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Description

The Constitution class heavy cruiser and its variants ( Constellation fusion testbed (2226), Constellation dilithium testbed (2238), Republic heavy cruiser prototype (2238), Constitution heavy cruiser (production prototype) (2242), USS Enterprise heavy cruiser (production prototype) (2245), USS Constitution heavy cruiser (operational standard) (2245), USS Constellation heavy cruiser (operational standard) (2245), USS Republic heavy cruiser (operational standard) (2245), Constitution heavy cruiser class (2247), Constitution Flight II heavy cruiser (2251), Bonhomme Richard heavy cruiser subclass (2251), Bonhomme Richard heavy cruiser subclass (Type 2) (2256), Bonhomme Richard heavy cruiser subclass (Type 3) (2256), Constitution Flight III heavy cruiser (2260), Victory heavy cruiser subclass (2265), USS Republic heavy cruiser (Academy trainer) (2286)) are Part 5 of the Project Starship series.

Image provided by: Adrasil
Original inspirations from: Star Trek (The Original Series), Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Fleet Technical Manual (Franz Joseph), Ships of the Star Fleet (Calon Riel), FASA, CaptShade
History from: Hobbyist's Guide to the UFP Starfleet , by Timo Saloniemi

Variant blueprints: Access via Adrasil's Download button

Featured in: Starship Recognition Manual #298

The challenges encountered during the operational lifespan of the Horizon heavy cruiser and its variants are provided in that series of articles. However, the 2210 failure of the dual SSWR-IX fusion reactors to reliably power the ginormous PB-19 nacelles into supercruise ranges was not seen as a block to developing a class of cruiser that could not only match the increasing Klingon threat, but surpass it in combat. Up-and-coming Andorian-based Chiokis Starship Construction Corporation promised the Horizons could be modified with their newly developed saucer hull and modernized warp nacelles to achieve the speed performance such a vessel would need in order to respond promptly to varied threats and requirements associated with the expanding Federation borders.

In 2222, Star Fleet provided two low-fatigue Horizons to the shipbuilder, with the presumption they would have these heavy cruisers, developed under the classified term “Project Starship”, by the end of 2225 at the latest. Operational plans were already being drawn up to employ these yet-undefined super vessels throughout the Federation and its territories; Star Fleet’s plans would remain largely unfulfilled until 2245. However, progress—even when languid and uncertain—was being made over those 23 intervening years.

USS Constellation (NCC-1017) had suffered major damage to her bow structures in 2219, while USS Republic (NCC-1371), newly commissioned, had received heavy internal damage in the bow from a large, rampant fire that was largely unimpeded by the damage control efforts, though with considerable contamination from the ineffective usage of fire suppressants. Despite the respective lightyears of distance and calamities suffered, the ships overall were still seen as viable platforms, with little structural stress of the secondary hulls. The bow saucers and their mounting structures, navigational deflectors, and weapons arrays were all removed, leaving two headless warp bodies floating in their remote drydocks.

Primary developmental focus was on the (former) Constellation. Republic would be saved to recreate the final design as a method of developing procedures for upgrading the rest of the Horizon family to that standard. Constellation, however, would be the proverbial guinea pig that would lead to the final design. After years of considerable effort, a non-functional saucer and connection neck were gamma-welded onto the forward dorsal of the engineering hull so that dynamic testing could be undertaken. Computer simulations of the conjoined hulls were also conducted, with various real and hypothetical warp nacelles indicating their interactions against the hull surfaces.

In 2226, the ideal nacelle for the original pylon placements was realized: the third-generation PB-30A, with much more petite—though longer—pylons placed on the original respective hull mounts and at the same angle. An extremely large but advanced compression fusion powerplant was installed in the engineering hull and a relatively non-descript but fully-functional saucer, with an advanced impulse bank, replaced the dummy one. The ship was alive once again.

Unfortunately, the trial runs proved rather disappointing. Potentially disastrous resonances were detected in three different locations—one for the saucer, two for areas under and behind the secondary hull—that had not been anticipated by the preceding computer simulations. Apparently, the metrics gathered by the sensors suggested several possible solutions, including major modifications to the engineering hull, a path Star Fleet sought to avoid for both economical and scheduling reasons. However, additional testing of differing nacelle placements could still be pursued. Also, there lay the possibility of newbuilds, which would allow the Horizon class to remain fully functional in the meantime. Chiokis was authorized to begin parallel studies.

Would you like to learn more about this class of ship? Download the free Hobbyist's Guide to the UFP Starfleet , a three-volume, 1236-page history of space flight, by Timo Saloniemi.

For an extremely rich gallery of Star Trek starships and vessels from other universes, check out my partner, Adrasil , here on DeviantArts.

Description

The Constitution class heavy cruiser and its variants ( Constellation fusion testbed (2226), Constellation dilithium testbed (2238), Republic heavy cruiser prototype (2238), Constitution heavy cruiser (production prototype) (2242), USS Enterprise heavy cruiser (production prototype) (2245), USS Constitution heavy cruiser (operational standard) (2245), USS Constellation heavy cruiser (operational standard) (2245), USS Republic heavy cruiser (operational standard) (2245), Constitution heavy cruiser class (2247), Constitution Flight II heavy cruiser (2251), Bonhomme Richard heavy cruiser subclass (2251), Bonhomme Richard heavy cruiser subclass (Type 2) (2256), Bonhomme Richard heavy cruiser subclass (Type 3) (2256), Constitution Flight III heavy cruiser (2260), Victory heavy cruiser subclass (2265), USS Republic heavy cruiser (Academy trainer) (2286)) are Part 5 of the Project Starship series.

Image provided by: Adrasil
Original inspirations from: Star Trek (The Original Series), Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Fleet Technical Manual (Franz Joseph), Ships of the Star Fleet (Calon Riel), FASA, CaptShade
History from: Hobbyist's Guide to the UFP Starfleet , by Timo Saloniemi

Variant blueprints: Access via Adrasil's Download button

Featured in: Starship Recognition Manual #298

The challenges encountered during the operational lifespan of the Horizon heavy cruiser and its variants are provided in that series of articles. However, the 2210 failure of the dual SSWR-IX fusion reactors to reliably power the ginormous PB-19 nacelles into supercruise ranges was not seen as a block to developing a class of cruiser that could not only match the increasing Klingon threat, but surpass it in combat. Up-and-coming Andorian-based Chiokis Starship Construction Corporation promised the Horizons could be modified with their newly developed saucer hull and modernized warp nacelles to achieve the speed performance such a vessel would need in order to respond promptly to varied threats and requirements associated with the expanding Federation borders.

In 2222, Star Fleet provided two low-fatigue Horizons to the shipbuilder, with the presumption they would have these heavy cruisers, developed under the classified term “Project Starship”, by the end of 2225 at the latest. Operational plans were already being drawn up to employ these yet-undefined super vessels throughout the Federation and its territories; Star Fleet’s plans would remain largely unfulfilled until 2245. However, progress—even when languid and uncertain—was being made over those 23 intervening years.

USS Constellation (NCC-1017) had suffered major damage to her bow structures in 2219, while USS Republic (NCC-1371), newly commissioned, had received heavy internal damage in the bow from a large, rampant fire that was largely unimpeded by the damage control efforts, though with considerable contamination from the ineffective usage of fire suppressants. Despite the respective lightyears of distance and calamities suffered, the ships overall were still seen as viable platforms, with little structural stress of the secondary hulls. The bow saucers and their mounting structures, navigational deflectors, and weapons arrays were all removed, leaving two headless warp bodies floating in their remote drydocks.

Primary developmental focus was on the (former) Constellation. Republic would be saved to recreate the final design as a method of developing procedures for upgrading the rest of the Horizon family to that standard. Constellation, however, would be the proverbial guinea pig that would lead to the final design. After years of considerable effort, a non-functional saucer and connection neck were gamma-welded onto the forward dorsal of the engineering hull so that dynamic testing could be undertaken. Computer simulations of the conjoined hulls were also conducted, with various real and hypothetical warp nacelles indicating their interactions against the hull surfaces.

In 2226, the ideal nacelle for the original pylon placements was realized: the third-generation PB-30A, with much more petite—though longer—pylons placed on the original respective hull mounts and at the same angle. An extremely large but advanced compression fusion powerplant was installed in the engineering hull and a relatively non-descript but fully-functional saucer, with an advanced impulse bank, replaced the dummy one. The ship was alive once again.

Unfortunately, the trial runs proved rather disappointing. Potentially disastrous resonances were detected in three different locations—one for the saucer, two for areas under and behind the secondary hull—that had not been anticipated by the preceding computer simulations. Apparently, the metrics gathered by the sensors suggested several possible solutions, including major modifications to the engineering hull, a path Star Fleet sought to avoid for both economical and scheduling reasons. However, additional testing of differing nacelle placements could still be pursued. Also, there lay the possibility of newbuilds, which would allow the Horizon class to remain fully functional in the meantime. Chiokis was authorized to begin parallel studies.

Would you like to learn more about this class of ship? Download the free Hobbyist's Guide to the UFP Starfleet , a three-volume, 1236-page history of space flight, by Timo Saloniemi.

For an extremely rich gallery of Star Trek starships and vessels from other universes, check out my partner, Adrasil , here on DeviantArts.