Expedition-class Battle Scout

Class and Type: Expedition-class Battle Scout
Commissioning Date: 2343
Lead Engineer: Bruce Ford

Hull Characteristics
Size: 3 (87 meters long, 3 decks)
Resistance: 3
Structural Points: 60
Operational Characteristics
Crew/Passengers: 77/6
   [4 pwr/round]
Computers: 2
   [2 pwr/round]
Transporters: 2 personnel, 1 cargo, 1 emergency
   [1 pwr/round]
Tractor Beams: 1 av
   [2 pwr/rating used]
Propulsion and Power Characteristics
Warp System: 5.0/9.2/9.6 (12 hours)
   [2 pwr/warp factor]
Impulse System: .8 c/.9 c
   [8/9 pwr/round]
Power: 115
Sensor Systems
Long-range Sensors: +2/15 light-years
   [6 pwr/round]
Lateral Sensors: +1/1 light-years
   [4 pwr/round]
Navigational Sensors: +1
   [5 pwr/round]
Sensor Skill: 5
Weapons Systems
Type VI Phaser:
   Range: 10/30,000/100,000/300,000
   Arc: All (720 degrees)
   Accuracy: 5/6/8/11
   Damage: 12
   Power: [12]
Type II Photon Torpedoes:
   Number: 40
   Launchers: 1 ad, 1 fd
   Spread: 2
   Arc: Forward or aft, but are self-guided
   Range: 15/300,000/1,000,000/3,500,000
   Accuracy: 4/5/7/10
   Damage: 20
   Power: [5]
Weapons Skill: 5
Defensive Systems
Starfleet Deflector Shield
   Protection: 40/50
   Power: [40]

Description and Notes
Fleet data: In 2335, Starfleet Command realized that they could no longer continue to use their aging scout vessels along the edges of known space. It was no longer cost effective to upgrade these vessels and a new design was commissioned using more recent technological advances in space frame design.

The specifications required a small, highly-maneuverable, fast starship that was easily maintainable and able to collect vast amounts of information during an initial charting survey. It was also required to be able to act as a frontline scout for various task forces in time of war. This translated into a vessel that had a fair firepower and was heavily shielded.

The Expedition-class Battle Scout developed by Noran Design Principles was the vessel that Starfleet finally purchased and put into production in 2343. This vessel could hold its own with other ships of its class and if operating in a squadron of three could take out a cruiser. Its heavy shielding allowed it the time needed to disengage from anything heavier utilizing its speed.

It went into service shortly before the Cardassian Conflict broke out and saw extensive action during that time, proving itself in various battles of that war. It has continued to prove its worth since then, charting many new systems along the frontier.

Often these vessels are assigned as a battle group of three to some border station on the frontier.

Seventy-five vessels of this class have been commissioned, fourteen have been destroyed, twelve have been scrapped, and two have been lost. Forty-seven are still in active service.

Noteworthy vessels / service records / encounters: U.S.S. Expedition, prototype; U.S.S. Lewis, distinguished itself when it managed to destroy a Galor-class vessel preventing it from alerting the Cardassian fleet of a nearby Starfleet Task Force; U.S.S. Clark, saw extensive action scouting the Tzenkethi forces during the Tzenkethi war of 2360-2; U.S.S. Cook, charted the largest expanse of unexplored territory by any ship in Starfleet from 2344 to 2360.

Author's Notes
This design was inspired by FASA's Ranger-class scout. I've always liked these little ships and find them a great design to use as a PC vessel.

This vessel requires a minimum rank of Commander for a CO and requires only a one point expenditure to become a department head.

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