Constitution class

The Constitution class is a type of starship used by Starfleet in the mid to late 23rd century.

History
Development of this class began in the 2230s when key Fleet personnel, including Admiral William M Jefferies and Captain Robert April, came to see the necessity of an all-purpose vessel that could explore space while protecting Federation interests and expanding its reach. When a design team led by Dr Lawrence Marvick finished plans late in that decade for just such a ship, a new class was swiftly approved by Command.

Starfleet authorized its Fleet Yards in San Francisco to build two vessels, with Adm Jefferies overseeing NX-1700 -- christened Constitution -- and Capt April supervising its sister ship 1701, as yet unnamed (TOS novel Final Frontier).

Constitution's hull was completed in 2244, with enhanced sensor and deflector shield systems; when hostilities broke out late in the year, Jefferies pulled her from drydock to take decisive part in the Battle of Donatu V. Blunting the Klingon invasion force -- without weaponry -- she rescued USS Yorkshire but was badly damaged and needed extensive repairs (TOS novel 'Errand of Vengeance 2: Killing Blow').

Construction on NX-1701 continued apace, employing new Duotronic computer systems designed by Dr Richard Daystrom, which afforded 1701 better control of her systems. After a secret mission into the Romulan neutral zone, April christened her Enterprise (original novel Final Frontier).

In 2245, both Constitution and Enterprise began their first half decades' of exploration, the results of which led Fleet to order nine more ships of the class (reference book Star Fleet Technical Manual).

Beyond minor modifications, the successful design saw no major changes until the 2270s, when a significant refit had been more than earned. Upgrade proposals all shared a more efficient power plant, with some versions streamlining the hull for greater warpfield geometrics, and others emphasizing enhanced weaponry or science capability; the final design merged many of the proposals. (ref Ships of the Line) The first major refit was Enterprise, and its success ensured the refit of the rest, bringing the fleet in line with newer technologies and extending its life (ref bk Starship Spotter).

A Constitution class ship served into the late 24 cent and was destroyed in battle at Wolf 359 (Next Gen episode The Best of Both Worlds); others, reactivated or still in service, fought in the Dominion War, and took part in the task force to retake Deep Space Nine.'' (ref work Star Trek: Fact Files).

At least one decommissioned class ship was sold to a private entity; later known as Glory, it was acquired by Romulans and given to privateer Deigo DeBlazio to harass Federation shipping (Next Gen novel Blaze of Glory)).

Subclasses

 * Constitution class, mk I
 * Bonhomme Richard class, mk II
 * Achernar class, mk III
 * Tikopai class, mk IV
 * Enterprise class, mk I
 * mk II
 * mk III

Features
When the first Constitution class ships were built they were the largest and most elaborate vessels Starfleet had ever constructed affording the ships room for an unprecedented fourteen research labs, making the class the most extensive mobile research platform ever sent into space by the Federation. Consitution class ships were responsible for expanding the area of explored space by thousands of cubic parsecs. (ST reference book: Starship Spotter)

The Constitution class featured a level of modularity never before seen in Federation starships, but something that was so successful that it was soon spread throughout the fleet and it continues to be standard design practice to have modular design in starships. The modular nature allowed incremental changes in vessel configuration to occur with relative ease making the class highly flexible. It also resulted in an increasingly uniform fleet design in Starfleet as other classes made use of the components. (ST reference book: Starship Spotter) The Constitution class was also one of the first to feature saucer separation. Though this early version was only for use in emergency situations as it utilized explosive bolts to complete the separation and subsequently required starbase facilities to reconnect the separated sections (TOS manga: 'Til Death). It was not until the Galaxy class a century later that saucer separation became a routine maneuver (TNG episode: Encounter at Farpoint).

Tactical summary
The Constitution vessels of the original series had slightly different features than the succeeding subclasses Bonhomme Richard, Achernar, Tikopai and Enterprise, with early laser and phaser weapons available to security teams onboard as hand-held weapons, as well as ship-mounted emplacements, in concert with accelerator cannons and photon torpedo launchers. The Constitution vessels of the 2240s and 2250s began the use of the class's standard emplacements, with forward arcs of fire. Most early Constitution variants had 6 phasers, usually dual mounted, in 3 or more phaser banks, although some variation exists between the various subseries. For example, the one modifications of the Enterprise modification had a series with 8 phasers in 4 banks. (RPG sourcebook: Federation Ship Recognition Manual)

Starships of the Bonhomme Richard modification, such as the Enterprise, had forward firing phaser banks that could fire beams or pulses, located on the lower saucer section, just above the sensor dome and a torpedo launcher. The Defiant was noted to use, with dramatic effect, its rear firing phaser and torpedoes located above the secondary hull's shuttlebay, as well as the upper saucer banks. (TOS, ENT)

Some vessels of the Achernar series, like USS Constitution had port and starboard upper saucer phasers as well as a forward firing phaser on the lower saucer, as well as upper and lower saucer torpedo tubes. All of the Achernar series weapons were forward or side firing, leaving the rear arc uncovered. (Reference book: Star Fleet Technical Manual)

The Enterprise subclass, with one more launcher than the preceding series, had a move in the torpedo launchers to an outrigged tube control room at the separation between the secondary hull and the connecting hull. By subsequent Enterprise modifications, the rear arcs had been restored. (TOS films)

Various Constitution configuration

 * USS Boone
 * USS Huntington
 * USS Independence (Constitution class)
 * USS Indomitable
 * USS Isshasshte
 * USS John F. Kennedy
 * USS Kelleghan
 * USS Lucas
 * USS Ortisei
 * USS Rauer
 * USS Salazar
 * USS Somers
 * USS Surak
 * USS Tao Feng
 * USS Tigress
 * USS Trojan (NCC-4200) (NCC-4200)
 * USS Vengeance (Constitution class)
 * USS Venture (Constitution class)
 * USS Zimbabwe (Constitution class)

Constitution (mk I)

 * USS Constitution (NCC-1700) (NX/NCC-1700)
 * USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) (NCC-1701)
 * USS Endeavor (NCC-1001) (NCC-1001 or NCC-1705)
 * USS Constellation (NCC-1017) (NCC-1017)
 * USS Republic (NCC-1371) (NCC-1371 or NCC-1373)
 * USS Intrepid (NCC-1631) (NCC-1631 or NCC-1708 or NCC-1831)
 * USS Farragut (NCC-1647) (NCC-1647 or NCC-1702)
 * USS Excalibur (NCC-1664) (NCC-1664 or NCC-1705)
 * USS Exeter (Constitution class) (NCC-1672 or NCC-1706)
 * USS Potemkin (NCC-1657) (NCC-1702 or NCC-1711)
 * USS Hood (Constitution class) (NCC-1703 or NCC-1707)
 * USS Lexington (Constitution class) (NCC-1703 or NCC-1709)
 * USS Yorktown (Constitution class) (NCC-1704 or NCC-1717)
 * USS Valiant (Constitution class) (NCC-1709 or NCC-1718)
 * USS Kongo (NCC-1710) (NCC-1710)
 * USS Defiant (NCC-1764) (NCC-1764)
 * USS Asimov (NCC-1691)

Bonhomme Richard (Constitution mk II)

 * USS Bonhomme Richard (NCC-1712) (NCC-1712 or NCC-1776)
 * USS Eagle (NCC-956) (NCC-956 or NCC-1719 or NCC-1738)
 * USS Bismark (NCC-1704)
 * USS Yamato (NCC-1705) (NCC-1705)
 * USS Monitor (NCC-1713) (NCC-1713)
 * USS Hornet (NCC-1714) (NCC-1714 or NCC-1778)
 * USS Challenger (NCC-1715) (NCC-1715)
 * USS Merrimac (NCC-1715) (NCC-1715)
 * USS Defiance (NCC-1717)
 * USS Excelsior (NCC-1718) (NCC-1718)
 * USS Endeavor (NCC-1895) (NCC-1716 or NCC-1777 or NCC-1895)
 * USS Essex (Constitution class) (NCC-1719 or NCC-1727)
 * USS Lafayette (NCC-1720) (NCC-1720)
 * USS Saratoga (NCC-1724) (NCC-1720 or NCC-1724)
 * USS Kearsarge (NCC-1721) (NCC-1721)
 * USS Wasp (NCC-1721 and NCC-1734)
 * USS Ari (NCC-1723)
 * USS El Dorado (NCC-1722) (NCC-1722 or NCC-1724)
 * USS Kent (NCC-1725)
 * USS Tori (NCC-1725)
 * USS Krieger (NCC-1726)
 * USS Constellation (II) (NCC-1017 or NCC-1728)
 * USS Farragut (II) (NCC-1708 or NCC-1729)
 * USS Intrepid (II) (NCC-1631 or NCC-1730)
 * USS Valiant (II) (NCC-1731)

Achernar (Constitution mk III)

 * USS Achernar (NCC-1732)
 * USS Littorio (NCC-1727)
 * USS Sol (NCC-1733)
 * USS Jupiter (Constitution class) (NCC-1734)
 * USS Rigil Kentaurus (NCC-1735)
 * USS Ticonderoga (NCC-1736) (NCC-1736)
 * USS Quindar (NCC-1736)
 * USS Proxima (NCC-1737) (NCC-1737)
 * USS Androcus (NCC-1738)
 * USS Astrad (NCC-1739)
 * USS Mondoloy (NCC-1740)
 * USS Alfr (NCC-1741)
 * USS Santissima Trinidad (NCC-1742)
 * USS Thelonii (NCC-1742)
 * USS Xanthii (NCC-1743)
 * USS Sirius (Constitution class) (NCC-1744)
 * USS Marseille (NCC-1744)
 * USS Shahr (NCC-1745)
 * USS Pilar (NCC-1746)
 * USS Tholus (NCC-1747)
 * USS Horok (NCC-1748)
 * USS Ghondr (NCC-1749)
 * USS Langley (NCC-1749)
 * USS Pelione (NCC-1750)
 * USS Richelieu (NCC-1750)
 * USS Tali (NCC-1751)
 * USS Forrestal (NCC-1751)
 * USS Annobon (NCC-1752)
 * USS Caspan (NCC-1753)
 * USS Jassan (NCC-1754)
 * USS Kitty Hawk (NCC-1754) (NCC-1754)
 * USS Paegan (NCC-1755)
 * USS Procyon (NCC-1756)
 * USS Phardos (NCC-1757)
 * USS Ndele (NCC-1758)
 * USS Zindar (NCC-1759)
 * USS Chikuma (Constitution class) (NCC-1759)
 * USS Za'faran (NCC-1760)
 * USS Victory (NCC-1760) (NCC-1760)
 * USS Oomaru (NCC-1761)
 * USS Yaan (NCC-1762)
 * USS Temir (NCC-1763)
 * USS Galina (NCC-1764)
 * USS Samaara (NCC-1765)
 * USS Rivoli (NCC-1765)
 * USS Kestral (NCC-1766)
 * USS Kep Salu (NCC-1767)
 * USS Ketoi (NCC-1768)
 * USS Kars (NCC-1769)
 * USS Sinuiji (NCC-1770)
 * USS Ekinus (NCC-1771)
 * USS Oblik (NCC-1772)
 * USS Mengen (NCC-1773)
 * USS Salayna (NCC-1774)
 * USS Qizan (NCC-1775)
 * USS Qual'at (NCC-1776)
 * USS Tulan (NCC-1777)
 * USS Mazda (NCC-1778)
 * USS Akagi (Constitution class)
 * USS Esabl (NCC-1779)
 * USS Zaahm (NCC-1780)
 * USS Kaga (NCC-1780)
 * USS Alferaz (NCC-1781)
 * USS Hajj (NCC-1782)
 * USS Tajarhi (NCC-1783)
 * USS Kasimar (NCC-1784)
 * USS Mongo (NCC-1785)
 * USS Ghar (NCC-1786)
 * USS Pari (NCC-1787)
 * USS Mirazh (NCC-1788)
 * USS Eskiis (NCC-1789)
 * USS Ahzdar (NCC-1790)
 * USS Jenshahn (NCC-1791)
 * USS Ark Royal (NCC-1791)
 * USS Elohim (NCC-1792)
 * USS Radetsky (NCC-1792)
 * USS Hiemdal (NCC-1793)
 * USS Maat (NCC-1794)
 * USS Shaandra (NCC-1795)
 * USS Alam'ak (NCC-1796)
 * USS Behr'ak (NCC-1797)
 * USS Czar'ak (NCC-1798)
 * USS Discovery (Constitution class) (NCC-1798)
 * USS Tutakai (NCC-1799)

Tikopai (Constitution mk IV)

 * USS Tikopai (NCC-1800)
 * USS K'ushui (NCC-1801)
 * USS K'hotan (NCC-1802)
 * USS Altair (NCC-1803) (NCC-1803)
 * USS Fomalhaut (NCC-1804)
 * USS Nakarat (NCC-1805)
 * USS Vega (NCC-1806)
 * USS Arcturus (NCC-1807)
 * USS Pollux (NCC-1808)
 * USS Capella (NCC-1809)
 * USS Darion (NCC-1810)
 * USS Sardar (NCC-1811)
 * USS Aldebaran (NCC-1812) (NCC-1812)
 * USS Hor (NCC-1813)
 * USS Canopus (NCC-1814)
 * USS Spica (NCC-1815)
 * USS Agena (NCC-1816)
 * USS Vena (NCC-1817)
 * USS Acrux (NCC-1818)
 * USS Binar (NCC-1819)
 * USS Antares (NCC-1820) (NCC-1820)
 * USS Anak (NCC-1821)
 * USS Betelgeuse (NCC-1822) (NCC-1822)
 * USS Lux (NCC-1823)
 * USS Rigel (NCC-1824)
 * USS Helios (NCC-1825) (NCC-1825)
 * USS Deneb (NCC-1826) (NCC-1826)
 * USS Adhara (NCC-1827)
 * USS Alioth (NCC-1828)
 * USS Alkaid (NCC-1829)
 * USS Alnilam (NCC-1830)
 * USS Arided (NCC-1831)
 * USS Bellatrix (NCC-1832)
 * USS Castor (NCC-1833)
 * USS Dubhe (NCC-1834)
 * USS El Nath (NCC-1835)
 * USS Miaplacidas (NCC-1836)
 * USS Mirfak (NCC-1837)
 * USS Murzim (NCC-1838)
 * USS Polaris (NCC-1839) (NCC-1839)
 * USS Regulus (NCC-1840)
 * USS Shaula (NCC-1841)
 * USS Wezen (NCC-1842)

Various Enterprise configuration

 * USS Agincourt (NCC-1813) (NCC-1813)
 * USS Apollo (NCC-1725) (NCC-1725)
 * USS Explorer (NCC-1966) (NCC-1966)
 * USS Furious (NCC-1704) (NCC-1704)
 * USS Kestral (NCC-1766)
 * USS Musashi (NCC-1804) (NCC-1804)
 * USS Ranger (NCC-1707) (NCC-1707)

Enterprise (mk I)

 * USS Valley Forge (NCC-1732) (NCC-1732)
 * USS Oriskany (NCC-1733)
 * USS Hancock (NCC-1735) (NCC-1735)
 * USS Minsk (NCC-1752)
 * USS Republic (NCC-1753) (NCC-1753)

Enterprise (mk II)

 * USS Zuiho (NCC-1716)
 * USS Graf Zepplin (NCC-1726)
 * USS Soryu (NCC-1730)
 * USS Hiryu (NCC-1731)
 * USS King George V (NCC-1740)
 * USS Prince of Wales (NCC-1741)
 * USS Franklin (NCC-1743) (NCC-1743)
 * USS Scharnhorst (NCC-1772)
 * USS Gneisenau (NCC-1773)
 * USS Kashima (NCC-1775)
 * USS Freidland (NCC-1781)
 * USS Konigsberg (NCC-1782)
 * USS Clemenceau (NCC-1784)

Enterprise (mk III)

 * USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)
 * USS Bunker Hill (NCC-1745)
 * USS Emperador (NCC-1774)
 * USS Ukrania (NCC-1783)
 * USS Marcello (NCC-1785)
 * USS Fontana (NCC-1793)
 * USS Java (NCC-1794)

Mirror universe

 * ISS Constellation
 * ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
 * ISS Excalibur
 * ISS Yorktown

Appearances
The Constitution class appeared as the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) and (NCC-1701-A) and a handful of other vessels throughout TOS and other TOS subseries including TAS and the Early and Untold Voyages in all media. Appearances, apart from the Enterprise in TOS and related series include:


 * Harbinger (VAN novel)
 * In a Mirror, Darkly (ENT episode)
 * Interphase (SCE eBook)
 * Reunion (TNG novel)
 * Star Trek: Judgment Rites (TOS game)
 * Star Trek: Klingon Academy (TMP game)
 * Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (TMP game)
 * The Brave and the Bold: The First Artifact (TOS novella)
 * The Best of Both Worlds (TNG episode) (seen briefly as wreckage)
 * The Captains' Honor (TNG novel)
 * The Doomsday Machine (TOS episode)
 * The Omega Glory (TOS episode)
 * The Tholian Web (TOS episode)
 * The Ultimate Computer (TOS episode)
 * The Wounded Sky (TOS novel)
 * These Are the Voyages... (ENT episode)
 * Trials and Tribble-ations (DS9 episode)
 * Worf's First Adventure (TNG:SA novel)