STSTCSOLD&A | Federation - Enterprise class (Constitution)

his has got to be my #1 all-time favorite Star Trek ship design! To me, this ship takes the rudimentary lines of the Constitution--first laid down for ST:TOS by Matt Jeffries and built by Greg Jein--and maximizes all the best features while minimizing or eliminating all the dumb features. Planned for a second, never-to-be-seen Star Trek Kirk-era television series called Star Trek 2, the revamped design would eventually be pressed into service for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Seen in all six of the Kirk-era motion pictures as both the NCC-1701 and the NCC-1701-A, this design, to me, is simply gorgeous.   Matt Jeffries's TOS-era ship has been expounded upon by Mike Minor, Joe Jennings, Andrew Probert, Douglas Trumbull, and Harold Michelson, with a streamlined look that definitely brought Star Trek into the 1980's. The saucer looks better, the nacelles and their pylons look better, the secondary hull looks better, what else is there to say? A fantastic looking spaceship that would take Star Trek off the small screen and stick it up there on the big screen to compete with the likes of the Death Star and Luke Skywalker's X-Wing fighter.
        It was not until ST:TNG came along that most of us realized that this design was not indeed the "Enterprise: class. Instead, we find out its still the old "Constitution" class, and then later the "Constitution Refit" as dictated by info coming from studio sources like M. Okuda. Pretty dumb in my opinion, since this ship does look so much different (and better) than the original from ST:TOS. Oh well, at least in the FASA game we get to pretend.
U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-A, here see cruising under impulse power. (screen capture from Star Trek VI)        Like its progenitor, the misnamed Enterprise class is a very powerful Kirk-era cruiser, second only to the Excelsior class in terms of raw Starfleet muscle. Fans and gamers will find it natural to include this class in numerous different scenarios, usually battling off a numerically superior foe using inferior ships, or taking on a superior ship like the L-24 or the Z-1 Nova escorted by a gaggle of smaller ships. I'd dare say at least half of all the scenarios I have ever gamed over the last 16 years have included at least one Enterprise class ship, and in almost all cases the Enterprise class never failed me, even during losing efforts. If I could not beat my opponent, my Enterprise class sure smacked the crap out of my opponent before it was all through. And rightly so. The Enterprise class has a very strong superstructure and great power thanks to its warp engines. Shields are high with a very nice 1/4 ratio, and let's not forget the almighty torpedoes, which inflict 20 damage points per, and can sometimes wipe out many smaller enemy designs in a single blow.
        Experienced gamers will notice that I have four model types below, where there were only 3 in the original UFP Recognition Manual. This is because the fourth model was included in the TNG Officer's Manual and it seemed dumb to create a whole new page for what is essentially the same ship class, only a different model. Like the Excelsior class, the Gagarin (Oberth) class, and the Reliant (Miranda-Soyuz) classes, this is one of those Kirk-era ships we will see making cameos throughout the ST:TNG series, though seldom in glamour shots. Usually its in the background as part of a larger fleet, like during the battle at Wolf 359.

--- Brad, STSTCSOLD&A

From the FASA Star Trek FEDERATION SHIP RECOGNITION MANUAL, circa 1985
Constitution Class XI - XII Cruiser
NOTES: On Stardate 2/1204, the Constitution Class cruiser USS Enterprise returned from its last 5-year mission, the only one of the original 13 remaining in service, all others having been lost or destroyed. She was publicly hailed as the 'Champion Of The Federation', and, on Stardate 2/1302, the vessel began a scheduled overhaul that would lead to one of the most interesting conversion/modifications in recent history. What began as a scheduled overhaul of a Constitution Class cruiser turned into the Enterprise Class cruiser.
        While in drydock for upgrade to the Mk IV version of the Constitution Class, the Chief of Engineering, Commander Montgomery Scott, proposed that the vessel be fitted with FWG-1 warp engines, which would give the ship 33% more operating power and would increase its range. The proposal was endorsed, and the vessel was fitted with the newer engines. Once the engines were tested, it was found that the mounts would not withstand the forces exerted by the higher speeds, and so new pylon assemblies were required. A new lower or secondary hull assembly was designed that not only supported the new engines but also incorporated several major changes in appearance.
        The secondary hull was enlarged, giving room for larger shuttle bays, larger and more efficiently arranged engineering compartments and work stations, enlarged and improved research facilities, and an enclosed sensor array instead of the older-style extended dish. Furthermore, the photon torpedo bay was placed in the upper forward area. These changes also meant that the primary hull had to be replaced with a larger dish able to house the new fire-control, life-support, and computer systems. The vessel's final appearance was so drastically changed that Star Fleet Command decided to make it a new class entirely.
Bow shot of Constitution Refit, with navigational deflector featured prominently. (screen capture from Star Trek VI)         The Enterprise Class ships are the most powerful in known space. Since their introduction on Stardate 2/1704, they have been the UFP's most effective deterrent to aggression. Their combat abilities are equaled by their capability to perform extensive research duties, and this makes them the most versatile of all vessels in service. Despite the dual capabilities, however, the class is being used more and more in its combat role due to the increased border activities of both the Klingon and Romulan Empires.
        Like many ships, the Enterprise Class has been modified. The first modification was made to house the FIF-1 impulse drive system, giving the Mk II 7% more operating power. The Mk Ill, likely to replace both the Mk I and II, mounts the FIF-2 impulse drive system, giving 15% more power than the Mk I and 6% more power than the Mk II. Also incorporated into this design is an additional bank of FH-11 phasers and an additional FP-4 torpedo bay, both systems firing aft, giving the class much needed protection there. These modifications have been ordered on several existing Mk Is and Mk Iis, and they may be required on all vessels of this class in the near future. Only two Mk Is are under construction; both are believed to be undergoing the modifications to Mk III.
        The Enterprise Class cruisers are produced at the Sol III and Salazaar shipyards at a rate of 4 per year. The number under prodJction varies and should only be used for reference.

Construction Data: Model Numbers- Ship Class- Date Entering Service- Number Constructed	MK I XI 2/1704 26	MK II XI 2/1910 19	MK III XI 2/2102 10	MK IV (TNG) XII 2/2802 50
Hull Data: Superstructure Points- Damage Chart- Size Length- Width- Height- Weight- Cargo Cargo Units- Cargo Capacity- Landing Capability-	26 C 302 meters 131 meters 74 meters 150,275 tons 450 units 22,500 tons None	27 C 302 meters 131 meters 74 meters 153,275 tons 450 units 22,500 tons None	28 C 302 meters 131 meters 74 meters 161,008 tons 450 units 22,500 tons None	32 C 322 meters 131 meters 78 meters 197,543 tons 450 units 22,500 tons None
Equipment Data: Control Computer Type- Transporters- Standard 6-person- Combat 20-person- Emergency 22-person- cargo large- cargo small-	M-6 4 None 4 2 None	M-6 4 None 4 2 None	M-6A 4 None 4 2 None	M-7A 4 4 4 2 2
Other Data: Crew- Passengers- Shuttlecraft-	412 60 12	416 60 12	416 60 12	422 50 10
Engines and Power Data: Total Power Units Available- Movement Point Ratio- Warp Core Type- Warp Core Output- Stress Charts- Maximum Safe Cruising Speed- Emergency Speed- Impulse Reactor(s) Type- Impulse Reactor(s) Output-	60 4/1 FWG-1 52 D/F Warp 8 Warp 9.9 FIE-2 8	64 4/1 FWG-1 52 D/F Warp 8 Warp 9.9 FIF-1 12	68 4/1 FWG-1 52 D/F Warp 8 Warp 9.9 FIF-2 16	66 4/1 FTWC-2 50 D/E Warp 8 Warp 9.9 FIF-2 16
Weapons and Firing Data: Beam Weapon Type- Number- Firing Arcs- Firing Chart- Maximum Power- Damage Modifiers +3 +2 +1 Missile Weapon Type- Number- Firing Arcs- Firing Chart- Power To Arm- Damage-	FH-11 6 in three banks 2f/p, 2f, 2f/s Y 10 (1 - 10) (11 - 17) (18 - 24) FP-4 2 F S 1 20	FH-11 6 in three banks 2f/p, 2f, 2f/s Y 10 (1 - 10) (11 - 17) (18 - 24) FP-4 2 F S 1 20	FH-11 8 in four banks 2f/p, 2f, 2f/s, 2a Y 10 (1 - 10) (11 - 17) (18 - 24) FP-4 3 2f, 1a S 1 20	FH-11 8 in four banks 2f/p, 2f, 2f/s, 2a Y 10 (1 - 10) (11 - 17) (18 - 24) FP-4 4 2f, 2a S 1 20
Shields Data: Deflector Shield Type- Shield Point Ratio- Maximum Shield Power-	FSP 1/4 16	FSP 1/4 16	FSP 1/4 16	FSP 1/4 16
Defense Factor- Weapon Damage Factor-	145.2 89.2	152.0 89.2	162.8 123.1	195.76 135.60