STARSHIP CLASS | |
Columbia | |
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Type: | explorer/cruiser |
Length: | 225 m |
Beam: | 135.8 m |
Max. warp: | warp 6.33 (maximum continuous) |
Max. speed: | warp 5 (cruising) |
Armaments: | phase cannon; torpedo launchers |
Defenses: | polarized hull plating; deflector shields |
Crew: | 132 (normal operations) |
The Columbia-class explorers were a class of Federation starship extant during at least the mid-22nd century.
The first two of this class were retrofit UESPA NX-class explorers, Enterprise (in 2156) and Endeavour. The retrofit involved the addition of a secondary hull. Warp-drive engineering was moved to this hull from the now-primary hull. An improved warp core allowed for an increase in speed to warp factor six. As well, a larger navigational deflector was installed at the bow of the secondary hull. (ENT novel: A Choice of Futures)
After the Earth-Romulan War and the founding of the Federation, eight more Columbia ships -- USS Buran, USS Shenlong, USS Apollo, USS Soyuz, USS Ares, USS Charybdis, USS Phoenix, and USS Valiant -- were authorized and constructed during the years 2165 through 2167. (ENT novel: Live by the Code)
The class was named after the NX-class Columbia, which was mysteriously lost with all hands in 2156. Its fate was a mystery until the ship was discovered in the Gamma Quadrant in 2373. (Star Trek: Destiny novels)
Alternate continuities[]
Starfleet International[]
The USS Balthasar was one of the Columbias built.
Star Trek: The Romulan Wars[]
In this continuity, Avenger was commanded by Captain Cabot during the Earth-Romulan War. As well, it had a secondary hull, indicating it had been upgraded to Columbia-class specifications. (Arius)
How Movies Saved My Life (and My Sanity)[]
During the Federation-Klingon War of 2409, Starfleet Command brought many old ship classes (such as the Columbia-class) out of mothballs and updated them to the technological standards of 2409 in order to bolster the Fleet. One such ship, the USS Moonlight SY-3, was placed under the command of Fleet Admiral Sofia Larson.
Under Larson's command, the Moonlight SY-3 participated in many notable missions, such as the discovery and reactivation of the long-lost Fleet Station K-13 and the earliest battles of the Klingon Civil War of 2411. For safety reasons (due to a bounty being placed on her and her crew by deranged Klingon Chancellor J'mpok following the destruction of the diplomatic enclave at Khitomer), the Moonlight SY-3 was placed into drydock by Fleet Admiral Larson and subsequent battles of the war were fought with other ships, such as the prototype USS Terunofuji.
Columbia-class starships |
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Refits from NX-class: Avenger - Endeavour - Enterprise |
New-builds (2165-2167): USS Apollo - USS Ares - USS Buran - USS Charybdis - USS Phoenix - USS Shenlong - USS Soyuz - USS Valiant |
Starfleet International : Balthasar |
How Movies Saved My Life (And My Sanity): USS Moonlight SY-3 |
External links[]
- Columbia class article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Christopher L. Bennett, Rise of the Federation: Live by the Code Annotations