Walker class

The Walker class was a type of Federation vessel, a starship class in Starfleet service in the 23rd century. By 2249, it was considered an aging design. 

Technical data
By 2255, at least one Walker-class starship, the USS Shenzhou, had been in service for decades. Lacking behind in technical upgrades, it was not a match for an up-to-date heavy cruiser. 

Physically, a vessel of the class included a saucer section with a navigational deflector integrated in the bow, and a bridge at the bottom of the saucer. A compact secondary hull was attached to the rear of the saucer, and sat between a pair of nacelle pylons with one warp nacelle each. A Walker had 15 decks. 

This ship class was capable of atmospheric flight by means of thrusters scattered over its hull. It carried shuttlecraft and worker bees, as well as escape pods. It was equipped with lateral vector transporters. 

The ship's armament included phase cannons, phasers, and photon torpedoes. 

Service history
A ship of this class, the Shenzhou, was lost in the Battle at the Binary Stars on May 11th, 2256.

Six months later, a picture of a Walker adorned a mess hall wall of the USS Discovery (NCC-1031). 

Known ships

 * USS Shenzhou (NCC-1227)