- For other uses, see Samson.
The Samson-class was a type of 23rd century Federation starship operated by Starfleet, a class X warp tender.
Specifications[]
The Samson vessels are crewed by 52 officers and crewpersons. Additionally, the Samson could carry 5,000 metric tons of cargo, rated at 100 SCU (standard cargo units). The vessels weighed 152,000 metric tons, measured 200 meters in length, 140 meters in width and 60 meters in height. The Samson had one standard (6 person) personnel transporters. The control computer of the Samson vessels was of the M-4 type.
The Samson uses warp engines were FWF-1 type, rated to cruise at warp factor 6 and max out at warp factor 8, unloaded. While towing a space station, the Samson could travel cruising at warp 3 and max out at warp 5. The Samson impulse engines were of the FID type. The vessels were defended by FSB model deflector shields, and carried a standard complement of two shuttlecraft. The vessel typically used it's large towing arm along with three FTB-6 tractor beams to carry a space station at impulse speeds. In order to properly tow a station at warp, two Samson vessels would be required.
History[]
The Samson-class warp tender was developed as a commercial venture between the Chiokis Starship Construction Corporation and Onto Rantura of Rantura Shipping Lines, as a dedicated vessel designed to tow various R1-type space stations into place, such as the R1 Invictus-class and R1 Investigator-class. Due to the high power signature required to tow a station into place, the ship has no capacity to power weapon systems, although a planned mark II upgrade would add starship weapon capability to some of the vessels. The Samson entered service on reference stardate 2/0902, with more than 26 vessels being constructed over the succeeding decade. (FASA RPG modules: Regula-1 Orbital Station Deckplans, Star Trek III Sourcebook Update)
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Background[]
The ship's statistics list a series of registry numbers, NCC-92300 to NCC-92310, as being assigned to be used by this class. This creates a likelihood, although not a certainty, that the prototype vessel would have been the USS Samson (NCC-92300).