New Orleans class

New Orleans-class
Class Information
Role:	Light Cruiser
Status:	Mothballed
Date Entered Service:	2358
Basic Stats
Decks:	18
Cruising Speed:	Warp 6
Total Compliment:	210
Tactical Systems
Energy Weapons:	6x Type-X Phaser Arrays
Torpedo Launchers:	5 Launchers
Shields:	Regenerative Shielding System
Template:Shipclass

Class Description

The New Orleans Class was introduced as a counterpart to the large Nebula and Galaxy Class starships. The intention was to produce a frigate which incorporated the technology advances being deployed on these two starships. The New Orleans would also have nearly equal speed to facilitate fleet operations.

Unfortunately, the project did not go smoothly. The New Orleans class suffered from a series of delays throughout its design and construction process. Warp coil manufacture, computer systems and hull plating hampered the New Orleans. While additional problems were experienced with the power transfer system and the Structural Integrity Field. Initially ordered in 2347, by mid 2362 the prototype was still not considered space worthy and the entire project was threatened with cancellation. Nevertheless, Starfleet placed a great deal of importance on the New Orleans Class and managed to overcome the opposition. The USS New Orleans made her maiden flight in 2363 and was formally commissioned in 2364. After a cautious series of tests Starfleet proceeded with series production at a moderate pace.

Design Concepts

A New Orleans class vessel

One unique feature of the New Orleans class is the torpedo arrangement. The ship carries a relatively heavy armament of five torpedo tubes of the most modern type available. When this requirement was issued the design team expressed concerns that the tubes would take up far too much internal volume, necessitating a near 20% reduction in the science capacity of the ship. A reduction to one tube was requested, but Starfleet command rejected the idea. After much consideration, the design team finally decided to mount two of the torpedo tubes in 'bolt-on' modules; each module would contain the tube, loading and firing mechanism, supporting power and computer systems, and a magazine of thirty photon torpedoes. The antimatter warhead material is tapped off from the fuel supply as normal and transferred to the pod immediately prior to firing. Computer simulations indicated that the skeleton structure of the engineering was not sufficient to support a third torpedo pod, so the lower engineering hull was re-designed to include a prominent projection on the underside which provided the extra volume required to house the torpedo tube and loading system - the magazine being housed within the engineering hull proper. The forth tube is internal, mounted forward, in the 'neck' of the ship between the saucer section and engineering section, as in many classes of starships and the fifth is located aft.

This ingenious concept not only allowed five torpedo tubes to be housed within the design, but also permitted a nearly 25% increase in the volume available for other applications within the hull. This has allowed most of the major systems to be upgraded; the shield grid of the New Orleans Class is one of the most powerful ever installed in a ship of this size. Her maneuverability is also quite impressive, although some vessels have experienced problems with hull stress around the connect points for the three external torpedo pods. The sensor and computer systems of the New Orleans represent a significant increase in capacity over previous designs.

Production

When the Borg launched their invasion of the Federation in 2365 five ships of the New Orleans class were in service; three of these managed to reach Wolf 359 in time to join the fleet which engaged the Borg in that system. The ships were lost with all hands; again calls were made for these ships to be scrapped, but it was argued that Wolf 359 was hardly a reasonable test and many far more powerful ships were also lost in this battle. Starfleet actually stepped up production of the class in order to make up the shortfall in Starfleet numbers.

With the advent of the Dominion threat Starfleet petitioned for and was granted a massive increase in their force levels. Production of the New Orleans class went into high gear. An order for twenty two units had been placed after Wolf 359 and these ships were emerging from the production lines in 2370 when the USS Odyssey was destroyed by the Dominion. A further one hundred ships were ordered shortly after this incident; improved manufacturing processes had reduced the build time for a New Orleans from five to three years and the first of this order arrived shortly after the start of the Dominion war. The New Orleans performed fairly well during the conflict, however the production order was eventually reduced to fifty vessels as more modern designs began to emerge. Most of these vessels have now been built and production of the class is due to cease soon.

Ship Specifications

Specifications
Basic Information	Role: Light Cruiser Dimensions: 345 meters (L) x 264 meters (W) x 75 meters (H) Decks: 18 Expected Duration: 50 years Time Between Resupply: 2 years Expected Refit Cycle: 5 years
Crew Compliment	Total Crew: 210 65 Officers 255 Enlisted 15 Marines Number of Civilians: 5 Emergency Capacity: 430
Propulsion	Thrusters: RCS Thrusters Sublight Speed: 0.5c Warp Speed Cruising Speed: Warp 6 Maximum Warp: Warp 7 Emergency Warp: Warp 9.4 (for 12 hours)
Offensive Systems	ENERGY WEAPONS 6x Type-X Phaser Arrays TORPEDO LAUNCHERS 3 Forward 2 Aft PAYLOAD 280 Photon Torpedoes 200 Quantum Torpedoes 20 Tricobalt Torpedoes
Defensive Systems	Shields: Regenerative Shielding System
Primary Systems	Computer Systems: LCARS Computer Control Systems Transporters: 4 Personnel Transporters 2 Cargo Transporters Transporter Range: 45,000 meters Sensor Range: 20 lightyears Communications Range: 25 lightyears
Auxiliary Craft	SHUTTLEBAYS: 1 SUPPORT CRAFT: Shuttles: 6 Workbees: 2 Runabouts: 1
Other Notes	CREW AMENITIES: Holodeck Arboretum Mess Hall Crew Lounge STARSHIP FEATURES: Duranium/Tritanium Double Hull 20cm Ablative Armor

Deck Listing

Port Dorsal Pod

Deck	Details/Specifications of Deck
Dorsal Pods Deck A	Torpedo storage Aft tactical sensors
Dorsal Pods Deck B	Forward torpedo launcher 1 Pod control and maintenance

Starboard Dorsal Pod

Deck	Details/Specifications of Deck
Starboard Dorsal Deck A	Torpedo storage Aft tactical sensors
Dorsal Pods Deck B	Forward torpedo launcher 2 Pod control and maintenance

Main Hull

Deck	Details/Specifications of Deck
Deck 1	Bridge, Captains ready room Main briefing lounge
Deck 2	Shuttle bay Shuttle bay control VIP Quarters
Deck 3	Shuttle storage and maintenance Main computer core upper level Saucer section dorsal phaser array Transporter rooms 1 and 2 Holo deck high bays 1 and 2 Senior officers’ quarters
Deck 4	Main computer core mid-level 1 Transporter machinery rooms 1 and 2 Holo decks 1 and 2 Officers’ quarters Officers mess
Deck 5	Main computer core mid-level 2 Impulse engines 1 and 2 Warp core ejection hatch Saucer section lateral sensor arrays Senior enlisted quarter Sick bay Chief Medical officers’ office Medical labs
Deck 6	Main computer core lower level Deuterium injectors Enlisted quarters Enlisted mess Crew lounge
Deck 7	Saucer section ventral phaser array Enlisted quarters Guest quarters
Deck 8	Transporter rooms 3 and 4 Impulse engine 3 Chief Science officers’ office Science labs
Deck 9	Torpedo storage Transporter machinery rooms 3 and 4 Chief Security/Tactical officers’ office Brig Ships armory
Deck 10	Forward torpedo tube 3 Deuterium storage tanks upper level Docking port (port and starboard)
Deck 11	Main engineering Chief engineer’s office Deuterium storage tanks lower level Arboretum high-bay
Deck 12	Engineering support labs Arboretum mid-level Arboretum observation gallery Aft torpedo tube 1 Torpedo storage Secondary computer core upper level Main deflector dish bay upper level
Deck 13	Arboretum main level Engineering section lateral arrays Secondary computer core mid-level Main deflector dish bay mid-level 1 Cargo bays 1 and 2 upper level
Deck 14	Secondary computer core lower level Main deflector dish bay mid-level 2 Cargo bays 1 and 2 main level Cargo bay 3 Cargo transporters 1 and 2 Replicator consumables storage
Deck 15	Main deflector dish lower level Antimatter storage pods upper level Antimatter generator, cargo bay 4 Industrial replicators Cargo transporter machinery rooms 1 and 2
Deck 16	Forward and Aft Ventral Phaser arrays Antimatter storage pods upper level Antimatter pods ejection hatch Antimatter injectors

Ventral Pod

Deck	Details/Specifications of Deck
Starboard Dorsal Deck A	Torpedo storage Forward tactical sensor arrays
Dorsal Pods Deck B	Aft torpedo launcher 2 Pod control and maintenance