Romulan Starships: Examples
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Theta-class Swift Courier
- Class and Type: Theta-class Swift Courier
- Commissioning Date: 2337
- Size: 73 m long, 3 decks
- Crew: 8
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
One of the few nonmilitary profiles in active Naval service, Theta-class couriers transport sensitive materials, personnel, or information among the fleets and outposts of the Star Navy. Possessing light armaments and enhanced drive and propulsion systems, these vessels saw frequent use along both the Taurhai and Klingon borders during the 2340s and '50s, and along the route into the Alpha Quadrant during the Dominion War in the 2370s. They remain one of the quickest and most functional designs in the Star Navy.
Although considered the cutting edge of speed and utility in the early to mid-24th century, the Theta-class has largely been replaced by the newer Theron-class Far Courier (which was first introduced in 2364). Many Theta-class ships remain in use either as frontier transports of training vessels; others have been refit by the Occupation and Pacification Commands, and are used as transports or regional couriers during planetary assimilation operation.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- Theta, prototype; Rilidam, lost on diplomatic mission near Federation Neutral Zone border; S'narvak, currently assigned to core world outpost courier duties; T'lava, served as Tribunal courier during Dominion War; Vastara, served as testbed for new Theron-class modifications. Also in service: Surin, V'teldan.
Meret-class Incursion Cruiser
- Class and Type: Meret-class Incursion Cruiser
- Commissioning Date: 2359
- Size: 517 m long, 27 decks
- Crew: 600
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
Designed for long-range reconnaissance and search-and-destroy missions, Meret-class vessels have assumed important offensive roles in most fleets of the Star Navy. Utilizing an "open" wing design, this class represents a new variation on the accepted bilateral designs of the larger warbird classes. Constructed primarily to conserve additional weight and increase sublight performance, the variant profile does not seem to affect the vessel's cloaking ability adversely.
Combining an array of diverse capabilities, Meret-class vessels have become widely recognized within the Star Navy for their unsurpassed versatility. These ships were originally rushed into development in the wake of the Empire's renewed contact with the United Federation of Planets. As intelligence reports provided more and more insight into the Empire's spinward neighbor, the Star Navy saw the need for several new classes of incursion vessels.
Equipped with improved cloaking technology and outfitted with considerable armaments, Meret-class ships immediately proved themselves as exemplary patrol and harassment vessels, capable of covert border crossings and extended intelligence-gathering missions. Their improved cloaks, distinctive design, and significant defenses have made these ships a favorite of the Tal Shiar. In fact, a variant of the Meret-class – designed specifically for intelligence operations and christened the D'viret-class – remains in heavy use by the Tal Shiar today.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- Meret, prototype; D'tervek, disappeared while on covert mission in Klingon space; Mederem, participated in attempted invasion of Vulcan in 2368; S'ten, classified disappearance during Dominion War; V'tallus, lost in Battle of Eridam during the Fourth Taurhai Offensive; Vassam, assigned to permanent outpost patrol in Empty Frontier. Also in service: D'delean, Lattem, S'delon.
Vereleus-class Dreadnought
- Class and Type: Vereleus-class Dreadnought
- Commissioning Date: 2371
- Size: 1350 m long, 72 decks
- Crew: 1850
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
The Vereleus-class represents the pinnacle of modern Romulan starship design. The largest in active production in the Star Navy, Vereleus-class vessels have recently entered service as flagships in most of the Navy's command fleets. Boasting expanded subspace communications and sensor packages, the Vereleus-class was designed from the beginning to serve as a space-based, front-line command center. The addition of an additional secondary battle bridge indicates the importance accorded this ambitious new role by the Star Command.
Building on the legendary successes of the D’deridex-class and the other heavy warbirds classes, the Vereleus-class utilizes an expanded, but less "sweeping" quantum nacelle configuration. This design not only allows its core deck sections to be much larger and deeper than those found in its predecessors, but it also protects the sophisticated sensor equipment necessary for the vessel to fulfill its intended role, all without drastically affecting its cloaking ability. While perhaps less graceful in appearance than its elegant warbird ancestors, the utility of this configuration has already proven itself in numerous engagements along every Imperial border.
The Vereleus-class also introduced the new "singularity torpedo" to the Star Navy's arsenal. Developed in response to Starfleet's quantum torpedo, these weapons represent significant design strides in Romulan materiel research and manufacturing. The first dreadnoughts equipped with singularity launchers were commissioned in 2373; earlier vessels are currently being upgraded with the new technology.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- Vereleus, prototype; Pilaron, assigned to Federation Neutral Zone monitoring during final weeks of Dominion War; Sor, lost in the Battle of Destrix during the Fifth Taurhai Offensive in 2374; Tovarek, recently commissioned as flagship of Tullan Fleet; Veletan, assigned as flagship of Fourth Spinward Fleet. Also in service: Enem, Marrus.
D'virin-class Incursion Frigate
- Class and Type: D'virin-class Incursion Frigate
- Commissioning Date: 2343
- Size: 389 m long, 12 decks
- Crew: 200
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
First commissioned in the mid-24th century, the D'virin class of incursion frigates was designed as a direct homage to the venerable Tellus class of early 23rd century warbirds. Designed as forward observation and long-range reconnaissance vessels, these small ships still manage to pack quite an offensive punch. Their quickness - combined with their deep-space capabilities - has made them fixtures at most Romulan frontier outposts.
Like their slightly larger counterparts - the D'tavan class of strike frigates - D'virin-class vessels are capable of a diverse range of mission profiles. Historically, these ships have been stationed in newly occupied client systems with in Empire, or along hostile borders with neighboring stellar powers. Their high sustainable velocities, coupled with their ability to remain cloaked for long periods of time, make them ideal covert penetration vessels.
Unfortunately, these capabilities also require large portions of the vessel to be dedicated to the enhanced systems, making the D'virin-class perhaps the least comfortable of all Romulan ship types. Of course, in true Romulan fashion, the crews of these vessels take a perverse pride in their hardship; members of this extended "D'virin fraternity" often greet each other like long-lost brothers, allowing their common experiences to create an unspoken bond among them.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- D'virin, prototype; Marilon, participated in attempted invasion of Vulcan in 2368; S'tar, destroyed by Borg while on patrol in Diodor Sector; S'var, destroyed during blockade of Serus III in 2361; V'nitor, lost in the Tullan Reach in 2355; Xi, engaged a Klingon expeditionary force along border in 2367. Also in service: D'relix, V'mendin, Vathos.
Deresus-class Heavy Scout
- Class and Type: Deresus-class Heavy Scout
- Commissioning Date: 2321
- Size: 217 m long, 5 decks
- Crew: 45
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
Utilizing a spaceframe descended in part from older 23rd century cruiser designs, Deresus-class scouts have served as fleet workhorses for years. Their compact profiles remain familiar sights along every Imperial frontier, and fifty years of active service has solidified the class' reputation as one of the foremost exploratory vessels in the Star Navy.
First launched in 2321, Deresus-class ships were originally intended to replace the venerable T'varak class of near-space scouts. While the new Deresus class accomplished this goal, its long-range capabilities surprised even its designers. Small, versatile, and capable of extended mission profiles, many Deresus-class vessels were subsequently outfitted for long-range survey and observation duties.
As a result of the infamous Praetorian Edict of 2348 (known outside the Empire as the Expansion Directive), the Exploration Command initiated an extensive quantum drive upgrade program, with the Deresus class always at the vanguard of the new developments and refits. Coreward and spinward expansion reached a fevered level in the wake of these experiments, and hundreds of the upgraded Deresus- and Nir'at-class (a slightly larger version of the Deresus class) vessels were commissioned during the early 2350s. This expansionist period saw the establishment of numerous outposts along the Empire's coreward borders, as well as colonization and occupation efforts throughout vast reaches of the Empty Frontier.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- Deresus, prototype; Averek, disappeared exploring the Empty Frontier in 2359; D'jarek, used as test vessel for quantum singularity drive upgrade experiments in 2350; Suretak, lost at the vanguard of the Third Taurhai Offensive in 2365; T'varian, participated in attempted invasion of Vulcan in 2368; Torelan, assigned to Rimward Exploratory Wing in late 2360s. Also in service: V'tirex, Vurin.
T'rasus-class Light Starbird
- Class and Type: T'rasus-class Light Starbird
- Commissioning Date: 2357
- Size: 407 m long, 19 decks
- Crew: 300
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
First commissioned in the wake of the Praetorian Edict of 2348, these ships were the first of the new "Starbird" classes of exploration vessels. Utilizing specifications created for the quantum upgrade projects of the mid-2350s, the T'rasus-class of exploratory cruisers was designed for extended deep-space exploration, survey, and contact missions. Its success as a class was largely responsible for the increasing respect accorded the Exploration Command in the late 24th century.
Prior to the development of the T'rasus-class and its sister classes, most Romulan vessel designs were predicted on military needs and specifications. The advent of the Starbird classes marked a new wave of specialized planning and design for the Star Navy, a movement that has continued to gather speed and support into the present day. The success of the expansionist edicts of the 2350s would pave the way for the Exploration Edicts of the 2360s and 2370s, and the newer exploratory classes would continue to be at the forefront of such programs.
Although the T'rasus class was designed as an exploratory vessel, its versatility has lent itself to several variant designs during the tense threat climate of the 2370s. These military variants were capable of making the long journey into the Alpha Quadrant during the conflict with the Dominion, and most served with distinction alongside many of the larger warbird and warship classes.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- T'rasus, prototype; D'kalam, disappeared exploring the Starry Road Nebula in 2360; D'tharan, lost during rimward expansion sorties in late 2360s; Durelan, lost while engaging in reconnaissance during the Fifth Taurhai Offensive; T'Laratex, currently engaged in deep space exploration beyond the Empty Frontier; T'xeren, believed destroyed by Borg in Tullan Reach. Also in service: D'stelen, Visen.
D'valek-class Swift Warbird
- Class and Type: D'valek-class Swift Warbird
- Commissioning Date: 2368
- Size: 822 m long, 67 decks
- Crew: 1450
- Cloaking Capability: Yes
Designed in response to the introduction of the various "fast" vessel classes recently incorporated into the Federation Starfleet, the D'valek-class of swift warbirds represents a departure from conventional Romulan design thinking. While most warbird configurations sacrifice some degree of speed and maneuverability for greater offensive and defensive capabilities, the D'valek-class does the opposite. For their considerable size, this class remains one of the fastest in the fleet.
Originally intended to serve as heavily armed, long-range support vessels for the aborted S'varen-class strike carriers, their role has gradually evolved to focus on rapid response and perimeter defense missions. D'valek-class vessels - along with their smaller cousins, the T'varo-class of swift warbirds - form the nucleus of most of the Core Defense fleets, rapid response units assigned to systems and outposts throughout the Imperial core worlds. These standing defense units must be ready for dispatch at a moment's notice to regions of heightened threat activity within the Empire's borders.
Much like similar Starfleet designs, D'valek-class vessels represent prime examples of specialized and misison-specific vessel design, a trend that shows no sign of abating. While D'valek-class warbirds remain formidable jacks-of-all-trades, their warbird descendants. - including both the D'valek- and T'varo-classes - have largely been designed according to much narrower specifications.
Noteworthy Vessels/service records/encounters:
- D'valek, prototype; Cestron, served as wingship in Fifth Taurhai Offensive; D'daen, destroyed by Dominion forces in 2375; Imparatex, lost during routine patrol along Klingon border in 2370; Kormorex, led reserve forces in Battle of Delta Corescus; S'varan, assigned to patrol duty along Federation Neutral Zone. Also in service: D'ressa, S'tel.