Ronin class

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Class and Type: Ronin-class Explorer
Commissioning Date: 2378

The Ronin-class was fielded in the 2370's to provide a smaller, more numerous counterpart to the Sovereign-class. Whereas the similarly designed Kelvin-class was better armed and more geared towards exploration, the Ronin was designed with more of a scientific bent. The design was intended to parallel that of the Sovereign-class as closely as possible in order to allow for many identical systems to be installed in both classes; this has resulted in significant improvements in the design and construction processes for the Ronin-class and thus allowed comparatively high numbers to be fielded. Compared to the Sovereign-class, the Ronin has a more compact shape - the engineering hull is integrated directly to the saucer section, a measure which saves some 200 square meters of interior volume and materials.

The major difference in capability is the addition of a prominent housing aft of the saucer section of the Ronin-class. This enables the vessel to carry any one of a variety of special equipment pods - current models include a high capacity sensor pod, an enhanced weapons pod, a colony transport pod, an emergency field hospital unit, or a science laboratory pod. Although the basic Ronin design has approximately 80% of the capability of a Sovereign-class vessel in most areas, the addition of the mission pod brings that figure up to 95% or more in that specific area. This flexibility actually allows the Ronin design to accomplish almost identical missions despite its smaller size.

In service the Ronin-class has proved highly satisfactory, and in many ways these ships are a fully satisfactory replacement for the Nebula-class that forms the backbone of Starfleet's exploratory and scientific programs. Like the Sovereign-class they have received regular upgrades to their systems, most notably a new warp core design.

Statistics

Crew Compliment
- Officers: 160
- Enlisted Crew: 320
- Civilians (Families) 220
- Maximum Capacity: 1000
Specifications
- Height: 87 Metres
- Width: 316.67 Metres
- Length: 680 Metres
- Beam: 240 Metres
- Decks: 20 (no pod)
- Mass: 2,500,000 tons
Speed
- Cruising: Warp 6.99
- Emergency: Warp 9.99 (9 hours)
Durability
- Expected Duration: 120 Years
- Minor Refit Cycle: 5 Years
- Major Refit Cycle: 10 Years
Strength Index: 1788