Class and Type: Freedom-class Cruiser
Commissioning Date: 2360
Lead Engineer: Gregory Smith

Hull Characteristics
   Size: 5 (254 meters long, 17 decks)
   Resistance: 3
   Structural Points: 100
Operational Characteristics
Crew/Passengers/Evac: 150/200/300
   [5 pwr/round]
Computers: 4
   [4 pwr/round]
Transporters: 4 personnel, 2 cargo, and 3 emergency
   [4 pwr/round]
Tractor Beams: 1v
   [2/rating used]
Propulsion and Power Characteristics
Warp System: 5/9/9.2 (6 hours)
   [2/warp factor]
Impulse System: .6c/.85c
   [6/8 pwr/round]
Power: 150
Sensor Systems
Long-range Sensors: +2/17 light-years
   [6 pwr/round]
Lateral Sensors: +2/1 light-years
   [4 pwr/round]
Navigational Sensors: +2
   [6 pwr/round]
Sensors Skill: 4
Weapon Systems
Type VIII Phaser
   Range: 10/30,000/100,000/300,000
   Arc: All (720 degrees)
   Accuracy: 5/6/8/11
   Damage: 16
   Power: [16]
Type II Photon Torpedoes:
   Number: 100
   Launchers: 1 fv
   Spread: 5
   Arc: Forward, but are self-guided
   Range: 15/300,000/1,000,000/3,500,000
   Accuracy: 4/5/7/10
   Damage: 20
   Power: [5]
Defensive Systems
Starfleet Deflector Shield
   Protection: 48/70
   Power: [48]

Description and Notes
Fleet Data: Freedom-class vessels were intended to replace Starfleet's aging fleet of Miranda-class ships. Designed using the proven technologies of the Galaxy and Nebula-classes, the Freedom-class was intended to be a low cost and reliable exploration vessel.

Twenty ships were built following the successful shakedown of the U.S.S. Freedom, but the ships proved to be unpopular with the captains and crews who served aboard them. The engineers disliked the idiosyncrasies of the single-nacelle warp-field, tactical officers discovered a phaser blind-spot below the warp nacelle, and the captains were frustrated by the lack of speed.

Following the destruction of forty ships by the Borg at Wolf 359, ten Freedom-class ships were the first to be commissioned in order to replaced the fleet's losses as quickly as possible.

In later years, the Perimeter Defense Directive has meant that the Freedom-class has fallen out of favor. The current emphasis on role-specific ships has meant that no Freedom-class ships have been produced since 2367.

Noteworthy Vessels/ Service Records/ Encounters: U.S.S. Freedom, prototype, U.S.S. Firebrand, lost with all hands in the Battle of Wolf 359; U.S.S. Triumphant, first ship commissioned after Wolf 359; U.S.S. Spitfire, part of Operation Return (2374).

(Picture from Star Trek Fact Files, Copyright Paramount Pictures.)