Tonga class

The Tonga class was a 24th century Cardassian starship design.

The Tonga class was originally deployed to the Cardassian fleet in the first quarter of the 24th century. The vessel was eventually replaced by other Cardassian vessels and retired from service.

Cardassians revisited the design in 2372, due to the Klingon invasion of the Cardassian Union that year. The invasion had taxed the Cardassian military and in an effort to bolster their forces the Tonga got its second life.

The Tonga was upgraded with current technology. Though slower and less manoeuvrable than more modern vessels, it was reasonably armed and shielded, allowing it to go toe-to-toe with large Klingon warships. The most important aspect was that it could be produced quickly and cheaply, which was critical at the time due to resource shortages of the conflict and the toll taken on the Cardassian fleet. (DS9 video game: Dominion Wars)

External link

• Tonga class article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.