The Klingon Bird-of-Prey was a classification of starship used by the Klingon Empire. They were typically small and agile classes of ships which made up a significant proportion of the Klingon fleet along side the larger classes.
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")
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. 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", but it is unclear if this word would also be applied to other classes of Bird-of-Prey. (FASA 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")
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 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.)
Classes
Klingonese name | standard designation | alphanumeric designation | classification | known service period |
---|---|---|---|---|
22nd century bird-of-prey | 2150s | |||
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 |
Connections
- Klingon bird-of-prey article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
Bird-of-prey classes | ||
---|---|---|
Romulan birds-of-prey | 2150s • late-2150s bird-of-prey • 22nd century • 23rd century (Kelvin timeline) • Ferrax • T'varo • T'Liss • Vas Hatham • Temar Vastaram • D'vas | |
Reman birds-of-prey | T'varo | |
Klingon birds-of-prey | 22nd century • 2260s • 23rd century (Kelvin timeline) • M'Chla • B'rel • Chuq'Beh • D12 • D'Gavama • E4 • E6 • G2 • Khitomer • K'vort • QuD • Z'gavasta • Z'gavva • QulDun • Norgh • Ki'tang • Hegh'ta |