Romulan Bird of Prey (TOS)

Image of Romulan Bird of Prey

Class and Type: Bird of Prey-class Cruiser
Commissioning Date: 2260s
Lead Engineer: Patrick Murphy

Hull Characteristics
Size: 4 (190 meters long, 6 decks)
Resistance: 2
Structural Points: 80
Operational Characteristics
Crew/Passengers: 150/250
   [5 pwr/round]
Computers: 2
   [2 pwr/round]
Transporters: 2 personnel, 2 cargo
   [2 pwr/round]
Tractor Beams: 1 av
   [2 pwr/rating used]
Propulsion and Power Characteristics
Warp System: 4.0/5.0/6.0 (2 hours) (in old warp factors)
Warp System: 3.5/4.3/5.0 (2 hours) (in current terms)
   [2 pwr/warp factor]
Impulse System: .5 c/.75 c
   [5/7 pwr/round]
Power: 50
Sensor Systems
Long-range Sensors: +0/8 light-years
   [6 pwr/round]
Lateral Sensors: +0/1 light-year
   [4 pwr/round]
Navigational Sensors: +1
   [5 pwr/round]
Cloak: 8
   [32 pwr/round]
Sensor Skill: 4
Weapons Systems
Type I Plasma Torpedoes:
   Number: 50
   Launchers: 1 fv
   Spread: 1
   Arc: Forward but are self-guided
   Range: 10/100,000/350,000/1,000,000
   Accuracy: 4/5/7/10
   Damage: 40 (see below)
   Power: [5]
Weapons Skill: 5
Defensive Systems
Romulan Deflector Shield
   Protection: 10/15
   Power: [10]

Description and Notes
Fleet data: These craft, armed with powerful plasma torpedoes, were the first known vessels equipped with cloaking devices. While they are no match for most Starfleet vessels in a stand-up fight, these ships were nonetheless feared for their ability to slip unnoticed behind enemy lines and deliver devastating firepower.

These vessels were initially only witnessed traveling at sublight speeds, leading Starfleet Intelligence to deduce that they had no warp drive. This seemed improbable given the immense power requirement of a cloaking device. Later encounters with these ships demonstrated that they were indeed warp-capable. However, it is unknown whether these later ship were upgraded versions or whether the previously-encountered ship had simply been forced to maintain impulse speeds, perhaps because of some fuel or power requirement.

The plasma weapons used on these starships were powerful but unstable at high warp speeds. The torpedoes aboard a Bird of Prey vessel cannot overtake ships traveling at speeds greater than Warp Factor 4. Starfleet Intelligence is investigating rumors that the Romulans have solved this problem and are prepared to implement a new version of this weapon.

The torpedoes also dissipate and thus lose effectiveness with range; for each range band beyond point-blank, decrease the torpedoes damage by 10 points (i.e., it does 40 damage at point-black range, 30 damage at short range, 20 at medium range and 10 points at long range).

Noteworthy vessels / service records / encounters: Given the secrecy favored by the Romulans, as well as their habit of destroying their ships rather than be captured, next to nothing is known about the ships of this class; their number, their names or their commanders.

Editor's Notes
Easily one of the best ship designs ever submitted. Patrick has a knack for making 'believable' ship stats, especially modest ones. Major kudos!

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