from Starfleet Prototype-The Journal of Innovative Design and Ideas
by David Schmidt & Mastercom Data Center

Notes - circa 2330:

     With tensions between the Klingon Empire and the Federation once again heating up, Star Fleet began to look into several new designs to supplement the aging Star League Class of dreadnought. By 2285, Star Fleet was presented with a new design that would radically change the dreadnought design for ever.
     Since the late 2250’s, the role of the dreadnought had been as a focal point for large scale fleets. The dreadnought was designed to move at high warp into a troubled area and engage multiple targets with varied support. Although this traditional role was extremely successful against cloaking devices, it was felt that the Romulan’s high mobility style of combat would be dangerous to a slow moving high firepower platform. Although dreadnoughts were becoming more maneuverable, they still lacked the high speed maneuverability required for combating pirates and other small attack forces. Sinnar Design quickly finished the design for the Adamant and presented it to the review board of Star Fleet R&D. By mid 2288, the prototype was completed and the Adamant was sent into production.
     The Adamant was twice as maneuverable as current Dreadnought designs, and in many cases was more maneuverable than comparable heavy Cruisers. The Adamant’s heavy forward firepower design allowed the Dreadnought to disable a single enemy Cruiser or battleship while still maintaining the ability to defend against pursuing lighter craft. The Adamant also retained the large shuttle bays that were becoming standard on other Miranda variants, giving the Dreadnought the ability to act as a Frigate in times of crisis. Unfortunately, the Adamant Class did not solve the cost problems associated with other Dreadnoughts designs. Coupled with the lower warp speed of the FWE drive system, the Adamant was considered extremely mission specific.
     The Mk I, the least powerful of the Class, was still considered comparable to the Klingon L-24 and Romulan Z-1. Armed with the new Mega Phaser cannon, the Mk I could defend against several targets while maintaining a constant attack posture against any heavy Cruiser the Romulans or Klingons had in their inventory.
     The Mk II was launched in 2296, increasing the shielding capability of the popular vessel. But the upgrade would soon be out-Classed by the Excelsior heavy Cruiser, which was more powerful and better equipped. Feeling their design had merits, Sinnar Fleets again upgraded the Adamant in 2300, enlarging the secondary hull slightly to provide for larger weapons. The upgrade was a success, and by 2313, all 14 remaining Adamants were converted to the new design.
     Of the 16 Adamants built, one Mk I was destroyed in a confrontation with Klingon forces near Orion space, and one Mk II has been scraped after colliding with an asteroid. The remaining 14 are still in service along the Romulan and Cardassian boarders. The Adamant was built at the Arcturus, Daran and Sol III facilities.