12.3 Daran Class Frigate

DARAN CLASS FRIGATE SERVICE ENTRY DATE (OLD CALENDAR): 2276

Inspired by the respected Surya design from the Four Years War, Daran and its successors were all new builds intended to replace the aging members of Starfleet’s frigate force. Daran was first out the gate in 2276 but was quickly overshadowed by Knox, its more capable stablemate, the following year. Knox eliminated the sponsons from the dual hangar bays and employed a modified form of the unified shuttle bay that had proven such a success with Avenger. Two other sub-classes soon followed. Bragg was little more than a Daran with one of its hangar bays and the unified flight deck removed and replaced with science and research facilities. It was intended to replace the retiring Shackleton class (a modified Larson class destroyer) in the Starfleet survey cruiser role. Lancer was a Knox reconfigured for the “heavy firepower forward” role. It had only two megaphaser cannon, both forward mounted, but also had dual photon torpedo tubes added to the bow in a classic “Marklin notch.” A handful of later Lancers managed to mount three tubes with full support systems and torpedo storage at the expense of crew facilities.

Not all of Starfleet’s older frigates received linear warp refits. In fact, Starfleet began retiring its entire force of older Class I class frigates starting in the late 2270s. Non-upgraded vessels were the first to go, with linear warp refitted ones scheduled last. These were retired on a one-for-one basis as new ships of the Daran, Knox, Lancer, and Ianar classes entered service. In this manner Daran and its derivatives helped ensure that Starfleet’s frigate force remained at full strength during the transition from old classes to new builds. This changeover was completed in early 2293. Starfleet Command is now currently weighing the premature retirement of the Daran family of frigates versus that of the Alert and Akyazi class perimeter action ships. This is due to the reduced fleet strength requirements of the Starfleet Reorganization Order of 2295. SPECIFICATIONS:

Length: …………………………………….. 243.3 m Beam: ……………………………………… 141.7 m Draft: …………………….………………… 52.8 m Mass: ………………………………… 136,000 DWT Crew ……………………………………………. 350 Range: ………………………... 19 light-years at L.Y.V. Cruising speed: ………………….………….. warp 7 Maximum speed: ………………….………… warp 11 Armament …………………. 12 phasers (6 banks of 2) 4 megaphaser cannon (2 banks of 2) Lancer variant: 2 megaphaser cannon and 2 (3) photon torpedo tubes

SCHEMATIC:

Daran class frigate (Bragg almost identical but missing port sponson)

Knox class frigate

Lancer class frigate (Note shortened bow due to “Marklin notch”)

DARAN AND KNOX DESIGNS BY TODD GUENTHER AND ARIDAS SOFIA BRAGG AND LANCER VARIANTS BY ERIC KRISTIANSEN (JACKILL’S) VISUAL COURTESY OF STARFORCE PRODUCTIONS SCHEMATICS BY NEALE DAVIDSON AND RICHARD E. MANDEL

- 18 -