Miranda class

Miranda class
Owner:	United Federation of Planets
Operator:	Starfleet

The Miranda-class starship was a type of starship introduced by Starfleet in the late 23rd century and remained in use through the late 24th century.

History

Miranda-class starships were in service as early as the mid-2280s. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Some Miranda-class starships constructed during the first half of the 24th century fell under the authority of the Yoyodyne Division, around stardate 22519.5. Vessels including USS Brattain were constructed at this time at 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards. (TNG: "Night Terrors" dedication plaque)

The mission profile of the Miranda-class varied from performing various scientific roles to conducting patrol duties. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; TNG: "Night Terrors"; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; DS9: "In the Cards")

By the latter half of the 24th century, one variation of this class, USS Lantree, was known by the designation of Class 6 Federation supply ship. (TNG: "Unnatural Selection")

The Miranda-class was present in several major Federation engagements against the Borg, including the Battle of Wolf 359 and the Battle of Sector 001. (DS9: "Emissary"; Star Trek: First Contact)

They were also present in numerous Dominion War battles, where they often served as escorts. Many ships of the class saw action during Operation Return, the First and Second Battles of Chin'toka, and the Battle of Cardassia. Many Miranda-class vessels were stationed near Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels", "Tears of the Prophets", "The Changing Face of Evil", "What You Leave Behind", etc.)

Miranda-class starship were also shown as models on several occasions such as in Deep Space 9's classroom. (DS9: "The Nagus")

Technical data

Physical arrangement

The master systems display schematics

The configuration of the Miranda-class shared a similar design lineage and features with the refit Constitution-class implemented in the early 2270s. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) The design also closely resembled the Soyuz-class starships that were also in service around the same time. (TNG: "Cause and Effect")

The Miranda-class was composed of a single primary hull, consisting of a saucer that was similar to that of the Constitution-class; however, the bridge module, positioned on top in the center, was shaped differently than the Constitution-class module.

Mounted on the underside of the primary hull were two nacelle pylons connected to the warp nacelles. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, etc.)

Although the nacelles were visually identical to the nacelles used on Constitution-class, the tops of the nacelles were mounted to the pylons. On the Constitution-class, the pylons were mounted to the bottom of the nacelles.

Forward docking port

Design features of the primary hull included a docking port located on the forward section of the ship; the aft section included two shuttlebays, separated by the vessel's impulse engines. These shuttlebays were visually numbered; "1" being on the rear-port side, and "2" on the rear-starboard side. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; DS9: "The Way of the Warrior", etc.)

Configurations

There were five different known hull configurations utilized with the Miranda-class during its time in service.

The predominant Miranda-class design included a superstructure (or "roll bar") immediately above the primary hull, as a dorsal extension of the ventral nacelle pylons. This superstructure was equipped with torpedo launchers and phaser banks. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, etc.) Some configurations lacked the "roll bar" superstructure, and in other cases, included two large sensor pods affixed on the port and starboard sides of the primary hull. In other configurations there was a single pod module. (TNG: "Unnatural Selection"; DS9: "Emissary", "Favor the Bold")

By late 2373, Miranda-class ships using the predominant design had undergone upgrades to their warp nacelles and in some cases to impulse engine systems. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels")

The new post-2373 Miranda-class ships came as a result of the transition from studio model to CGI models. The new design featured glowing nacelles in some cases as well as made the semi-circle at the front of the nacelle yellow. In addition, some of the CGI ships included an additional red impulse engine glow where the rear torpedo launcher had normally been located.

Configuration with "roll bar" superstructure

Configuration with a "roll bar" impulse engine and upgraded nacelles

Configuration without "roll bar" superstructure

USS Saratoga aft, Emissary.jpg

Configuration without "roll bar" superstructure with port and starboard sensor pods

Configuration with a pod module

Tactical systems

Standard to all designs were six dual phaser banks located on the primary hull – three mounted to the top and three mounted on the bottom of the saucer. Also standard to all designs were two single phaser emitters mounted just beneath the impulse engines.

In those ships possessing the "roll bar," that superstructure contained two tubular phaser emitters on each side that could fire both forward and to the ship's flanks. There were also two forward and two aft photon torpedo launchers housed in a pod mounted in the center of the superstructure. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek: First Contact)

While the two aft-phasers were never seen used in any film or episode, they are visible on the model. [1] The configuration of the torpedo launcher cowling was somewhat similar in appearance to the cowling used for the torpedo launchers on Constitution-class vessels.

Firing superstructure-mounted phasers

Firing forward torpedo

Aft torpedo

By the 24th century a number of modifications were made to the Miranda-class weapons systems. Some Miranda-class vessels, such as those of the "twin-pod" variant, included a phaser array mounted on the lower part of the ventral dome and photon torpedo launchers in the main part of the ship rather than in a pod on the "roll-bar". (DS9: "Emissary")

In "Emissary", the Captain of the Saratoga gave an order to "load torpedo bays" (which is also mentioned visually in the script), though the ship was never seen firing any torpedoes at all.

The class 6 variant of this class featured class 3 defensive armaments. (TNG: "Unnatural Selection")

A majority of 24th century Miranda-class vessels of the "roll-bar" variant, particularly during the Dominion War, were equipped with phaser arrays and photon torpedoes equivalent to those used on other ships of the era, while keeping the same weapon array placements as the 23rd century Miranda. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels", "What You Leave Behind", VOY: "Endgame", etc.)

Uss saratoga 2367 fore.jpg

Firing ventral dome-mounted phaser bank

Firing primary phaser bank

Forward torpedo

Interior design

Main bridge

The design of Miranda-class bridge during the 23rd century shared a similar layout to contemporary vessels of that era.

Located on Deck 1 of the saucer section, the Main Bridge housed the command center of the Miranda-class. The design lineage of the main bridge was a fairly standard floor plan for a Federation starship. Against the forward bulkhead was placed the ship's viewscreen, with side-by-side navigation and helm consoles. The captain's chair was directly aft of the aforementioned stations. Several variations exist in the layout of the surrounding stations.

At the rear and center of the USS Reliant's bridge was the turbolift entryway. The primary stations, which were located along the rear of the bridge, included the tactical station on the port side of the bridge. Along the rear starboard side of the bridge were the primary science station and communications station. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) The bridge similarly found on board the USS Saratoga (NCC-1887) also had primary stations located along the perimeter of the bridge; however, the Saratoga's bridge included the science station on the port side of the bridge, nearly parallel to the navigation station. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

The bridge of the Reliant was a redress of the USS Enterprise bridge, with different colors and a rearrangement of consoles. Because of this, some of the displays mistakenly had diagrams of a Constitution-class on them. The bridge of the Saratoga was essentially a reuse of the design created for the bridge of the USS Grissom.

Main bridge, USS Reliant

Viewscreen, USS Reliant

Main bridge, USS Saratoga

By the 24th century, further reconfigurations were made to the layout of the bridge, including the separation of the navigation and helm station, which was replaced by the conn station (on the starboard side) and ops station (on the port side).

The bridge of the USS Lantree was relatively simplistic in design, containing little more than a large LCARS interface and star charts on the back of the bridge. (TNG: "Unnatural Selection") The bridge of the USS Saratoga (NCC-31911) had a much more complex layout, including two additional standing consoles located behind the conn and ops, parallel and slightly behind the captain's chair. The standing console on the port side of the ship contained the tactical station. Also located on the port side, in the foremost section of the bridge, was a turbolift. Along the aft of the bridge were several various access stations. (DS9: "Emissary")

Relatively similar to the bridge of the Saratoga, the bridge of the USS Brattain had large support braces surrounding the captain's chair to the sides and rear. In place of the two standing consoles of the Saratoga was a single engineering station, placed directly behind the captain's chair and directly in front of an engineering MSD interface. (TNG: "Night Terrors")

The bridge of the Lantree was a redress of the USS Enterprise-D's battle bridge, which was additionally rotated 180 degrees. As a result, the battle bridge viewscreen appeared at the rear of the bridge. The viewscreen was then covered to make it appear as a panel instead.

Uss lantree bridge.jpg

Main bridge, USS Lantree

USS Saratoga bridge, Emissary.jpg

Main bridge, USS Saratoga

Uss brattain bridge.jpg

Main bridge, USS Brattain

Viewscreen, USS Saratoga

Corridors

USS Reliant corridor USS Saratoga (NCC-31911) corridor

The numerous corridors that connected the various sections of the Miranda-class resembled those of contemporary designs. The corridors on board the USS Reliant resembled those of the refit Constitution-class. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) The outer corridors on board the USS Saratoga (NCC-31911) were heavily fortified with a system of support braces. (DS9: "Emissary")

The brief shot of the Reliant's corridor was simply the use of the existing sets designed for the USS Enterprise.

Main engineering

Main engineering, USS Reliant

Main engineering contained a vertical warp core, with multiple levels surrounding the core. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

The brief shot of the Reliant's main engineering was simply the use of the existing sets designed for the USS Enterprise.

Transporter room

Transporter room, USS Reliant

The staging area of the transporter room on board the Miranda-class possessed six transporter pads. Transporter control could be accessed through a console located on the bridge. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

The brief shot of the Reliant's transporter room was simply the use of the existing sets designed for the USS Enterprise.

Shuttlebay

Miranda-class shuttle bay interior

The Miranda-class features two shuttlebays, located port and starboard of the ship's center. On some Miranda-class ships, such as the USS Saratoga, both of the shuttlebays hold escape pods capable of transporting several personnel. (DS9: "Emissary")

Crew quarters

Crew quarters, USS Saratoga (NCC-31911)

The crew quarters located on the outer rim of the ship contained several large picture windows, littered with numerous large support braces. (DS9: "Emissary")

Ships commissioned

Named

• USS Antares (NCC-9844)
• USS Brattain (NCC-21166)
• USS Lantree (NCC-1837)
• USS Majestic (NCC-31060)
• USS Nautilus (NCC-31910)
• USS Reliant (NCC-1864)
• USS Saratoga (NCC-1887)
• USS Saratoga (NCC-31911)
• USS ShirKahr (NCC-31905)
• USS Sitak
• USS Tian An Men (NCC-21832)
• USS Trial (NCC-1948)

Unnamed

• Unnamed Miranda-class starships

Appendices

Appearances

• Star Trek films:
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
  • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
  • Star Trek Generations
  • Star Trek: First Contact
• TNG:
  • "Unnatural Selection"
  • "Night Terrors"
  • "Unification I"
• DS9:
  • "Emissary"
  • "The Nagus" (model)
  • "Battle Lines" (model)
  • "Dramatis Personae" (model)
  • "Duet" (model)
  • "The Way of the Warrior"
  • "By Inferno's Light"
  • "Call to Arms"
  • "A Time to Stand"
  • "Sons and Daughters"
  • "Behind the Lines"
  • "Favor the Bold"
  • "Sacrifice of Angels"
  • "You Are Cordially Invited"
  • "The Magnificent Ferengi"
  • "The Reckoning"
  • "Tears of the Prophets"
  • "Afterimage"
  • "Treachery, Faith and the Great River"
  • "Strange Bedfellows"
  • "The Changing Face of Evil"
  • "Tacking Into the Wind"
  • "What You Leave Behind"
• VOY: "Endgame"

Background information

Name

The name Miranda-class was not mentioned in dialog on-screen, but was devised by the art department of TNG to refer to this design. The name was used on several pieces of on-screen signage referring to these vessels, and is also used by dedicated references such as the Star Trek Encyclopedia.

According to the Encyclopedia, the class was "named for Prospero's daughter, a character in William Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest."

According to an early final draft of the script for "Unnatural Selection" the USS Lantree was identified as a "class R Starfleet supply ship" rather than a "class 6 Federation supply ship". [2]

Specifications

The specifications for the Miranda were not mentioned in dialog, but are referenced from the show's art department. The initial length for the Miranda-class of 765' (233m) was established during the production of Star Trek II, that was later followed up by Andrew Probert during TNG Season 1. The exact length, based on the universally accepted length of the refit Constitution-class, at least behind-the-scenes, at 1000 feet and assuming that both classes employ standardized ship components like nacelles and saucers-sections, is 234.9 m (770.67ft). The scale of the CGI mesh was scaled approximately twenty-five percent smaller than had been previously established. According to a 20 January 1998 post in the newsgroup alt.tv.star-trek.ds9 by David Stipes, a length of approximately 500' to 560' (167m to 187m) was used when he blocked shots in DS9. [3]

Studio model

See Miranda-class model.

Technical Manual

The following information of specifications and defenses comes exclusively from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual:

• Production Base: ASDB Integration Facility, Starbase 134 Integration Facility, Rigel VI.
• Type: Medium Cruiser.
• Accommodation: 220 officers and crew; 500 personal evacuation limit.
• Power Plant: One 1500 plus Cochrane warp core feeding two nacelles; one impulse system.
• Dimensions: Length, 277.76 meters; beam, 173.98 meters; height: 65.23 meters.
• Mass: 655,000 metric tons.
• Performance: Warp 9.2 for 12 hours.
• Armament: Six type-7 phaser emitters; two pulse phaser cannons; two photon torpedo launchers.

Apocrypha

In the comic book Who Killed Captain Kirk? and in the materials published by FASA for use with their Star Trek: The Role Playing Game and Starship Tactical Combat Simulator this ship is referred to as the Reliant-class. FASA describes it as a refit of the Anton-class, which had a similar design that featured TOS-styled warp nacelles.

Apocryphal appearances

• The Interplay PC Game Starfleet Academy features several Miranda-class vessels including USS Oberon (NCC-1806), USS Rutherford (NCC-1835), USS Alexandria (NCC-1842), USS Tempest (NCC-1852), USS Atlantis (NCC-1865), and USS Demeter (NCC-1868).
• The Interplay PC Game New Worlds features the Miranda-class vessel USS Ranger (NCC-1975).
• The Activision PC Game The Fallen features the Miranda-class vessel USS Ulysses (NCC-10767). Several levels feature Sisko and Worf exploring the wreckage of the Ulysses.
• The Interplay/Taldren games Starfleet Command I, Starfleet Command II and its expansion, Orion Pirates all based the Federation "new light cruiser" hulls on the Miranda-class.
• In Cryptic Studios' MMORPG Star Trek Online, the first ship a Federation character receives is a Miranda class as the player ends up inheriting it after its captain is killed in action.
• In the reference work Ships of the Line, on pages 132-133, there was information about a USS Leonov. This starship was attacked near the planet Epsilon Draconis III by the Dominion. Suffering major damage, especially to the port nacelle, the captain ordered the crew to abandon the ship, and the crew fled the ship in escape pods. These pods landed on Epsilon Draconis III, a Dominion-controlled planet.

External link

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