The tactical escort USS Defiant in 2411.
The tactical escort[1] was a 24th century[1] Khitomer Alliance starship classification, a series of classes based on the 2370s-era Defiant-class warship[2]/destroyer[3], in Federation Starfleet, Klingon Defense Force and Romulan Republic Navy service from the 2390s[1] decade. The category was officially introduced with the launch of the Vigilant-class in 2394. (STO website: Ships of the Line, STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Technical specifications[]
The compact frame of the Defiant-class.
The Defiant-class, which became the template for future tactical escorts, was euphemistically called "escort" by Starfleet. It was in fact the first every no-frills, dedicated warship developed by Starfleet. It abandoned the traditional saucer/hull/nacelle configuration in favor of a compact spaceframe. The prototype USS Defiant was equipped with pulse phaser cannons and quantum torpedoes, also hitherto unseen developments. (DS9 episode & novelization: The Search)
These design specifications were retained by tactical escort classes. Starfleet added the tactical moniker to set it apart from other combat-oriented lines, like the Prometheus-class advanced escort and the Dervish-class patrol escort. (STO website: Ships of the Line)
Defiant fires quad cannons.
By the 2410s, tactical escorts could be operated from tier 1 to tier 6 and related ratings. They were powered by an matter/antimatter warp core and equipped with dual cannons by default. Technology specific to advanced tactical classes included a Federation cloaking device and quad phaser cannons. Like all Khitomer Alliance military craft, tactical escorts were warp-capable and could attain both quantum slipstream drive and transwarp velocities. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Development and service history[]
Development[]
Defiant-class development patch.
The development of Starfleet's first dedicated warship began the late 2360s, following Starfleet's disastrous defeat in the Battle of Wolf 359 against the Borg Collective. The USS Valiant (NCC-6089) was proposed in 2368. It remained an unused concept in favor of launching the Defiant-class prototype USS Defiant. (The Official Starships Collection Issue Bonus issue 29: "USS Valiant Concept")
The USS Valiant (NCC-6089) in 2368.
First generation[]
The Defiant development project was initially mothballed, due to power issues almost causing the prototype to shake apart. The project was finalised in 2371 under Benjamin Sisko, who had the USS Defiant (NX-74205) assigned to his space station Deep Space 9 in defense against the rising Dominion threat. Thanks to an amendment of the Treaty of Algeron, the Defiant was equipped with a Romulan cloaking device. (DS9 episode & novelization: The Search)
In the 2370s, the Defiant fought in the Dominion War. It retained its NX registry number prefix that denoted experimental vessels but sister ships like the USS Valiant (NCC-74210) were launched with the standard NCC prefix. (DS9 episode: "The Valiant")
Cloaking device in action.
The Defiant was destroyed in the year 2375 and replaced with the newly launched USS Sao Paulo, soon renamed to USS Defiant (NX-74205). The Romulan Star Empire, taking part in the war on the side of the Allies, provided another cloaking device to the new ship. (DS9 episode: "The Dogs of War")
During the uprising of the House of Duras in 2376, the Defiant-class USS Avenger received a Klingon cloaking device from Chancellor Martok. (ST video game: Armada mission: "A Good Day to Die")
Second generation[]
The USS Vigilant in 2394.
The first official tactical escort was developed in the 2390s. The USS Vigilant (NCC-94794) was the prototype of the Vigilant-class and launched in 2394. The Vigilant was designed was a more streamlined variant of the Defiant class. They were rated as tier 4 tactical escorts and shared their capabilities.
Another variant was the USS Gallant (NX-93881), lead ship of the Gallant class. This vessel was visually reminiscent of the Valiant-class proposed in the 2360s. Unlike the USS Vigilant, the Gallant retained its NX registry prefix. (STO website: Ships of the Line)
Federation-Klingon War[]
By the time of the Federation-Klingon War of 2405-2410, the Starfleet Corps of Engineers had enabled Starfleet vessels to become modular as part of the Fleet Modernization Program at the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards. (STO novel: The Needs of the Many)
The Sao Paulo-A in 2410.
The components of tier-4 tactical escorts were mutually interchangeable, confirming that each tactical escort class shared the same capabilities. In 2409, Starfleet launched the Sao Paulo-class tactical escort refit. The USS Sao Paulo-A improved durability and established quad cannons as a standard for tactical escorts. It was the first tactical escort class of the 25th century.
Soon after, a tier 5 version of the Defiant class, labelled the tactical escort retrofit. Each tactical escort retrofit was equipped with a Federation cloaking device. It acted as a counterpart to the Klingon Defense Force B'rel-class derived bird of prey/raider. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
2410s[]
Valiant-class tier 6 tactical escort.
In 2410, the Valiant-class prototype USS Valiant (NCC-60890) entered service. It was based on the highly successful Defiant class. Unlike the Defiant class, which had been designed to combat the Borg, the Valiant was built with the Federation's new enemies in mind. Rated a tier 6 tactical escort, the Valiant-class incorporated design cues of the 2360s-era Valiant proposal. (STO website: Defiant Bundle Stats)
Its counterpart in the now-allied Klingon Empire was the Kor-class bird of prey, and the Romulan Republic's Malem-class light warbird. (STO website: Defiant Bundle Announcement)
The tactical escort family.
Following the Battle of Excalbia on stardate 84999.22[4] in January 2411, which saw the prominent involvement of hero ships from the Federation's past and present, including a version of the USS Defiant, the tactical escorts received a refit to legendary starship qualifications. (STO - J'Ula's Discovery missions: "The Measure of Morality (Part 2)", "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
The Gallant, Sao Paulo, Vigilant and Valiant were uprated to a tier 6 legendary pilot warship, matching the qualifications of the upgraded Defiant class. In addition, the Vigilant and Gallant classes received visual overhauls that brought them in line with other 25th century tactical escorts. (STO website: 10th Anniversary Legendary Starship Bundles: Legendary Pilot Warship)
Subtypes[]
- tier 4 tactical escort:
- tier 4 tactical escort retrofit:
- tier 5 and tier 5U tactical escort refit:
- tier 6 and tier 6-X tactical escort:
- legendary pilot warship:
- Defiant-class and Defiant-class with nose art
- Gallant-class and Gallant-class refit
- Sao Paulo-class
- Valiant-class
- Vigilant-class and Vigilant-class refit
Appendices[]
Connections[]
Appearances and references[]
Appearances[]
- STO website: Ships of the Line (first established)
- STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock" (first playable)
- STO website: Defiant Bundle Announcement
- STO website: Defiant Bundle Stats
- STO website: 10th Anniversary Legendary Starship Bundles: Legendary Pilot Warship
References[]
External links[]
- Defiant Tactical Escort article at Star Trek Online Wiki.
- Sao Paulo Tactical Escort Refit article at Star Trek Online Wiki.
- Valiant Tactical Escort article at Star Trek Online Wiki.