Klingon bird-of-prey

A D12-class bird-of-prey firing on the USS Enterprise-D

The Klingon bird-of-prey was a classification of starship used by the Klingon Empire. They were typically small or agile classes of ships which made up a significant proportion of the Klingon fleet alongside larger, bulkier ship types.

Although the Klingons have used this sort of avian descriptor for their ships since at least the 22nd century, the ship type "bird-of-prey" is also used to describe a Romulan ship type, the Romulan bird-of-prey.

History and specifications

Overview

The Klingons produced numerous classes of starships designated Bird-of-Prey, traditionally these were smaller classes used as scouts. Over time the designation was expanded to be used on larger classes with a similar design to traditional birds-of-prey. (TOS movie: The Search for Spock; TNG episode: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

A 22nd century bird-of-prey

The typical Bird-of-Prey design featured a primary hull with a long protruding neck at the front with a command bulb at the end, a variation on what is known as the Drell design. Usually a photon torpedo tube was located on the lower side of the command bulb. To either side of the main hull are wings with disruptor cannons mounted at the end. Certain classes featured additional armaments such as rear firing torpedoes and additional disruptors. (TOS movie: The Search for Spock; TNG episode: "Yesterday's Enterprise"; ENT episode: "The Expanse", et al.)

Names

In tlhIngan Hol, a Bird-of-Prey type ship is called a toQDuj. The word can be broken down into toQ, "bird-of-prey", and Duj, "ship". (tlhIngan Hol reference: The Klingon Dictionary)

The D'Gavama-class gets its name from a klingonaase word meaning "bird-of-prey". (FASA RPG module: Klingon Ship Recognition Manual)

In analyzing the word D'Gavama, the reader may also wish to consider these other ship names from the Klingon Ship Recognition Manual: d'ama ("predator"), z'gavva ("stronger bird") and z'gavasta ("great bird").

History

The earliest known classes of Bird-of-Prey were in operation in the mid-22nd century. (ENT episode: "The Expanse")

File:Bop23kling.jpg

A B'rel-class bird-of-prey

By 2270 the Empire had introduced one of the most successful and long serving class of Bird-of-Prey, the B'rel-class. The B'rel-class was designed from Romulan concepts obtained in the Klingon-Romulan Alliance, the most notable technology integrated into the vessel from that alliance being a cloaking device. (TOS comic: "Trekkers"; ST reference: Starship Spotter)

The B'rel-class was a highly successful design and served long into the 24th century. It also spawned several other Bird-of-Prey classes of near identical design, including the D12-class and K'vort-class. Though the K'vort, and later Chuq'Beh-class were notably larger than the original B'rel design. (ST reference: Starship Spotter; TNG movie: Generations; TNG video game: Armada II, et al.)

Bird-of-prey classes

Klingonese name	standard designation	alphanumeric designation	classification	known service period
Vo'n'talk-class	22nd century bird-of-prey			2150s
M'Chla-class				2230s -- 2250s
	2260s bird-of-prey			2260s
Z'gavva-class	Stronger Bird-class	D32-class	cruiser
D'Gavama-class	Bird of Prey-class	K22A-class	far scout
B'rel-class		K22B-class	scout	2270s -- late-24th century
QuD-class	Insurrection-class		heavy destroyer	2290s
Taj-class	Bird of Prey-class		scout	2293
Z'gavasta-class	Great Bird-class	L42-class	frigate
K'vort-class			light cruiser	2nd quarter 24th century -- late-24th century
		D12-class	scout	2350s
Khitomer-class				24th century
Chuq'Beh-class				2370s
QulDun-class				2409
Norgh-class				2409
Ki'tang-class				2409
Hegh'ta-class				2409

Insurrection-class.

K'vort-class.

Chuq'Beh-class.

Appendices

External link

• Klingon bird-of-prey article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.