design
by Matt Burke & Dale L. Kemper
graphics by Brad R. Torgerson
Notes:
The Ticonderoga Class Light Cruiser
is the newest class of vessels to come from the Federation assembly line.
At present, only the Ticonderoga has been completed, with the construction
of 24 more vessels to begin if and when she successfully completes her
trials.
The Ticonderoga is the first Starfleet vessel with up and down warp nacelles,
as opposed to the conventional side to side method of dual engines in
the past. Great study and design experimentation has gone into this alignment,
with a number of new theories in warp engineering occurring as well. Not
until the evidence of improved performance (see the Orion Swift Solaria
class) came about was this radical design ever seriously considered.
Tests have shown that through some still
not understood principle of warp matter/antimatter balance a vessel using
this engine configuration should attain greater speeds with more safety
than a vessel using the standard configuration. Practical trials have
only been conducted with vessels less than 40,000 tons but designers and
warp engineers can find no reason why this advantage should not help larger
ships as well. Ticonderoga has been built to make sure that this is indeed
so.
If the class is a success, Starfleet intends
to use the vessels for such tasks as escorts for important convoys, and
pirate suppression. Finally, the privateers who prey on helpless shipping
will come up against a vessel that can both outgun them and outrun them.
This never-before-seen situation is looked upon with great expectation
by many merchant corporations and far-flung frontier worlds.
The trials of the Ticonderoga are scheduled
for later in this year. Only then will it be known for sure if the class
will be a success or not. Regardless of the outcome, the Ticonderoga class
may very well be the last major Starfleet vessel to be equipped with standard
warp engines. The continuing tests of the new battleship Excelsior and
her transwarp drive may make all other means of interstellar propulsion
obsolete before the final ship of the Ticonderoga class is complete.
