8.12 Atlas Class Space Tug
The Atlas class was the post-war Federation's first major non-military starship, a no-frills Rigellian tug whose most important task was towing the asteroid-based Earth Outpost Stations into position along the Neutral Zone.
Service Entry Date (Old Calendar): 2163
As the original Federation’s first major starship class was a transport, so too was the new post-war Federation’s first major starship class of non-military origin. The Atlas was a civilian design, intended to replace the many aged space haulers and tow vehicles that had fallen victim to Romulan attacks. There was nothing glamorous about them. They were essentially two warp engines attached to a tractor grapple, with a minimal shuttle bay and small command/crew module forward of the grapple assembly. Their only real claim to fame was in being the first Rigellian design to see Federation service.
The first assignment of the Atlas class was also its most important. It was to tow the newly built, asteroid-based Earth Outpost Stations (EOS) into location so they could begin monitoring the Neutral Zone. They were always accompanied by a Star Fleet squadron in the event of any trouble. All outposts were placed without incident and the Atlas class soon returned to more mundane tasks within Federation space.
Specifications
- Length: 79 m
- Beam: 38 m
- Draft: 15 m
- Mass: 24,500 DWT
- Crew: 30
- Cruising speed (unladen): warp 2.75
- Maximum speed (unladen): warp 3.5