Pioneer-Class Cruisers

Overview

Orthographic views

Deck plans, part 1 created by Allen Rolfes (see notes)

Deck plans, part 2 created by Allen Rolfes (see notes)

Scenes

3D model created by Fabio Passaro © 3D Gladiators	3D model for SF Command created by Chris Harris
UES Victory, 3D view created by Thomas Pemberton	UES Victory, 3D view created by Thomas Pemberton
UES Victory, 3D view created by Thomas Pemberton	UES Victory destroying a Romulan Clavicle created by Thomas Pemberton
UES Pioneer created by Dávid Metlesits	UES Dauntless created by Dragonpyper

History

The adaptability of the Bison class was instrumental in its selection as the basis for numerous United Earth Stellar Navy (UESN) and Starfleet cruisers and transports for the next 20 years. In the early 2150s, the UESN saw the need for a long-range cruiser to escort convoys of transports, which had recently been victimized by commerce raiders in the Libra colonies.

To transform the Bison transport into a protective cruiser, the primary hull was shortened to 90 m and structurally reinforced to withstand the greater stresses that the more powerful Pachyderm II warp nacelle were expected to produce. Weaponry was installed, including Spider area-defense missiles, Narwhal long-range antiship missiles, and a twin-laser turret. Because of their large size and inefficient fusion-reactor-based warp drive system, Pioneer-class cruisers were unwieldy at both sublight and warp speeds. However, they were quite effective in their role as "flying fortresses" for protecting convoys of equally elephantine cargo ships from lightly armed marauders and pirates.

Unfortunately, Pioneer and other fusion-powered cruisers were ill-suited for the demands of deep space ship-to-ship combat when war with the Romulans came in 2156. Although Pioneers were effective point-defense cruisers for convoys and colonies, they were poorly suited for border-defense or offensive missions far from their support bases. UESN fleets based around Pioneers were frequently outmaneuvered by attacking Romulan forces, with often disastrous results. Therefore, Pioneers were quickly replaced on the front lines when the first matter/antimatter (M/AM) warships entered service in 2157.

     

           

The Pioneer-class heavy cruiser UES Ironsides (CH-36) is on display at the Starfleet Museum.

 

Commissioned Ships

UES Pioneer CH-29 UES Vigilant CH-30 UES Crusader CH-31 UES Victory CH-32 UES Pathfinder CH-33 UES Dauntless CH-34 UES Firebrand CH-35 UES Ironsides CH-36 UES Sentinel CH-37

UES Valiant CH-38 UES Excelsior CH-39 UES Liberator CH-40 UES Sovereign CH-41 UES Gallant CH-42 UES Majestic CH-43 UES Fearless CH-44 UES Protector CH-45 UES Courageous CH-46

 

Specifications

Standard displacement: 402,778 t

	Overall	1° Hull	2° Hull	Nacelles
Length [m]	191.76	90.12	101.64	66.87
Beam [m]	112.22	54.09	70.78	15.51
Draft [m]	75.29	54.09	75.29	15.51

Crew complement: 1100 (165 officers + 935 crew)
Weapons: 8 missile launchers with 90 Narwhal long-range antiship missiles, 24 Spider area-defense missiles, 2 Type VI laser cannons (1 × 2 turret), 2 Type VII heavy laser cannons (fixed mounts)
Embarked craft: 16 cargo/personnel shuttlecraft
Warp drive: 4N-2F tokamak fusion reactor with 1 Pachyderm II warp nacelle and 2 Jaguar I directional nacelles
Velocity: wf 2.3, cruise; wf 2.6, supercruise; wf 2.7, maximum
Units commissioned: 18

 

Last modified: 04.06.15