Romulan Hunterbird-class Escort

Class and Type: Hunterbird-class Escort
Commissioning Date: Unknown, possibly late 2274
Lead Engineer: Charles Marshall

Hull Characteristics
Size: 4 (190 meters long, 6 decks)
Resistance: 4
Structural Points: 80
Operational Characteristics
Crew/Passengers: 20/10
   [3 pwr/round]
Computers: 3
   [3 pwr/round]
Transporters: 1 personnel, 1 cargo
   [1 pwr/round]
Tractor Beams: 1 av
   [2 pwr/rating used]
Propulsion and Power Characteristics
Warp System: 6.0/8.5/9.999 (6 hours)
   [2 pwr/warp factor]
Impulse System: .75 c/.9 c
   [7/9 pwr/round]
Power: 155
Sensor Systems
Long-range Sensors: +2/14 light-years
   [6 pwr/round]
Lateral Sensors: +2/1 light-year
   [4 pwr/round]
Navigational Sensors: +2
   [5 pwr/round]
Cloak: 10
   [40 pwr/round]
Sensor Skill: 5
Weapons Systems
Type J Disruptor:
   Range: 10/30,000/100,000/300,000
   Arc: All (720 degrees)
   Accuracy: 4/5/7/10
   Damage: 18
   Power: [18]
Plasma Torpedoes:
   Number: 150
   Launchers: 3 fv, 1 ad
   Spread: 5
   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
Romulan Deflector Shield
   Protection: 55/75
   Power: [55]

Description and Notes
Fleet data: During the Dominion War, many members of the Alliance refitted their older warships to attempt to match what seemed like a limitless number of Jem'Hadar warships. The Romulan Star Empire was no exception. While production of more D'deridex-class warbirds continued, a more cost-effective solution would be necessary to fill in the gap between the warbirds and scout ships. This new class would serve as an escort for other vessels, but would also patrol lower-priority sectors, freeing more warbirds for major sector and Neutral Zone patrols.

Since enough of the original birds-of-prey were still mothballed, the military decided to upgrade it as an experiment. Due to the improvements in 24th century ship technology, warp drive could be fitted to the classic hull. Smaller, more efficient components meant that the bulky impulse drives and outdated plasma torpedoes could be replaced with advanced impulse systems, more modern torpedo launchers and disruptor banks. Improvements in cloaking technology enabled the refitted ship to have more powerful impulse drives, deflector shields and weapons than before.

The first reported sighting of the refitted birds-of-prey (known to the Romulans as the Hunterbird-class) was during the first Romulan drives into Cardassian space after the Star Empire joined the Federation/Klingon Alliance against the Dominion. Reports from sources in the Vulcan-Romulan Reunifaction Movement indicate that the Hunterbird-class fared well against Cardassian Galor-class warships and Jem'Hadar fighters, but had to be deployed in formations of three or more against the larger Jem'Hadar ships.

The Hunterbird-class still maintains its distinctive look; however, there are more than a few changes that distinguish it. First, the classic "bird-of-prey" color scheme has been replaced with the green color associated with modern Romulan ships. The Hunterbird's nacelles more closely resemble those of the Romulan scout ship than the classic bird-of-prey. Instead of one plasma torpedo launcher, the Hunterbird has four torpedo launchers, one where the plasma torpedo launcher used to be, two in a forward ventral position near the port and starboard wing roots, and one mounted aft in the dorsal fin. Also, there is a multi-directional disruptor bank along the dorsal area of the ship, similar to the phaser banks used by modern Starfleet vessels.

Sources in the Reunifcation Movement indicate that the Hunterbird-class is designed specifically for battle, its patrol duties being shared with scout ships. They state that the vessel is extensively computerized - including auto-loading torpedo launchers - ensuring that only a small crew is needed to operate it. They assume that according to Romulan naval tradition, no emergency transporters have been installed aboard the Hunterbird-class, and that - also keeping with tradition - the Hunterbird is equipped with a self-destruct device, the type of which is unknown.

While the Hunterbird-class has been deemed a success by the Romulan media, most of the original Hunterbirds have been lost due to heavy fighting along the Romulan/Dominion borders. Therefore, the military has commissioned the construction of new Hunterbirds starting in late 2374. It is estimated that 5 ships a month of this class are being produced by Imperial shipyards.

Further Notes
Much of the data provided is conjectural; Starfleet lacks complete information about this type of ship.

The resistance number indicated is for newly-constructed Hunterbird vessels (Hunterbird IIs). The resistance of the original Hunterbird is 2.

Editor's Note
For another interpretation of the old Romulan Bird of Prey, check out Patrick Murphy's version.

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