The Epsilon-class was a Federation cutter starship in Starfleet service in the 23rd century, with a class III mark I version that became active on reference stardate 2/1104, and a class IV mark II upgrade to the design which entered service on stardate 2/1412.
Service history and disposition[]
The vessel's name derives from the Greek language letter epsilon, and is a name shared by the Epsilon sector and Epsilon system within Federation space.
- Presumably, there would have been a USS Epsilon that was the prototype of this series, but no mention has been made of such a vessel.
The vessels crewed 28, with space to carry 10 passengers and 10 troops for deployment. Additionally, the Epsilon could carry 250 metric tons of cargo, rated at 5 SCU (standard cargo units). Unloaded, the mark I vessels weighed 17,925 metric tons, while the mark II upgrades had an increased mass of 25,975 metric tons. The Epsilon measured 96 meters in length, 18 meters in width and 12 meters in height.
The class's computer was of the L-14 type, and the vessel was loaded with one standard 6 person personnel transporter, one 20 person combat deployment transporter, and 1 cargo transport stage. There were no shuttlecraft or shuttlebay standard to these vessels, due to their small size, the Epsilon vessels themselves could be docked in larger shuttlebays, like those found aboard some starbases and spacedocks.
The Epsilon warp engines were FWA-2 type in mark I vessels, rated to cruise at warp six and max-out at warp factor 8. The engines were changed to FWH-1 type in mark II vessels, with cruising speed at warp 5 and maximum speed at warp 6. Impulse engines were of the varied between the FIB-1 and FIB-3 types, in mark I and mark II vessel, respectively. The Epsilon had 4 FH-6 phasers, with two phaser emitters in each of its two phaser banks, with arcs of fire to fore as well as port and starboard. The vessel had no launcher weapons but was defended by FSB model deflector shields.
Size comparison with the Enterprise- and Bader-class.
By the later 23rd century, the Epsilon was in production in shipyards at Morena, Salazaar and Merak, with 805 vessels having been built by the mid-2280s, 363 mark I vessels and 266 mark II modifications to the design. Over the years by that point, 16 mark I vessels and 8 mark II vessels were allocated to reserve fleets, 4 mark I vessels and 3 mark II vessels were assigned as training vessels, 87 mark I vessels and 41 mark II vessels destroyed, 2 mark I vessels and 4 mark II vessels scrapped, 4 mark I vessels missing in the Triangle sector, 2 mark I vessels missing in the rimward frontier and 6 mark I vessels sold to private interests. (FASA RPG module: Federation Ship Recognition Manual)
