Seconday use of Oberth-class

[redwood973]

Not sure if this is the right area to post this, but: I have been thinking about the Oberth-class (movie era to first couple years TNG). Now, a larger class ship discovers and does a quick study of the unknow. A month or two latter an Oberth shows up to do a more detailed study. What I was thinking is. . .during a crisis (oh, lets say a war) the Oberth-class would have nothing to do; why waste manpower on a non-battle worthy ship. So, durring a crises the Oberths are called into the nearest Starbase where they are outfitted to serve as hospital ships. This would be a day or two project, and would not be considered a major ordeal; since this was an intended secondary use of the vessels. It would entail a conversion of some cargo and non-esential lab area into wards; added medical labs, treatment and rehab facilities. Please let me know what you think, should I proceed with this idea; or let it die a noble death?

[Paul]

As you've written it - let it die. I'd be more inclined to outfit a Miranda-class, or maybe even an Excelsior-class as a hospital ship - they are larger, and have copious cargo areas which are better suited to large medical wards, something the Oberth-class lacks, IMO.

Yes, in a crisis the Oberth becomes somewhat a hindrance - you could turn a few of them into floating bombs, if you wish. An opponent would likely know that the Oberth is rather weak in the whole offense-defence thing, and might just ignore it - to his own chagrin.

More importantly, Starfleet would likely as not put the resources into reftiiting Oberth-class ships, when the larger Galaxy, Nebula, Ambassador ships also have extensive medical facilities already, and are more likely to be near the front line when hell breaks loose, as opposed to waiting for the slower Oberth-class medical ship to arrive. In the event of a fire-fight, two days to refit a vessel is a day-and-a-half too long...

Imagine how much damage an Oberth-class could do when fully loaded with Anti-Matter bombs...

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[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 05-14-2001).]

[Phoenix]

IMO two words..."target practice"

Their a hundred years old, way behind the tech curve, if all else fails...sell them to a friendly yet neutral government for resourses needed towards combat ready ships.

but opinions vary...

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"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
-Napoleon

[Dan Gurden]

Not to mention the possibilities of using the Oberths for scouting and Intelligence gathering duties on a front line.

Perhaps they could serve in an almost AWACS capacity, helping to patrol low-intesity borders and ensure the 'Fluid Fronts' stability. After all as the DWS says the automated beacons are only as good as their programming, add 40 trained personel, even aboard a weak ship, and things change.

I agree that the Oberth could also function as a hospital ship, and an evac ship in emergencys, maybe even a Communications ship, or larger courier vessel...

During the Wolf 359 scenario, the Bonestall stayed well back and used its sensors to provide stable target locks and ensure continuous communications... It wasn't clear how effective that was for us, but it seemed a natural role for the vessel.

I also agree with the idea that the Oberths could be sold/traded with freindly governments, its clear that the Federation supplies them to Civilian science organisations (the SS Vico in 'Hero Worship'), so letting the Bajorans have say a Dozen isn't a great stretch.

There is another duty that they can fill, especially in the scenario above. During a war, when the main ships are on the frontline, there is an important moral war to be held, with ships still conducting 'flag flying' missions within Federation space, this also helps to support the integrity of the Fluid front...

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[Captain Blake]

Two words: Ablative Oberths.
Automate them and use them to get between the incoming fire and the valuable ships, like the Defiant. Hey, it beats using the Miranda's for it like DS9 did.

Two more: Oberth Mine and or Torpedo. Again, automate them, load the crap out of them with antimatter, and either leave them around with a proximity detector to go boom or fire them at the bad guys.

It'd be sort of the reverse of the "Romulan Escape Pods" trick. Vorta: "It's just an Oberth, ignore it." BOOM

If you're bloody minded, trying the Jem-Hadar trick of the Warp Speed Ram with an automated Oberth loaded with antimatter charges, could be an efficient way to make use of the little buggers.

A slightly less lethal trick would be to use them as scout/recon ships. They should have good sensors already, so leave them around as listening/early warning posts. Mix a few Antimatter Mine version around just to keep people on their toes.

And there is always selling them to the Pakleds. Anything is an improvement to them, and since the tech is old enough for civilian sale, it's not like it's going to turn the Pakled's into the next galactic powerhouse.

Hope any of this is what you're looking for.
Alex

[ComaBoy]

Two thoughts:

1) Yep, they're old tech but they're loaded with sensors; upgrade and use them as intelligence gatherers.

2) Load them up with diplomats and send them to the Goren system; this helps free up your Sovereign-class ships

[This message has been edited by ComaBoy (edited 05-15-2001).]

[redwood973]

My primary RPG interest is the movie era, so I don't have Galaxy-class (and beyond) class ships. Depending on the session, I may have an Ambassador-class; but this class type would be rare. I would have a hard time justifing the use of an Excelsior- or Miranda-class (even a Constellation-class) for a hospital ship; as in my RPG era they would be the capital ships. With this in mind. . .Oberth-class as hospital ship? Or do you think it would be better to take an old Constitution-class ship for this purpose (I would hate to due to I think even an old Constitution would be a help in battle as compared to an Oberth).

[SIR SIG]

They're not that slow, stats (DS9 tm, Lug material etc. peg them at 9.2 max cruise and 9.6 flat out. (TNG times anyway)

That still damn fast compare to some vessels (I think the Miranda is the same) and they could fill high speed courier/recon roles quite well.

With updated sensor packages they can still serve a purpose, plug in a torp launcher and away she goes

Plus in my game the Bonestell was uprated/refitted for the Borg TaskForce into a dreadnaught that could pack quite a punch (comparable damage to big capital ships) {one day I'll make SD stats for this baby and see what happens}



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SIRSIG
AKA: SirPostalot
AKA: The MapMaker
AKA: The Trek Cartographer
AKA:...Well I could keep going forever

[Evan van Eyk]

It seems that Starfleet see things not that bad for the Oberth-Class. There was one in Battle of Wolf 359 fighting the Borg, so why not let it fight in a war. It is equipped with weapons like any other ship. If you want to use it I would simply uprate it. Give it Type VII Phasers if you want and add a Torp-Launcher ( I give it always to the Oberth Class with 20 Torps, beacause it could not fire Probes without a Torp Launcher )

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"I am a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread." - Cpt. Kirk, Star Trek VI


www.farrealms.de

[Owen E Oulton]

"(I give it always to the Oberth Class with 20 Torps, beacause it could not fire Probes without a Torp Launcher)"

Er, not really. True, the actual launch rail components are the same, but a true torp launcher is more than just the rail itself. A probe launcher wouldn't have the facilities for loading the torps with antimatter, nor would it have the security features for arming the torps, nor safety features for handling armed weapons, the dedicated targeting sensors needed, et cetera... As I've pointed out before, sure you could fire a torp from a probe launcher, but you're going to have to manually load the antimatter and arm the suckers, and you're going to have heavily degraded accuracy. You can launch torps from a probe launcher, but that doesn't make it a torp launcher.

[mactavish]

Hey now. I for one am a big fan of the Oberth-class starship. While I admit that my primary reason for fondness is the fact that it looks differnet from traditional Starfleet vessels, I also like it because it's not a massive capitol ship like a Galaxy- or Sovereign-class ship, nor is it capable of opening up a can of whupass, as are the Defiant- and Akira-class ships.

I think that, due to the necessary expenditure changes during and after the Dominion War, Starfleet would be rather hesitant to send its best equipped, most up-to-date cutting edge ships out to the far reaches, leaving that instead to the less combat capable ships like the Oberth and maybe even the Nova-class vessels (yeah, I know the Nova is new and so forth, but it's meant as an explorer rather than a warship).

I can't rightly explain my devotion to the tiny Oberth-class starship. I just admire it for its longevity and tenacity, I suppose. The very idea of packing it full of antimatter or trilithium and using it as a floating bomb is apalling to me, if only because it's a huge waste of resources (not to mention a wee bit overkill!).

mactavish out.

[This message has been edited by mactavish (edited 05-16-2001).]

[Captain Blake]

In a movie era, the Oberths are still pretty new, and would make very good recon ships. I would think it would be easier to make a civilian or military transport into a hospital ship, just for the sheer size involved. The Oberth might make a good high speed ambulance/triage center, which could ferry the injured to the bigger, slightly slower hospital transport ship. While it may have big labs, the Oberth is a little small inside to make a really good hospital ship, IMO.

Alex

[Dan Gurden]

I have to agree with Mactavish on declaring a fondness for the Oberth.

Its one of the reasons that one of the NPC vessels in my Venture PBEM is an Oberth. One day I hope to perhaps start up a second campaign aboard the USS Hawkins, maybe when some of the 'below decks' characters earn a promotion but cant get past the other players in command positions...

Besides while she makes a great science ship, the limited resources can make for some very interesting episode resolution...

A campaign on an Oberth should be a little more cerebral than many others as the 'Shoot First, ask later' options are heavily reduced... Even in an upgraded vessel...

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"

[IceGiant]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by SIR SIG:
They're not that slow, stats (DS9 tm, Lug material etc. peg them at 9.2 max cruise and 9.6 flat out. (TNG times anyway)

That still damn fast compare to some vessels (I think the Miranda is the same) and they could fill high speed courier/recon roles quite well.

With updated sensor packages they can still serve a purpose, plug in a torp launcher and away she goes

Plus in my game the Bonestell was uprated/refitted for the Borg TaskForce into a dreadnaught that could pack quite a punch (comparable damage to big capital ships) {one day I'll make SD stats for this baby and see what happens}



</font>

Any Chance you'd be willing to post the LUG stats for this version?

chris

[Old Soldier]

You could always use a dedicated EW ship... strip the ship down to the bare essentials (keep the phasers for point defence) and then load it to the gills with EW jamming, ECM/ECCM and deception equipment. Automate everything else and crew the thing with just com-techs and a Lt Cmdr who has enough sence to keep his head down when the shooting starts.

Three or four of these in the middle of your formation (somewhere well defended) could play havoc with your opponent's CNC.

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"Any society which is willing to surrender essential liberties in order to gain security, shall in the end have neither."