84% and 47% respectively.
In 2375 the ageing Ambassador class USS Exeter was destroyed during the Second Battle of Chin'Toka. As such, a new Galaxy class USS Exeter was ordered and construction began in mid 2376. She was complete in 2378, and was commanded by Captain Elizabeth Shelby until she was reassigned. When, at that point in 2381, Admiral Jonas Quinn acquired the Exeter and seeded her to the Starfleet Expeditionary Force (EF). Command of the Exeter was handed over to the recently promoted Captain Jackson Faraday.
However, back in 2369 with the growing threats posed by the Maquis and the Cardassian Union Starfleet felt it necessary to increase the combat readiness and capability of the original Galaxy class vessel. In 2370, Galaxy class design variations were approved and modifications to the USS Constitution commenced and were soon complete. However, the original Constitution class USS Constitution was pulled out of moth balls and upgraded to Constitution class Mark III, as such, this Galaxy class USS Constitution was re-christened the USS Bunker Hill. These new variants on the original class have been officially designated the Galaxy class Mark II Enhanced Deterrence Explorer Star Ship. The Mark II have been granted their own unit run and are now contrasted at Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Mars, and the Cochrane Yards, Alpha Centauri to meet and order of 6 ships per year. Existing original Galaxy class ships to have been upgraded are the USS Bunker Hill, USS Galaxy, USS Pegasus, USS George Washington, USS J.T./James T. Kirk and the USS Saturn. Only one vessel in the Galaxy class Mark II variant bracket has been lost to date: the USS Pegasus. She was destroyed during the Dominion War when a Jem'Hadar attack ship fired a lucky shot at her bridge killing the majority of her Command and Senior staff. An inexperience Flight Control Officer took command, but his lack of command and tactical skill was his ship's eventual downfall.
With the recently reemerged Borg threat to the Alpha Quadrant the Galaxy class Mark II remains in production, however, rumors of a Galaxy class Mark III have arisen in 2380.
Graphic Computer Model
Vessel identifications in dark blue indicate a Galaxy class Mark II Star Ship.
2 type 3 aft burst-fire photon torpedo tubes + 184 photon torpedo compliment, and 1 forward-fie quantum torpedo tube + 81 quantum torpedo compliment
Antimatter spread emitter
Standard duranium/titanium double hull plus 9.0 CM high density armor
Standard level structural integrity field
Maximum cruise speed: Warp Factor 9.2
Maximum rated: Warp factor 9.6 for 12 hours
Standard: 5 years
Major: 20 years
Beam: 470 M
Height: 145M
Decks: 42
Shuttle bays: 3
Shuttles: 2 type 7 personal shuttles, 2 type 8 personal shuttles, 4 type 9 personal shuttles, 4 type 10 cargo shuttles, 5 type 11 personal shuttles, 2 type 18 shuttle pods, 15 Valkyrie Star Fighters, 7 runabout class vehicles, 1 Captain's Yacht.
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