Columbia class

Columbia class
Affiliation:	Federation Starfleet
Type:	cruiser (2160s), escort (2410s)
Service period	2150s-2410s
Dimensions
Length:	225 meters
Width:	135.8 meters
Specifications
Crew:	132
Speed:	warp factor 5
Maximum speed:	warp factor 6.3 for 8 hours
Armaments:	phase cannons, phase banks, photonic torpedo launchers
Defences:	polarized hull plating, deflector shields
Auxiliary craft:	shuttlepods

The Columbia class was a United Earth starship type borne of the NX-class cruiser. Following the formation of the Federation in 2161, the amalgamated Federation Starfleet began with the production of additional Columbia-class ships. (ST reference: Ships of the Line 2011, ENT - Rise of the Federation novels: A Choice of Futures, Live by the Code)

History

22nd century

The Columbia-class was born out of the existing, and proven, NX-class design, and included retrofitted ships such as Enterprise and USS Endeavour. In 2156, Enterprise was the first vessel to receive the upgraded spaceframe. It was named, at the insistence of Admiral Jonathan Archer, after the first vessel of the NX-class to be lost in action, Columbia. As of September 2162, the refit Endeavour was the last active survivor of the NX-class. All future vessels would be of the new Columbia-class. (ST reference: Ships of the Line 2011, ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: A Choice of Futures)

As part of newly appointed UESPA Chief of Staff Admiral Archer's fleet modernization program, eight new Columbia-class vessels were slated for construction. By July of 2165, USS Buran and USS Shenlong were completed, USS Apollo and USS Soyuz were expected to launch around October of the same year, USS Ares and USS Charybdis in spring of 2166 and USS Phoenix and USS Valiant by 2167. (ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: Live by the Code)

23rd century

A model in T'Laan's room.

Ships of the class received a major upgrade in the 23rd century, and were classified for escort duty. (STO video game: Reckoning) In the Kelvin timeline, Cadet T'Laan kept a model of a Columbia-class model in her dorm room. She had recently participated in a mission that led to the rescue of the NX-class starship Slayton NX-05. (SA - Starfleet Academy comic: "Issue 5"

The refit of the 2280s decade.

In the 2280s decade, the Columbia class received another refit, incorporating Starfleet's art deco-style new outfit. In particular, the appearance of the prototype's components, the USS Columbia, shared its visual design language with the Oberth-class science vessel. (STO website: Legendary Temporal Operative Escort)

25th century

In 2410, and as a result of the Iconian and Temporal Cold Wars, Columbia (NX-02) returned to active service. Columbia and newer sister ships were retrofitted with 25th century technology. (STO video game: Reckoning)

Following the Battle of Excalbia in 2411, the NX class and its two Columbia-class refit designs were overhauled to become legendary temporal operative escorts. This saw a return of the USS Columbia (NCC-2200) to service. (STO website: Legendary Temporal Operative Escort)

Specifications

Design

The most noticeable difference between the NX and Columbia classes was the addition of a secondary hull which was slung underneath the saucer section. This new hull had a deep rear undercut allowing it to be positioned in the warp field's secondary node while in flight and a more powerful, circular navigational deflector. It also housed the new, larger warp core which allowed speeds in excess of warp factor six. The extra room liberated in the primary hull by the removal of warp engineering allowed for larger senior officers' quarters.

The dorsal connector to the saucer was located where the NX's main shuttlebay used to be, so the shuttlepod drop bays were moved to either side of it. (ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: A Choice of Futures)

Livery

In the 25th century, the design of the Columbia-class escort refit allowed its commanding officer to choose from different designs of livery, which could be modified further at starbases. These options were designated Type 0-7, NX, NX Refit, Upgrade and Veteran. (STO - The Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")

Furthermore, the installation of deflector shields from specific factions modified the hull appearance, including shields from the Reman Resistance, the Breen Confederacy and the Dominion. (STO missions: "Coliseum", "Cold Storage", "Boldly They Rode")

NX

NX Refit

Type 0

Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Type 4

Type 5

Type 6

Type 7

Upgrade

Veteran

Technology

As well as polarized hull plating, the Columbia-class featured deflector shields of Andorian design. For a while after the class was brought into service, use of the shields while at warp necessitated an adjustment of the warp field. This adjustment, due to difficulties in reconciling Human and Andorian technology, meant that warp speed was limited to just over warp factor three.

The class was also equipped with a tractor beam of Vulcan origin, but the Andorian shields distorted the targeting system. However all compatibility issues were solved in 2163 by Doctor Tobin Dax and his engineering team. (ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: A Choice of Futures)

The newly built ships were upgraded with more advanced impulse assemblies and navigational deflectors manufactured by the Rigel based Grennex Aerospace shipbuilding company. (ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: Live by the Code)

Known vessels

ship name	registry	ship commissioning	disposition
SS Enterprise	NX-01	2151, refit 2156	decommissioned (2161)
Columbia	NX-02	2154, refit 2410	active (2410)
USS Endeavour	NCC-06	2156, refit 2161	active (2165)
USS Buran		2165	active (2165)
USS Shenlong		2165	active (2165)
USS Apollo		2165	under construction (2165)
USS Soyuz		2165	under construction (2165)
USS Ares		2166	under construction (2165)
USS Charybdis		2166	under construction (2165)
USS Phoenix		2167	under construction (2165)
USS Valiant		2167	under construction (2165)
USS Columbia	NCC-2200	2280s	active (2411)