Difference between revisions of "Defiant-class"
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Defiant | [[Image:DS9 Defiant.jpg|thumb|right|Behold the amazing flying turtle]]The '''''Defiant''-class starship''' is a small, dedicated [[warship]] used by the [[United Federation of Planets]]. Initially developed for battle against the [[Borg]], the ''Defiant''-class was born out of the rash of technical developments and innovations that swept throug [[Starfleet]] when the Borg were identified as a threat by their encounter with the [[Enterprise-D|''USS Enterprise'']] in system J-25<ref>TNG "Q Who"</ref> | ||
The ''Defiant''-class was constructed and designed at the [[Utopia Planitia]] Shipyards and Commander [[Benjamin Sisko]] was part of the design team. Construction was slow due in part to a perceived lack of an imminent Borg attack and to engine design problems that plagued the starship even after construction was completed. The engines were so over-powered that they threatened the very structural integrity of the ship when powered up. It took innovations in the structural integrity field of the ship to bring this problem under control. | |||
==Armament== | |||
[[Image:Defiant pulse phasers.jpg|thumb|right|Overpowered and overgunned!]]The ''Defiant''-class was originally designated as an escort ship, but this was just on paper to hide the fact the the ''Defiant'' was a dedicated warship in apparent violation of Starfleet protocols. The ''Defiant's'' main weapons suite is a pair of [[pulse phaser]] cannons that apparently provide more fire power than the standard [[phaser]] arrays on most starships. These weapons -- along with [[photon torpedo]] launchers (later able to fire [[quantum torpedo]]es) -- give the ship a very powerful forward weapons arc. As Sisko stated succinctly, "She's overpowered and overgunned".<ref>[[DS9]] "The Search"</ref> | |||
Defenses | ==Defenses== | ||
The ''Defiant''-class also has experimental [[ablative armor]] that gives the little ship an extra edge if its [[shields]] are brought down, as the armor provides extra protection not usually afforded to Federation starships. The armor's effectiveness was demonstrated when the ''Defiant'' withstood concentrated attacks from a [[Klingon]] [[Vor'cha-class|''Vor'cha''-class]] attack cruiser for several seconds without shields in order to beam aboard members of the [[Cardassian]] Detaapa Council<ref>DS9 "Way of the Warrior"</ref> and when the Captain of the ''[[USS Lakota]]'' complained about the ablative armor on the ''Defiant'' making it difficult to disable or destroy her.<ref>DS9 "Paradise Lost"</ref> It should be noted that the captain also stated that this armor was a secret modification of Captain Sisko's, which opens the question of whether the ablative armor is actually unique to the ''USS Defiant'' and not standard for the class. | |||
==Spartan Design== | |||
Other unique features of the ''Defiant''-class include her warp engines, which were kept in close and parallel to the hull, as well as the spartan crew quarters and overall interior design of the ship. [[Julian Bashir|Doctor Bashir]] complained about the bare medical bay that was inadequate to deal with serious injuries as well as the lack of any sort of laboratory facilities found in other starships. No families could travel on the ''Defiant'', and her crew complement was normally kept around 47. | |||
==Performance== | |||
The ''Defiant''-class proved time and again she was more than a match for substantially larger vessels. During the [[Klingon-Cardassian War]] she routinely defeated [[Klingon Bird of Prey|Birds of Prey]] in combat and withstood attacks from multiple Klingon warships many times her size, such as ''Vor'cha''-class attack cruisers.<ref>DS9 "Way of the Warrior"</ref> When stolen by [[Thomas Riker]], the ''Defiant'' also proved more than capable of defeating [[Cardassian]] capital ships, such as the [[Keldon-class|''Keldon''-class ]] destroyers secretly upgraded by the [[Obsidian Order]].<ref>DS9 "Defiant"</ref> | |||
The ''Defiant''-class also performed admirably in her first encounter with the enemy she was designed to battle -- the Borg -- when she was among the surviving vessels of the [[Starfleet]] task force that fought a running battle over several days from the Typhon sector to Earth against a [[Borg Cube]]. Scoring damaging hits against the far larger Borg cube, she was finally disabled by a concentrated Borg counter attack after out-lasting far-larger starships.<ref>''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]''</ref> | |||
During the [[Dominion War]], ''Defiant''-class starships were usually seen as more than a match for the [[Jem'Hadar]] [[Attack ship|fighters]] and only truly outgunned and outclassed by such juggernaughts as the [[Dominion Battleship]]s.<ref> DS9 "Valiant"</ref> The ''Defiant'' was the first Federation starship to score kills against Dominion naval forces,<ref>DS9 "The Search"</ref> and ships of the class were instrumental in almost every major engagement of the war. | |||
==The ''Defiant''-class in Debates== | |||
The | Rivalry between [[Trekkie]]s and [[Fiver]]s resulted in numerous debates over the possible outcome of a battle between the the ''[[White Star]]'' and the ''Defiant''. Trekkies typically argue that the Minbari stealth technology would be no match for [[Federation]] [[sensor]]s, while a mere proximity blast from a [[photon torpedo]] would be more than sufficient to disable a ''White Star''. | ||
[ | |||
== Notable ships == | |||
[ | * [[USS Defiant (DS9)|''USS Defiant'']] NX-74205 | ||
* [[USS Valiant|''USS Valiant'']] NCC-74210 | |||
* [[Sao Paulo|''USS Sao Paulo'']] NCC-75633 | |||
==Notes== | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category: Star Trek]] | [[Category: Star Trek]] | ||
[[Category: ST Starships]] | [[Category: ST Starships]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:57, 15 January 2015
The Defiant-class starship is a small, dedicated warship used by the United Federation of Planets. Initially developed for battle against the Borg, the Defiant-class was born out of the rash of technical developments and innovations that swept throug Starfleet when the Borg were identified as a threat by their encounter with the USS Enterprise in system J-25[1]
The Defiant-class was constructed and designed at the Utopia Planitia Shipyards and Commander Benjamin Sisko was part of the design team. Construction was slow due in part to a perceived lack of an imminent Borg attack and to engine design problems that plagued the starship even after construction was completed. The engines were so over-powered that they threatened the very structural integrity of the ship when powered up. It took innovations in the structural integrity field of the ship to bring this problem under control.
Armament
The Defiant-class was originally designated as an escort ship, but this was just on paper to hide the fact the the Defiant was a dedicated warship in apparent violation of Starfleet protocols. The Defiant's main weapons suite is a pair of pulse phaser cannons that apparently provide more fire power than the standard phaser arrays on most starships. These weapons -- along with photon torpedo launchers (later able to fire quantum torpedoes) -- give the ship a very powerful forward weapons arc. As Sisko stated succinctly, "She's overpowered and overgunned".[2]
Defenses
The Defiant-class also has experimental ablative armor that gives the little ship an extra edge if its shields are brought down, as the armor provides extra protection not usually afforded to Federation starships. The armor's effectiveness was demonstrated when the Defiant withstood concentrated attacks from a Klingon Vor'cha-class attack cruiser for several seconds without shields in order to beam aboard members of the Cardassian Detaapa Council[3] and when the Captain of the USS Lakota complained about the ablative armor on the Defiant making it difficult to disable or destroy her.[4] It should be noted that the captain also stated that this armor was a secret modification of Captain Sisko's, which opens the question of whether the ablative armor is actually unique to the USS Defiant and not standard for the class.
Spartan Design
Other unique features of the Defiant-class include her warp engines, which were kept in close and parallel to the hull, as well as the spartan crew quarters and overall interior design of the ship. Doctor Bashir complained about the bare medical bay that was inadequate to deal with serious injuries as well as the lack of any sort of laboratory facilities found in other starships. No families could travel on the Defiant, and her crew complement was normally kept around 47.
Performance
The Defiant-class proved time and again she was more than a match for substantially larger vessels. During the Klingon-Cardassian War she routinely defeated Birds of Prey in combat and withstood attacks from multiple Klingon warships many times her size, such as Vor'cha-class attack cruisers.[5] When stolen by Thomas Riker, the Defiant also proved more than capable of defeating Cardassian capital ships, such as the Keldon-class destroyers secretly upgraded by the Obsidian Order.[6]
The Defiant-class also performed admirably in her first encounter with the enemy she was designed to battle -- the Borg -- when she was among the surviving vessels of the Starfleet task force that fought a running battle over several days from the Typhon sector to Earth against a Borg Cube. Scoring damaging hits against the far larger Borg cube, she was finally disabled by a concentrated Borg counter attack after out-lasting far-larger starships.[7]
During the Dominion War, Defiant-class starships were usually seen as more than a match for the Jem'Hadar fighters and only truly outgunned and outclassed by such juggernaughts as the Dominion Battleships.[8] The Defiant was the first Federation starship to score kills against Dominion naval forces,[9] and ships of the class were instrumental in almost every major engagement of the war.
The Defiant-class in Debates
Rivalry between Trekkies and Fivers resulted in numerous debates over the possible outcome of a battle between the the White Star and the Defiant. Trekkies typically argue that the Minbari stealth technology would be no match for Federation sensors, while a mere proximity blast from a photon torpedo would be more than sufficient to disable a White Star.
Notable ships
- USS Defiant NX-74205
- USS Valiant NCC-74210
- USS Sao Paulo NCC-75633