23rd Century Threat Vessels: The Klingons

[Sea Tyger]

In the third installment of 23rd Century threat vessels, here are the Klingons.

Included in this thread are the follwing:

D-4 Predator Cruiser
D-10 Riskadh Light Cruiser
D-2 Stingtongue Destroyer
D-18 Gull Destroyer
K-23 Little Killer Heavy Escort
L-6 Defender Frigate
L-9 Saber Fast Frigate

[Sea Tyger]

D-4 Predator Cruiser
Entered Service: 2242

SYSTEMS
Communications 7
Computers 7
Engines 8
Sensors 7
Structure 8
Weapons 8

DEPARTMENTS
Command 3
Conn 1
Security 2
Engineering 2
Science 2
Medicine 2

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 3
SHIELDS 10
POWER 8
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Banks (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

TALENTS
Rugged Design

NOTES
wf 5/6/7
Crew: Talented

The D-4 Predator was the predecessor to the D-7 battle cruiser, and pioneered many of the developments that led to the latter ship's success. A command cruiser in its own right, the D-4 was the mainstay of the Klingon fleet until the mid-2250's, when the more powerful D-7 replaced it at the forefront of the Imperial Navy.

Refits after 2250 included upgrading the K-GDM-3 disruptors to the experimental KD-7R. By 2267, the Predator was relegated to reserve and support roles in house fleets.

[Sea Tyger]

D-10 Riskadh Light Cruiser
Entered Service: 2270

SYSTEMS
Communications 7
Computers 7
Engines 9
Sensors 8
Structure 7
Weapons 9

DEPARTMENTS
Command 2
Conn 2
Security 2
Engineering 2
Science 2
Medicine 2

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 3
SHIELDS 9
POWER 9
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Banks (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Photon Torpedoes (Long Range, Damage 5^, High Yield)
Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

TALENTS
Rugged Design
Improved Power Systems

NOTES
wf 6/8/10
Crew: Talented

Built on the heels of the K'tinga refit of the D-7 battle cruiser, the Riskadh-class incorporated many advancements brought about in the late 2260s. The D-10 filled the gap left by the retirement of the D-4 fleet, a hardy escort to the battle cruiser.

Refits after 2281 upgraded disruptors and deflectors, making the Riskadh one of the most powerful ships of its size.

The IKN recently took to deploying small D-10 squadrons for quick-strike raids, successfully engaging the Romulans in this way on several occasions.

[Sea Tyger]

D-2 Stingtongue Destroyer
Entered Service: 2269

SYSTEMS
Communications 8
Computers 8
Engines 8
Sensors 7
Structure 9
Weapons 7

DEPARTMENTS
Command 1
Conn 3
Security 2
Engineering 2
Science 2
Medicine 2

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 3
SHIELDS 11
POWER 8
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Banks (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

TALENTS
Improved Impulse Drive
Improved Reaction Control System

NOTES
wf 7/7.5/8
Crew: Proficient

The D-2 Stingtongue was originally designed to replace the aging D-18 Gull-class destroyer, but has instead taken the Gull's original mission profile: Point defense.

While lacking the long-range firepower of photon torpedoes, the D-2 is quick and aggressive, using superior maneuverability to close with its target and deliver precise and deadly strikes from close range.

The Stingtongue was phased out in the late 2270s, after the deployment of the K-22 Bird of Prey-class heavy scout.

[Sea Tyger]

D-18 Gull Destroyer
Entered Service: 2258

SYSTEMS
Communications 8
Computers 7
Engines 8
Sensors 8
Structure 9
Weapons 7

DEPARTMENTS
Command 1
Conn 3
Security 2
Engineering 2
Science 2
Medicine 2

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 4
SHIELDS 11
POWER 8
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Banks (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Photon Torpedoes (installed during first refit following 2268) (Long Range, Damage 5^, High Yield)
Tractor Beam 2

TALENTS
Cloaking Device (installed during first refit following 2268)
Improved Hull Integrity

NOTES
wf 5/6/7
Crew: Proficient (Talented, after first refit following 2268)

The D-18 Gull-class destroyer was built to add another piece to the D-7 battle cruiser squadron. Essentially a glorified point defense escort, the D-18 provided a more powerful punch in close combat over the K-23 heavy escort, although it lacked the maneuverability of the more nimble Little Killer. Despite its shortcomings, wings of D-18s joined D-7 squadrons.

Nearly phased out in the mid-2260s, elements of the Klingon High Command loyal to the D-18 were able to resurrect the destroyer with a planned refit that would "bring the Gull up to modern Imperial standards," according to a transmission intercepted by Klingon sector intelligence.

Refits following 2268 added KP-5 photon torpedoes, improved the ship's disruptors and weapons systems reliability, and even installed the recently-acquired Class 2 cloaking device. This allowed the High Command to change the D-18's mission profile from point defense to search-and-destroy.

Independent squadrons of D-18s began performing strike missions, as well as coordinated attacks against an enemy's main battle force.

Due to its lingering political support, the Gull is expected to operate into the early 24th Century.

[Sea Tyger]

K-23 Little Killer Heavy Escort
Entered Service: 2254

SYSTEMS
Communications 7
Computers 8
Engines 7
Sensors 8
Structure 9
Weapons 7

DEPARTMENTS
Command 2
Conn 3
Security 2
Engineering 2
Science 2
Medicine 1

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 3
SHIELDS 11
POWER 7
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Banks (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Photon Torpedoes (installed during first refit after 2272) (Long Range, Damage 5^, High Yield)
Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

TALENTS
Improved Reaction Control System

NOTES
wf 3/4/6
Crew: Proficient

The K-23 heavy escort was part of the Klingon fleet's modernization effort in the 2250s that included vessels such as the L-6 frigate, the D-7 battlecruiser and the D-18 destroyer. The first true escort in the Imperial Navy in nearly 50 years, the Little Killer (as it has been dubbed by Starfleet Klingon sector intelligence) initially filled the role of point defense escort, it's primary purpose to distract and harass enemy capital ships to free the battle cruisers up to pick and choose their targets.

After the deployment of the D-18 into the K-23s primary role in 2258, a controversial choice that Starfleet intel believed was more political than strategic, the heavy escort transitioned to a skirmisher role, flying in three-ship wings ahead of the fleet and engaging the enemy in harassing raids before the main body arrived.

Notoriously slow in warp, the K-23 was extremely agile at impulse. Its disruptors were capable, but the Little Killer lacked the long range punch of photon torpedoes, as many Klingon escort ships of that era did.

The K-23 joined the Imperial Navy's second modernization effort when it was refitted, beginning in 2272. Although its comparatively-small warp engines were never addressed, the escort's disruptors were uprated to K-GDM-4s and the ship received KP-5 photon torpedoes to extend its combat range. Designers also replaced the aging K-HEU-3 impulse system with the K-HEU-4, improving upon the K-23's strength.

With the refitted D-18 fulfilling the skirmisher and strike roles of the K-23, the Little Killer's role was changed again, this time to system defense, where its lack of modern warp capability was less of a liability.

The K-23 still serves in the system defense role, and is expected to remain in the active fleet into the 24th Century.

[Sea Tyger]

L-6 Defender Frigate
Entered Service: 2249

SYSTEMS
Communications 7
Computers 9
Engines 7
Sensors 7
Structure 8
Weapons 7

DEPARTMENTS
Command 3
Conn 2
Security 2
Engineering 1
Science 2
Medicine 2

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 3
SHIELDS 10
POWER 7
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Cannons (until first refit following 2264) (Close Range, Damage 7^, Vicious 1)
Disruptor Banks (installed during first refit following 2264) (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

TALENTS
Backup EPS Conduits

NOTES
wf 3/4/6 (after first engines refit after 2264, wf 5/6/7)
Crew: Proficient

The L-6 Defender-class frigate was the sister ship to the D-7 battlecruiser. Built on a similar scale that all Klingon escort vessels seemed to share, the L-6 packed a powerful punch in a skirmish, despite its lack of photon torpedoes. However, it proved to be too slow to be fully effective in one-on-one combat, so the frigates were organized into squadrons of three and four.

By the early 2260s, the Defender was proving to be a serious liability to the fleet, but the lack of newer frigates forced the Klingon High Command to modernize the vessel as best they could.

Refits after 2264 upgraded the warp and impulse engines, and reconfigured disruptors in lieu of adding photon torpedoes. This latter move is believed to be the result of a compromise with traditionalist views of elements of the IKN. The antiquated command system was also neglected in an apparent oversight, although the Defender's performance didn't seem significantly inhibited by the lack of command capability. Overall, the refit was an outstanding success for the Imperial Navy.

The Defender was phased out in the late-2270s, in favor of the more capable L-9 Saber.

[Sea Tyger]

L-9 Saber Fast Frigate
Entered Service: 2271

SYSTEMS
Communications 8
Computers 8
Engines 7
Sensors 8
Structure 8
Weapons 9

DEPARTMENTS
Command 2
Conn 2
Security 2
Engineering 2
Science 2
Medicine 2

SCALE 3
RESISTANCE 3
SHIELDS 10
POWER 7
CREW ASSIST 3

WEAPONRY
Disruptor Banks (Medium Range, Damage 6^, Vicious 1)
Photon Torpedoes (Long Range, Damage 5^, High Yield)
Tractor Beam (Strength 2)

TALENTS
Cloaking Device
Rapid-Fire Torpedo Launchers

NOTES
wf 5/6/7 (after first engines refit following 2296, wf 6/8/10)
Crew: Talented

The L-9 Saber-class fast frigate was the Imperial Navy's first ship purposefully built with the Class 2 cloaking device. Mounting powerful disruptor systems, the Saber was the most advanced ship in the fleet, completely replacing the outdated L-6 by 2279.

The first Sabers figured prominently in the Battle of Dumok'azen, and were also instrumental in combat against the Cardassians in the 2280s and 90s.

Refits that began in 2296 kept the frigate at the forefront of Klingon technological capability, upgrading disruptors and propulsion systems, and the addition of KP-6 torpedoes. The ship is expected to serve well into the 24th Century.