Akira class

The Akira-class was a type of heavy cruiser starship in service to the Federation Starfleet in the 24th century. Planned in the 2350s in response to rising hostilities with the Cardassian Union, the vessel was given an increased priority when the mid-2360s brought on the Federation's awareness of the threat of Borg invasion. Akira class vessels entered service in the year 2368 as fast, maneuverable attack ships. 

The Akira vessels were registered as class 3 heavy cruisers. 

History
Starting out as just a hypothetical exercise in starship design, the design that became the Akira-class was initially conceived during a period of rising tensions with the Cardassian Union in the mid-24th century. Worked on by engineers in their spare time, most never expected the vessel to be used, much less built, and as such the Akira project was assigned a relatively low status on the priority list. That changed following Starfleet’s disastrous losses to the Borg in the Battle of Wolf 359, as Starfleet began a major program of research, development and starship construction to meet any future Borg threat.

The prototype ship USS Akira was launched in 2368, and fairly soon the class went on to become a major player in the fleet. Performing admirably against the Borg on their return to Federation space in the 2370's, the Akira-class also was a common sight during the later Dominion War, serving on the front lines in most of the war's major battles. 


 * The Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel The Embrace of Cold Architects features an appearance by an Akira-class ship, the USS James T. Kirk (Akira class), in late 2366-early 2367. Though set in an alternate timeline, it is unclear how the apparent point of divergence might have led to an earlier launch for this class.

Features
The Akira class is heavily armed with an amazing fifteen torpedo launchers, capable of firing either photon or quantum torpedoes. However, one of the ship's defining features is its large shuttle bay. One of the largest such facilites on any Federation vessel, the Akira's shuttle bay encompasses almost a third of the ship's saucer section, allowing the Akira-class to act as a fighter carrier as well as a cruiser. Its complement of forty fighters exit through the forward shuttle doors and return through one of two aft bays. 

The Akira-class heavy cruisers were equipped with Type 10 Phasers, Mk 80 torpedo launchers, and LF-35 linear warp engines. These starships are designed to operate for 18 years without a major overhaul and refit. 

Known ships

 * NCC-63646
 * USS Akira (prototype) (NX-62497)
 * USS Geronimo (NCC-62501) (NCC-62501)
 * USS Osceola (NCC-62743)
 * USS Black Elk (NCC-62878 or NCC-62505)
 * USS Nez Perce (NCC-62891) (NCC-62891)
 * USS Rabin (NCC-63293) (NCC-63293)
 * USS Mateo (NCC-63302)
 * USS Red Cloud (NCC-63306)
 * USS Susquehanna (NCC-63419 or NCC-62797)
 * (NCC-63444-B)
 * USS Thunderchild (NCC-63549)
 * USS Spector (NCC-63898)
 * USS Devore (NCC-64088)
 * USS Spector (NCC-65549)
 * USS Antietam (Akira class) (NCC-67433)
 * USS Geronimo (NCC-69302) (NCC-69302)
 * USS Jupiter (NCC-71267) (NCC-71267)
 * USS Leyte Gulf (NCC-71427)
 * USS Bondar
 * USS Carla Romney
 * USS Essex (Akira class)
 * USS Garneau (Akira class)
 * USS Gryphon
 * USS Kali (Akira class)
 * USS Sentinel (Akira class)
 * USS Sharansky
 * USS Singh
 * USS Templar (Akira class)

Background
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual stated that this class had two torpedo launchers, although all other references that cover Akira-class weaponry agree that there are 15 tubes. It could be theorized that the contradiction is caused by a comparison of launcher machinery to actual launch points, but no further data regarding this detail is available.

Given some portions of the blocks of text on different ships are identical, it could have been an editing error.

Apocrypha
The ebook The Dominion War Sourcebook: The Fires of Armageddon, published by Last Unicorn Games after they had lost their Star Trek license listed two other Akira-class starships: USS Avenger (NCC-69925) and the USS Martel (NCC-73196). The manual also features registries for some of the ships mentioned in other LUG supplements, although those ships were assigned different registries by later Decipher supplements.