Star Trek Expanded Universe
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A perimeter action ship was a type of vessel in Starfleet service since at least the Four Years War to sometime in the very early 24th century. (Ships of the Star Fleet, vols. 1 and 2)

Perimeter action ships were minimally-crewed (no more than 50), short-mission vessels built for high-warp military engagements. They combined aspects of 20th and 21st century submarines, PT boats and airborne strike fighters.

Classes of this type of vessel included Kiaga-class and Agilis-class starships of the Four Years War era; and the later Akyazi-class, Engage-class and Kirsanov-class. Ca. 2290, a Dupleix-class perimeter action ship underwent trials; in contrast to earlier classes, Dupleix massed 123,000 tonnes and carried as many as 311 personnel. (Starfleet Prototypes)

USS Arauca was an Akyazi-class perimeter action ship. She was destroyed by unknown threat forces in 2289. (Ships of the Star Fleet, vol. 2) Years later, after the recovery of the decades-lost USS Accord, Starfleet deduced that the threat forces had been Cardassians. (Star Trek: Accord)

During the years 2289-93, a trio of perimeter action ships — USS Clotho, USS Lachesis and USS Atropos — was assigned to the sector around Shadowstar Station. (Star Trek: Shadowstar Station)

Construction of the Adelaide-class perimeter action ships were authorized in 2293 and all ten hulls were launched by 2296. (Dockyard Review)

Five Akyazi-class perimeter action ships provided backup to USS Avenger in its confrontation with Romulans at Davlor IV in July, 2294. (Star Trek: Avenger: "King for a Day")

In early 2298, the perimeter action ships USS Morrigan, USS Balor and USS Ogma were commissioned as a group and attached to Task Force Accord. (Star Trek: Accord: Timeline)

The Zodiac-class of perimeter action ships were commissioned by the early 24th century. Among these was the USS Sagitarrius. (Starship Webster: "Periphery")

The 24th century Saber-class starships were said to be part of the Perimeter Defense Directive (Ship Recognition Manual, Volume 1: The Ships of Starfleet) but they seem to be capable of much longer duration missions than many of the perimeter action ships of the 23rd century. Perhaps the definition of perimeter action ships changed or the type was eliminated from the inventory, as none of the type are mentioned in any documents found past the early 24th century.

Allied and threat force counterparts[]

As of 2321, no precise counterparts among the Klingons, Romulans and other races have been found for the Federation perimeter action ship classes.

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