- For other uses, see Challenger.
The Challenger class[5] was a 24th century Federation starship type, a multirole explorer[1] in Starfleet service from the 2360s[1] to the 2410s[2] decade. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)
In the 25th century, the Challenger-class was rated at tier 6 temporal destroyer specifications, akin to the Atlantis-class, and served in the Khitomer Alliance as well as Federation Starfleet. (STO - Both Worlds mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
History and technical specifications[]
24th century[]
The Challenger-class was a 24th century design, consisting of a commonly-used type of saucer section, with a secondary hull attached directly to the aft saucer. Two warp nacelles were attached above and below the stardrive hull extension. (ST reference: The Star Trek Encyclopedia)
Ships of the class were named after famous aircraft, spacecraft and their pilots. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)
The NASA space shuttle Challenger was a 20th century Earth spacecraft. (PIC episode: "Two of One")
The Challenger class was launched in the year 2360. Part of its design was based on the Galaxy-class development project. This led to the Challenger class being fitted with Galaxy-class warp coils and subspace field theory work. This class was equipped with a warp field repeater developed by Yoyodyne Propulsions. Following delays caused by the Federation-Klingon War of 2372-2373 and the Dominion War, the first refit was scheduled for the year 2380. This refit included the installation of Defiant-class warp field repeaters. Yoyodyne used the USS Red Baron as a technical testbed and replaced its warp nacelles with those of the Sovereign-class. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)
Ships of the class were 390 meters long and housed a crew of 300 individuals. In the 2360s, the Challenger class had a top speed of Warp factor 9.6 and was armed with both phasers and photon torpedos. Visible on the ventral saucer section was Galaxy-class captain's yacht. (TOSC Issue 114: "Challenger class")
One of the famous members of this starship class was the USS Buran, lost at the Battle of Wolf 359. (TNG episode: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")
Some Challenger-class starships were operated by Starfleet Intelligence. (Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook)
25th century[]
In the 2410s, the Challenger class shared the specifications of the tier 6 Atlantis-class temporal destroyer. Both classes were modular, meaning their components were interchangeable between each other. As a temporal destroyer, the Atlantis- and Challenger-class combined the characteristics of a timeship with that of a destroyer. (STO website: Both Worlds: 14th Anniversary Bundle!)
Typically for starships of its time period, an Challenger-class vessel was equipped with phaser beam arrays and photon torpedo launchers. It was equipped with a impulse engines, warp core and quantum slipstream drive, enabling it to reach impulse, warp, transwarp and quantum slipstream velocities. Cloaking was not an innate ability but various mechanisms could be installed to serve as a cloaking device. The hull was modular and could be modified at Khitomer Alliance shipyards operated by New Romulus Shipyards, Klingon Defense Force Order of Builders and Starfleet Shipyards Operations at Alliance facilities across the Milky Way Galaxy. (STO - Both Worlds missions: "Explore the Flotilla", "First City", "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Specifically, a ship of the class included five forward weapon mounts and four aft. Bridge officer stations allowed for a lieutenant-ranked tactical officer, a commander combining tactical and temporal operations, an engineering ensign, a lieutenant commander science officer and an intel officer position. The Atlantis class could equip dual cannons. As a timeship, it included the molecular reconstruction mechanic. The experimental weapon mount held a focused particle cannon. As an Alliance destroyer, a battle-hardened ship benefitted from precise weapon systems, enhanced weapon banks, devastating weaponry, enhanced weapon systems and temporal tunneling. The Atlantis-class USS Atlantis was the first ship equipped with the disassembler emitter, which became standard on the Challenger class[3] as well. This emitter was a powerful technology that causes localized disruptions to molecular bonds, resulting in disintegration. The area of effect was cone-shaped. This weapon was considered to deal exotic damage. (STO website: Both Worlds: 14th Anniversary Bundle!)
Known vessels[]
| This article or subsection has an associated category. | Challenger class starships |
|---|
- USS Armstrong (NCC-57537)[5]
- USS Buran (NCC-57580)[6]
- USS Buran (NCC-57580) (II)[3]
- USS Hercules[1]
- USS Kearsarge (NCC-57566)[5]
- USS Red Baron (NX-53196)[1]
- USS Rodina[1]
- class variants:
Appendices[]
Connections[]
Background[]
| This section is written from the Real World point of view. |
 |
The Buran model was built for the battle sequence in "The Best of Both Worlds" and later described to Star Trek fans by Michael Okuda's appearances at conventions, where he showed slide with images of the behind-the-scenes models.
Apocrypha[]
The ebook The Dominion War Sourcebook: The Fires of Armageddon, published by Last Unicorn Games after they had lost their Star Trek license lists the USS Veliko (NCC-62503) as a Challenger-class vessel.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Star Trek Adventures RPG module: Utopia Planitia Starfleet Sourcebook.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 STO website: Both Worlds: 14th Anniversary Bundle!
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 STO - Both Worlds mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock".
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 TOSC Issue 114: "Challenger class".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 ST reference: The Star Trek Encyclopedia.
- ↑ TNG episode: "The Best of Both Worlds".
External links[]
- Challenger class article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Reconstruction of the Challenger Class from production photos, interviews, and on-screen analysis of "The Best of Both Worlds" can be found at Ex Astris Scientia.