Dolphin-class System Defense Craft

The addition of a new player to my The Last Anton campaign prompted a brief discussion of system defense craft in the 23rd Century Star Fleet. So, for the character's background, I decided to create a class of sublight-only system defense ships that would be operational in the late 2280s.

May I introduce the Dolphin-class System Defense Craft:

Dolphin-class Specifications

Production Data
Origin: United Federation of Planets
Class and Type: Dolphin-class "System Defense Craft" (Fast Attack Warship)
Year Launched: 2262

Hull Data
Structure: 15
Size/Decks: 3/2 decks
Length/Beam/Height: 53/16/6 meters
Complement: 6

Operational Data
Transporters: 1 standard only
Cargo Units: 30
Shuttlebay: none
Shuttlecraft: n/a
Tractor Beams: 1AV
Separation System: No
Sensor System: Class 3 (+3/D)
Operations System: Class 2 (C)
Life Support: Class 2 (C)

Propulsion Data
Impulse System: SBD-a (.6c/C)
Warp System: none

Tactical Data
Phaser Banks: Type VI (x2/B)
Penetration: 4/3/3/0/0
Photon Torpedoes: Mk 12 IF (x2/B)
Penetration: 3/3/3/3/3
Deflector Shield: PFF 2 (A)
Protection/Threshold: 12/2

Miscellaneous Data
Maneuvering: -2C +5H +2T
Traits: Nimble (reflected above)

The Dolphin-class system defense craft was launched in 2262 to replace the aging Greyhound-class ships that were constructed around the turn of the 23rd Century and had long-since passed beyond their useful service life. The Dolphins were designed around the brand new Type VI phasers, and built for speed over structural strength.

Dolphins were immediately placed in all important Federation systems, even serving alongside the defense craft of the Andorian Defense Force in protection of Andor and her colonies.

Known for their heavy punch in close quarters, Dolphins are most effective in point-blank brawls that make heavy use of their incredible maneuverability. The craft normally operate in flights of 3-4.

Some 200 ships were built between 2262 and 2284, when the class completed its production life. Dolphins are expected to serve well into the first decade of the 24th Century.

"They Were Expendable"

OOH NICE! I would like to see a picture of the Dolphin Class.

I did some piddling with Vance's tool kit. This is how I see the Dolphin Class

I expect something like this would include much more automation.

Very nice. Is it atmosphere capable?

Sea Tyger did not have it listed as being atmosphere capable.

The Dolphins are designed for space-only operations, as the vast majority of potential adversaries are ships that aren't atmospheric capable. That said, Star Fleet it working on a future upgrade that includes the possibility of sacrificing some of the ship's structure to improve transatmospheric flight capabilities.

(Translation: I ran out of space and didn't want to compromise the ship's Operations, Life Support or Sensor capabilities, and didn't want to reduce her structure for more points.)

For your approval Sea Tyger .I have updated the drawning.

Nice

Oh, that's cool; I usually specify yea or nay in my design stat blocks, that's all, and didn't see an entry one way or another. I didn't think it was atmosphere capable, but wanted to be sure.

Does it have dedicated space facilities for it?

Not bad, skree. I like it. :)

TTK, the Dolphin normally operates out of space-based facilities like Jupiter Station. However, it could conceivably operate in orbit around any Starfleet planetside facility capable of keeping the ships in supply and in repair (like Starbase 11).

On a side note, the I see the crew complement as follows:

CO/Pilot (usually Lt. or Lt. j.g., rarely a Lt. Cmdr. or Cmdr.)
Co-Pilot/Gunner (usually Ensign)
Engineer (usually Lt. j.g. or Ensign, possibly Chief)
Engineering Technician (enlist)
2 Weapons Technicians (enlists)

The senior lieutenant in a flight of 3-4 SDCs would be the Flight Leader. A Squadron Leader, either the senior lieutenant or lieutenant commander, would command 2-3 flights as a squadron (some 6-12 ships). A Wing Commander is a full commander who leads 2-3 squadrons (some 12-36 ships) on larger installations.

I see Squadron Leader as a field position (commander of lead ship of the squadron), but I think the Wing Commander could either be a desk job or a field position (likely at the discretion of the Wing Commander and/or Station Commander). That said, the Wing Commander would always have experience as a Squadron Leader, even if s/he's no longer actively flying.

Hey, haven't seen you here in a while!

And decent, interesting ship and concepts, roughly comparable to some of my own.