Danube-class

The Danube Class runabout is a Federation vessel, designed to bridge the gap between the smaller shuttlecraft and larger starships. Unlike the former, it is capable of prolonged missions, making it a valuable asset to starbases and larger starships. The class was introduced in 2368.

Physical description

The Danube is 23.1 meters long, 13.7 meters wide at the nacelles and 5.4 meters high. It consists of three main sections:

• The cockpit has seating for the pilot and co-pilot as well as computer stations for additional crewmembers. A small transporter and a replicator are located at the back of this cockpit.
• The midsection was never shown on-screen; it presumably houses the oft-mentioned cargo hold.
• The aft section houses the crew accommodations, including a dining table, bunks and an additional terminal.

A Jefferies Tube was shown to run along the spine of the craft, underneath the warp core housing.

The craft can be entered and exited through doors on the side of the cockpit or an emergency hatch.

Features and abilities

The class possesses many of the same features as full-sized starships, albeit on a smaller scale - tractor beams, shields, phasers, warp drive and sensors. The Danube is capable of atmospheric flight and planetary landing.

Depending on the mission profile, a mission module could be added to a hardpoint at the top of the craft. These could carry additional sensors or an external photon torpedo launcher.