Design/concept from Starfleet Academy Training Command-Line Officer Requirement, David Schmidt

Notes:
        As Star Fleet continued to expand it fleet, it was felt that a high firepower, single engine design was necessary to provide security near less hostile boarders. With the in expense of the Jenghis Class, Procurement felt that the Behemoth Class could provide the required combat ability while keeping the construction expense down.
        Although started in 2279, it would be nearly 10 years before dynamics, weaponry and shielding would all come together to form the Mk I. Armed with twin FMH-7 mega phasers, the Mk I had equivalent firepower with most Cruisers, and the Behemoth was nearly Classified as a Heavy Destroyer. The powerful new FWG-3 gave the destroyer tremendous combat potential, surpassing power curves of both larger and smaller vessels. Continuing to serve for 3 years before being upgraded, the Mk I remained in production for almost a year after the Mk II was launched.
        The Mk II did see the upgrading of several systems, including the torpedoes and phasers, as well as the shields. The Behemoth doubled torpedo firepower and increased the phaser power by 60%. But the Mk II’s heavier mass did reduce the overall top speed and the new systems reduced internal spacing, which was already at a premium, by nearly 7%. The Behemoth Class also had only a small landing pad and little research capability.
        Although Star Fleet considered changing the mission perimeters of the Behemoth, it remained in sporadic production for nearly 10 years. By 2300, with 25 new ships completed, and nearly all of the 42 Mk I’s now upgraded to Mk II’s, Star Fleet Intelligence began to review the perimeters for the Behemoth, as well as the Special Forces division of several Federation member states. Although plans to create a Mk III were shelved, the Behemoth continued to serve well into the 2320’s and is still used by cover operations to this date.
        Of the 67 built, 1 Mk II is listed as missing, 2 Mk I’s have been destroyed in combat, one Mk I and one Mk II have been scrapped, and 10 are currently used as training vessels.