Oberth class starship (Star Trek)

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In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Oberth class is a variety of starship used by Starfleet. Oberth class ships are intended to be used as vessels of scientific research or as transports. The Oberth class is possibly the most long-lived class in Starfleet, known to be in active service from the early-23rd century through the 2370s, when it was replaced with the new Nova class starship.

The Oberth class starship follows a unique approach to Federation starship design with a primary hull composed of a platform supporting a small saucer at its forefront and two warp nacelles at its sides. The main bridge, impulse engine and crew quarters are contained in the saucer section; several unknown box-shaped openings in the saucer could be shuttlebays. The secondary hull is a narrower, longer structure shaped like a boat hull. The two hulls are connected by two pylons at the sides.

The contents of the secondary hull and the reasons for the division of the ship are unclear. One plausible theory is that the lower hull is a large sensor platform, separated from the ship to decrease interference caused by particles or energy from a source there. A second is that it is an engineering section (in some theories an entirely automated one) separated to decrease the danger of carrying antideuterium fuel. A third is that it is only for storage of cargo and/or antimatter and the engineering facilities are instead in the primary hull; this is similar to the second explanation in that it keeps the crew farther from the dangerous antimatter but also allows for the warp core in the upper hull to run on any small stores of antideuterium there in the event of a separation.

In real life, the Oberth class was designed by ILM for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

[edit] Known Oberth-class starships

USS Biko (NCC-50331)

Named for activist Steve Biko, the starship Biko rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise-D at Deinonychus VII circa stardate 46271 in 2369.

USS Bonestell (NCC-31600)

Named for artist Chesley Bonestell, the starship Bonestell was destroyed by the Borg at the Battle of Wolf 359 circa stardate 43997 in 2366.

USS Cochrane (NCC-59318)

Named for scientist Zefram Cochrane, the starship Cochrane ferried Admiral Norah Satie to the Enterprise-D circa stardate 44769.2 in 2367 and Dr. Julian Bashir and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax to Deep Space Nine circa stardate 46379.1 in 2369. The Cochrane remained in service throughout the Dominion War.

USS Copernicus (NCC-623)

Named for astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, the starship Copernicus was seen in drydock with the Enterprise-A circa stardate 8390.

USS Grissom (NCC-638)

Named for astronaut Virgil Grissom, the starship Grissom was commanded by Captain J.T. Esteban circa stardate 8210.3 in 2285. The Grissom transported Dr. David Marcus and Lieutenant Saavik of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) to the Genesis planet. The Grissom was later destroyed by a Klingon Bird of Prey commanded by Commander Kruge and lost with all hands.

USS Oberth (NCC-602)

Named for scientist Hermann Oberth, the starship Oberth was the pathfinder of the Oberth class. Its name and number appeared on computer readout screens in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. It is said to be on a deep space exploration mission.

USS Pegasus (NCC-53847)

Named for the character of Pegasus from Greek mythology, the starship Pegasus was a prototype starship equipped with an experimental and illegal cloaking device under the command of Captain Erik Pressman. Circa stardate 36764 in 2358, the Pegasus crew mutinied against Pressman and Ensign William Riker, who were forced to evacuate the ship. The cloaking device fused the plasma relays, causing the plasma to explode and killing all 71 remaining crewmembers. The Pegasus was discovered embedded in an asteroid in the Devolin system circa stardate 47457.1 in 2370 by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D).

USS Raman (NCC-29487 or NCC-59983)

Named for physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, the starship Raman was lost at Marijne VII in 2370. The crew was killed by subspace lifeforms living in the atmosphere of the planet.

К. Э. Циолковский (NCC-53911, English short name SS Tsiolkovsky)

Named for scientist Константин Эдуардович Циолковский (Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky), the starship К. Э. Циолковский was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on stardate 40291.7 in 2363. Circa stardate 41209.2 in 2364, the crew died of the Psi 2000 virus while performing a routine mission observing the collapse of a star. The К. Э. Циолковский was later destroyed. Although the ship was referred to as the Tsiolkovsky in the episode "The Naked Now," its dedication plaque, seen briefly in the background when the away team first beams aboard, is rendered in Cyrillic.

USS Valiant (NCC-20000)

The starship Valiant aided the USS Farragut (NCC-60597) in the recovery of the Enterprise-D crew at Veridian III circa stardate 48650.1 in 2371. Presumed later destroyed, decommisioned or lost in action.

SS Vico (NAR-18834)

A private vessel, the starship Vico was destroyed in 2368 by its own shields' amplification of the impact of a graviton wave. Only one person survived. The ship was possibly named after the Italian philosopher Giambattista Vico.

USS Yosemite (NCC-19002)

Named for Yosemite National Park, the starship Yosemite was damaged while studying the arc of plasma between the two stars of a binary system in the Igo sector circa stardate 46041.1 in 2369. The Yosemite was commanded by Captain J. Swift when she visited planet New Brooklyn IX in 2370 and visited Deep Space 9 on stardate 47552.9 in 2370.

[edit] External links

• "Oberth class" at Memory Alpha
• "Size of the Oberth class" at Ex Astris Scientia
• "Oberth class" at the Neutral Zone Starship Database