80926
BASIC STATISTICS
Class Name : CHARON
Classification : General Duty
Type : FF (Frigate)
Model Number : I
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Length : 240 m
Beam : 124 m
Draft : 39 m
Displacement : 269,970 mt
Decks : 10
COMPLEMENT
Total : 125
Officers : 8
Crew : 72
Passengers : 35
Marines : 10
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Warp Propulsion System
Drive Type : ILN-330 Mk VIII.
Number : 2
Main Reactor : FRAM-860
Impulse System
Drive Type : MSAN/TRAC
Number : 2 (Saucer mounted.)
Secondary Reactor : FRIF-510 Network
Velocity
Standard Cruise Speed : 7.0
Maximum Cruise Speed : 9.7
Sustainable for 12 hours : 9.9
Maximum Emergency Speed : 9.91
Core Failure Imminent : 9.93
ARMAMENT
Phaser, Type X
Number : 4 banks
Range : 300,000 km
Arcs : saucer module ventral array
saucer module dorsal array
secondary hull ventral array
secondary hull dorsal array
Flux Torpedo, Mk II Seeking/Direct
Number : 2 tubes
Range : 3,500,000 km
Arcs : 1 forward, 1 aft (Secondary Hull)
Deflector System : FD-6c Cocoon Multiphasic Deflector System
OTHER SYSTEMS
Transporters
Standard, 6-person : 3
Emergency, 20-person : 2
Cargo : 2
Shuttle Bays : 1
Standard Embarked Craft
Shuttlepod : 4
Personal Shuttle, Small : 3
Personal Shuttle, Large : 3
Shuttle, D-Warp : 1
Cargo Shuttle : 2
Notes:
One of the largest frigates in Federation service, the CHARON class are
general-duty ships. The rounded triangle or 'plectrum' of the saucer
section with its flat base sits atop a secondary hull. Warp nacelles
are mounted in the tips of a substantial 'wing' -- not fitted on
pylons, but mounted into the secondary hull, with bussard collectors
offered a clear stream from the clean base of the saucer. The wing
allows for enhanced in-atmosphere performance for this landing-capable
ship. Deck structure is such that fore/aft designations of individual
decks of saucer and stardrive are necessary. The low-profile nature of
the craft means only 10 decks are available in all.
For over a century, the jack-of-all-trades MIRANDA-class ships and
their derivatives have been a mainstay in Star Fleet. However, the
venerable design has finally begun to show its age and the WOLFE-class
frigate will be the last ship of the proud line. Attempting to fulfil
their role in the next generation of light starships will be the
CHARON-class frigate. CHARON can be configured as scout, trader,
landing-craft or even as a diplomatic courier. CHARON consists of a
secondary hull with relatively large cargo and shuttle bay facility,
the largest of any currently serving frigate, and a five-deck saucer
module. The center of the saucer section implements the new SEGMENT
modular system.
Compact and neat, the internal volume of the CHARON class is a
substantial increase over MIRANDA frame variants. Advanced materials
and structure design give only a relatively small increase in
displacement. The ship also employs a new warp drive system. The
ILN-330 series nacelles and the accompanying power plant are derived
from the STORM-class cruiser and ILN-500 drives. This allows the
CHARON increased endurance at high n-space warp velocities at the cost
of a reduced maximum speed.
The SEGMENT system comprises of a semi-circular bay of interchangable
single deck modules, fitted via the flat base of the saucer. These
modules effectively change the core of deck 5, allowing various types
of facility to be fitted. Specialised sections include specialized
sensor pallets, luxury suites with conference rooms for diplomatic
missions, cargo storage and shuttlepod bay for extended missions or
logistics, and specialized laboratory spaces. Standard configuration
includes 2x30deg ORACLE IIr sensor pallets, 30deg ORACLE IIr computation
core and support, and 3x30deg standard science laboratory modules.
Access to all modules is from a fixed central 'foyet' with twin turbolift
access. Power taps, ODN links, and environment support are provided in
a ring main around the external circumference.
ORACLE IIr is a compact, reduced spectrum sensor system, based on the
ORACLE array fitted to the larger starships of the Federation.
Flexible, with reconfigurable pallets and excellent signal/noise and
energy efficiency, the normal implementation has greatly reduced volume
and mass requirements when compared with the full ORACLE implementation,
but maintains more than half the system's resolution with available
sensors. Because of size and mass constraints, not all specialized
sensor modules are available at any given time, but the modular nature of
the ORACLE system and the SEGMENT design allows the sensor suite to be
configured for specific missions with relative ease.
The armament of the CHARON-class vessels makes them capable of
self-defense against opposition of larger displacement. Maneuverability
is good, giving a tactical edge in such situations. Its small size does
mean that in a threat situation it is at a power disadvantage, but the
craft retains Star Fleet's performance advantage over key threat vessels.
A comparatively large deflector array and extensive saucer sensor
arrays with ORACLE IIr hardware make the CHARON a useful investigative
science or strategic reconnaissance vessel. The balance of the
abilities of the CHARON class is determined only by the skills of its
crew, and if the ship is further modified to specialise in a certain
field, it excels in performance for a vessel of its size.