Specifications - IKS ro' jach

Summary

The Vor'Cha class was originally the Klingon response to Starfleets Ambassador class design. Intended to be significantly more powerful than the Ambassador, the ship had something of a troubled beginning. The project was approved in 2332, and immediately ran into snags; the Klingons experienced problems with the manufacture of the Warp Coils, a problem Starfleet would later encounter for itself. In addition, despite much effort the Klingons could not match Starfleets development of the burst fire torpedo tube. However, the materials problems were overcome and the first designs indicated that the new ships would comfortably meet the design requirements using larger numbers of single fire torpedo tubes. However, by the time construction of the first vessel was begun in 2341, Starfleet had issued the requirement for the Nebula class Starship. This would clearly be more than a match for the proposed Vor'Cha class, leaving the Klingons with a major new warship design which would be obsolete the moment it left the shipyards.

The Klingons responded by going back to the drawing board and reworking the design. Three of the Mark 10 disruptor cannon were replaced with more powerful models, designated the Mark 12. These were capable of operating in a 'pulse fire' mode, increasing their effectiveness against shield systems. High density armour plating was added around the ships Warp Core, nacelles, and around the weapons platforms. Efforts continued to field a burst fire torpedo system; in 2343 a group of six torpedoes exploded wile being fired from a test vessel, destroying it with the loss of two hundred personnel, including nine of the projects best design specialists. Despite this tragedy the Klingons pressed on, albeit with a less ambitious tube design capable of firing three torpedoes at a time, and were eventually successful.

The re-designed Vor'Cha began construction in 2345 and launched in 2351, three years before the first of the Nebula class. Comparisons between the two are inevitable; the Vor'Cha is generally considered to be about 15% more powerful than the standard Nebula design because of its superior armour and pulse fire disruptors. However, when fitted with an enhanced weapons pod the Nebula is generally reckoned to be more than a match for the Vor'Cha. The advent of the Galaxy class swung the balance further toward Starfleet, and the Vor'Cha class is decidedly behind the latest designs beginning to enter service in the quadrant. The Klingons are reported to be planning to upgrade the Vor'Cha fleet with more powerful disruptors, the latest torpedo tubes, and enhanced shielding systems to keep them on the front lines. It is not known when this process might begin.

General

Class		Vor'cha
Role		Cruiser
Duration		80 Years
Time Between Refits		16 Years
Time Between Resupply		2 Years

Dimensions

Length		481.32 m
Width		341.76 m
Height		106.87 m
Decks		28

Personnel

Officers		65
Enlisted Crew		450
Marines		1000

Speed

Cruise Speed		Warp 7
Maximum Speed		Warp 9
Emergency Speed		Warp 9.6

Weapons & Defensive Systems

Shields		2,079,000 TerraJoules in deflector shield power Heavy Duranium / Tritanium Double hull plus 16 cm High density armor
Weapon Systems		3 x Mark 12 pulse disruptor cannon 12 x Mark 10 disruptor cannon, total output 60,000 TeraWatts 4 x Triple Fire photon torpedo tube
Armament		580 Torpedoes
Other Systems		Cloaking Device

Auxiliary Craft

Shuttlebays		2: 1v, 1a
Shuttles		2 shuttles located in ventral bay 2 work bees located in ventral bay
Runabouts		2 Danube class in aft bay 1 Arrow class in aft bay