DOCKYARD

REVIEW
THE JOURNAL OF THE ADVANCED STARSHIP DESIGN BUREAU

COMMAND CRUISERS

VOLUME FOUR
ISSUE TEN
APRIL 2380

The Whitehall Class

Command Cruiser

The Ticonderoga Class

Command Cruiser

DOCKYARD REVIEW
APRIL 2380

HARD COPY PRINTOUT

GROUP HEADQUARTERS
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Terra Sol System
CHAIRMAN ADVANCED STARSHIP DESIGN BUREAU
Admiral Gordon Murray
COORDINATOR
Captain Belldandy Morisato
TECHNICAL STAFF
Admiral Alex Rosenzweig
Vice Admiral J. Scott Spadaro
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Scifi-Art (http://www.scifi-art.com)
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Published 2380

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CONTENTS
AUTHOR

TITLE

PRINTOUT

Comment

1004

VAD William Ross

The Whitehall Class Command Cruiser

1005

MCPT Robert Alpizar

The Ticonderoga Class Command Cruiser

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ENTER THE FORUM!

We
welccome
brief
comments
on
material
published
in
Dockyard
Review as well as brief
discussions of interest for
possible publication in the
Comments section. We are
also looking for articles for
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Review are subject to editing
for content and lenth before
publication.

The U.S.S. Whitehall (CO 75100) undergoing trials. Based on the Sovereign Class Heavy Cruiser,
this is the first new Command Cruiser class in Star Fleet service in close to a century.
(Image by Desktop Starships - http://www.desktopstarships.com)

COVER
A
battle
scene
from
Operation Return, where
the presence of three ships
equipped with Command and
Control facilities greatly
affected the battle. Taken
from the USS Aquila.

The opinions or assertions in the articles here are the personal ones of the authors
and should not be construed as official. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Advanced Starship Design Bureau or the publishers of Dockyard Review.
This publication incorporates data and scanned images taken from various other works
relating to the Star Trek series, movies, and books. This publication is intended
for recreational and reference purposes and is published on a not-for-profit and freedistribution basis. The inclusion of this data and imagery is not intended to be a violation of
the copyrights and trademarks held by the original authors and publishers.
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COMMENT

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The Whitehall Class Command

Cruiser
A New Command Cruiser for the Dawn of a New Century
By:

Vice Admiral William Ross

Commander in Chief, TacFleet, Cardassian Theatre of Operations

The last command cruiser introduced by Starfleet Command was the Joshua class in the early 2290s. Command
Cruisers have always been a rarity within the Starfleet structure as Starfleet rarely operates beyond the Task Force level,
and when they did, they usually had a dreadnought or other large capital ship present to provide overall command and
control.
By the early 2320s and the arrival of the Ambassador class, Starfleet has retired all of their dreadnoughts and the
four Balson class command cruisers. The thirteen vessels of the Joshua class continued on, as they were based on the
highly successful Excelsior series, though they too were slowly pulled out of service after the Tolmed Incident. In 2355, the
remaining three active Joshuas were updated with the new LF-41 drive system from the Nebula/Galaxy class projects.
However, by the Cardassian Armistice in the mid-2360s all but U.S.S. Joshua were retired from service.
When war broke out with the Dominion, the Joshua was deployed as the command ship for the 3rd Fleet. However,
the remaining two Joshua class starships were in no condition to be returned to combat duty, though they were immediately
returned to the yards for outfitting and updating.
With only one true Command Ship in service, Starfleet Operations immediately began to search for alternatives.
As they had in the Fleet of the late 22nd Century, the dreadnoughts with their Combat Information Centers and AEGIS Fleet
Fire-Control systems were deployed as Fleet Flagships. Also, the two Griffon class starships and the Galaxy (II) class U.S.S.
Bright Star, all of which were equipped with the same systems, were pressed into Fleet Command duties.
Of all the ships, only the Bright Star was equipped with a dedicated Flag Plot. Essentially a highly specialized
holodeck, Flag Plot allows an Admiral and his Tactical Team to immerse themselves in a battle. The entire Fleet can
be arrayed around them and they can reach out and touch a ship to query it or open a communications link. It was a
quantum leap in Fleet Command and Chief of Fleet Operations Admiral Chris Wallace used it during Operation Return to
successfully defeat a numerically larger Dominion force.
Due to Flag Plot requiring an M-16 computer system to operate, the Griffon, Entente, and Olympus classes were
not able to carry it, since they used the M-15 series. Of the Galaxy (II) class ships, only Bright Star had been chosen to carry
the AEGIS/Flag Plot system. However, the Sovereign class did mount the M-16 computer, plus the advanced tactical suite
used on the Bright Star. Though the cost would be enormous, it was decided to modify three Sovereign class vessels in the
yard with AEGIS, a Combat Information Center, and the Flag Plot.
Adding all the new systems to the first vessel, the U.S.S. Whitehall, was much harder than originally expected, and
the cost was obscene. There were calls to cancel the other two and fit-them-out conventionally, but after the success of
Bright Star during both Operation Return and the first Battle of ChinToka, the naysayers were silenced and work continued
at top pace.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Whitehall class is indistinguishable from her Sovereign class donors. Most of the systems are internal in nature,
and the additional sensor systems needed for AEGIS have been slotted into the standard sensor-grid.
TACTICAL SYSTEMS
The standard tactical suite on the Sovereign class is equal to the best on any Federation starship. Therefore, no
changes were made to weapons or shields. However, extensive changes were made to the ships C3I (Command, Control,
Communications, and Intelligence) suite. A Combat Information Center has been fitted, along with the Aegis Fleet Fire1005

Control system. This allows the command ships of at the Task Force level via a Link 35 Communications Core. CETIS MK
III with Type 225 TACAR II (Target Acquisition Center Accelerated Response) remain standard equipment, though the 42/
ADA Countermeasures Support System has been added. The Flag Plot holoprojection system was added as well. All this
additional equipment required extensive re-work of Deck 6, as all the systems need to tie directly into the computer core
itself. When in combat, the Commanding Officer and Tactical Officer reside in C.I.C. while the Executive Officer controls
the ship from the main bridge. The Admiral and his battle staff can run the battle from C.I.C. (which incorporates a massive
three-dimensional high-resolution display), Flag Plot or both.
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
U.S.S. Whitehall (CO 75100) entered service three months after ChinToka, and was put in the system to command
the defense. U.S.S. Empyrean (CO 75146) entered service four months after that, and was detailed to the 10th Fleet
preventing a Dominion breakout from Betazed. U.S.S. Versailles (CO 75237), the least farthest along at time of conversion,
did not enter service until March of 2376, almost as the war ended.
CONCLUSION
Though the three ships all saw service, and all did extremely well, the sheer cost and complexity ended any hopes
of having a ship lead each Fleet and it was decided not to perform any additional conversions or new builds. Instead, the
far less expensive Ticonderoga class was developed and has been approved for construction. Though not as powerful as
the Whitehall, they will still carry most of the systems (minus Flag Plot and a less-powerful AEGIS suite) and come in at a
vastly lower price than the Whitehalls.

Admiral Ross serves as the Commander in Chief of TacFleet forces in the Cardassian Theatre of Operations.
1006

Whitehall Class Command Cruiser

Displacement
Overall Length
Overall Draft
Overall Beam
Propulsion:

Velocity:
Duration:
Complement:

Embarked Craft:

Navigation:
Computers:

Phasers:
Missiles:
Defense:
Life Support:

3,305,000 mt
685 m
88 m
250 m
Two LF-44 Mod 1 energized-energized antimatter warp drive units
(System Contractor: Cochrane Warp Dynamics, Minos al Rijil, Alpha Centauri VII)
Two FIG-5 subatomic unified energy impulse units
(System Contractor: Kloratis Drives, Tellar)
QASR-2 particle beam maneuvering thrusters
(System Contractor: Scarbak Propulsion Systems, Earth)
Trentis IV pulsed laser reaction control system
(System Contractor: Orage Ijek, Aksajak, Andor)
Warp 6
Standard Cruising Speed
Warp 9.7
Maximum Cruising Speed
Warp 9.9+
Maximum Attainable Velocity
5 years, standard
130
Officers
725
Enlisted Crew
0
Passengers (Normal Up to 12000 maximum)
855
Total Crew (Standard)
0
Danube Class Runabout
3
Type 6 Personnel Shuttle
3
Type 7 Personnel Shuttle
3
Type 9A Cargo Shuttle
6
Type 16 Shuttlepod
RAV / ISHAK Mod 3 Warp Celestial Guidance
(System Contractor: Tlixis Ramab RRB, Coridan III)
M-16 Bio-Neural Gel Pack-Isolinear III with LCARS interface software
(System Contractor: Daystrom Computer Systems, Luna)
AEGIS Mk 7 Mod 1 Fleet Fire Control System
(System Contractor: RCA, New York, Earth)
9 Type XII Collimated Phaser Array
(System Contractor: HiBeam Energies, Earth)
3 Mk 95 Photon Torpedo Launchers
(System Contractor: Loraxial, Andor)
FSS Primary Force Field
(System Contractor: Sylvanesti Shields, Alkara XV)
MM6 Modular Gravity Unit
(System Contractor: Morris Magnatronics, Palyria, Mars)
AL4 Life Support System
(System Contractor: AAlakon Landiss, Divallax, Andor)

Image and Mesh by Scifi-Art 2000

1007

The Ticonderoga Class

Command Cruiser
A More Cost-Effective Command Cruiser
By:

Captain Robert Alpizar, SFMC

Star Fleet Tactical
College of Command Studies, Star Fleet Academy

By the late 2360s, Starfleets deployment strategies had moved away from the wolfpack of the early part of the
century, to the lone wolf style of exploration and patrol reminiscent of 100 years earlier when the Constitution-class reigned
supreme over the spaceways. With the fleet made up of large, multi-role ships, this proved to be the most logical method of
resource management.
However, with the outbreak of the Dominion War, Starfleet found itself severely unprepared for the multi-ship hunting
packs the Jemhadar employed. Sector commanders often had to pull ships from their patrol routes to repel an attack on
neighboring patrols.
When combat shifted from the small one-on-one engagements its ships were designed for to larger fleet-to-fleet
battles, Starfleet found itself vastly outclassed. Large amounts of ships in separate engagements are extremely difficult

Image and Mesh by Sarod and F. Passaro 2000

1008

to coordinate and control. At the start of the war, only the Command Ship USS Joshua remained in active service. To
supplement her, the few remaining ships of this class and even a small number of long mothballed Balson class ships were
reactivated. In addition, the dreadnoughts with their specially-built Task Force command and control suites were pressed
into service to control entire Fleets of starships.
Seeing that these ships were woefully inadequate for their intended purpose, Starfleet sought funding to replace
these ships. Acting uncharacteristically swift, the ASDB and Star Fleet Tactical came up with a set of specifications based on
the tactical suite fitted aboard the Galaxy (II) class CKE USS Bright Star, which had proven herself an exceptional command
ship. The only vessel available and capable of taking the new system was the Sovereign class, and yard changes were
immediately implemented on three building hulls.
The fitting of the AEGIS Mk 7 mod 1 Fleet Fire Control System, a CIC, a Link 35 Communications Core, Flag Plot
Holodeck, 42/ADA Countermeasures Support System, and the CETIS Mk III with Type 225 TACAR Fire Control System took
longer than expected. The three ships of the new Whitehall class (named for a command-center building on Terra) entered
service very late in the war. The only true test of these ships came in the final battle for Cardassia. Their state of the art
systems allowed the Federation fleet, in conjunction with Klingon, Romulan and, later, Cardassian fleets to push back the
combined Breen and Jemhadar ships.
Any chance of producing additional Whitehall class vessels was scrapped due to the extreme cost of conversion.
However, a design study group composed of members from Starfleet Tactical and the ASDB, meeting on their own time,
developed a cheaper version based on the Intrepid class cruiser. This design was submitted to the ASDB Chairman, who
approved its inclusion in the USS Jaguar, lead ship of a proposed class of diplomatic cruisers, also based on the Intrepid
class. During the Slobodan Insurgency in January of 2380, the new command system proved highly capable and, based
on a favorable report by the Jaguars CO, who also happened to be the outgoing Chairman of the ASDB, the Military Staff
Committee petitioned for additional vessels.
The MSC, however, was unsure, as the ship was close to 65% over the cost of the base Intrepid class. They did,
however, authorize funds for further development of the concept, which became known as the Ticonderoga class, in honor
of the ancient Terran naval vessel carried the original AEGIS system. The SFT/ASDB team went back and tweaked the
design, removing the Flag Plot and some of the redundant AEGIS sensor suites. They also rolled back the tactical systems
from the Jaguars improved standard to the quite capable base Intrepid standards. This lowered the price to a little over 40%
and the MSC approved a limited production run of six vessels.

Captain Alpizar is assigned to the College of Command Studies at Starfleet Tactical and served on the design board
for the Ticonderoga.
1009

Ticonderoga Class Command Cruiser

Displacement
Overall Length
Overall Draft
Overall Beam
Propulsion:

Velocity:
Duration:
Complement:

Embarked Craft:

Navigation:
Computers:

Phasers:
Missiles:
Defense:
Life Support:

820,000 mt
343 m
66 m
133 m
Two LF-45 Mod 1 energized-energized antimatter warp drive units
(System Contractor: Leeding Energies, Sydney, Earth)
One FIG-4 subatomic unified energy impulse unit
(System Contractor: Kloratis Drives, Tellar)
QASR-2 particle beam maneuvering thrusters
(System Contractor: Scarbak Propulsion Systems, Earth)
Trentis IV pulsed laser reaction control system
(System Contractor: Orage Ijek, Aksajak, Andor)
Warp 9.0
Standard Cruising Speed
Warp 9.975
Maximum Cruising Speed
Warp 9.98
Maximum Attainable Velocity
5 years, standard
41
Officers
100
Enlisted Crew
0
Passengers (Normal Up to 50 Maximum)
141
Total Crew (Standard)
1
Aerowing Type Runabout
2
Type 6 Personnel Shuttle
0
Type 7 Personnel Shuttle
0
Type 9A Cargo Shuttle
4
Type 16 Shuttlepod
RAV / ISHAK Mod 3 Warp Celestial Guidance
(System Contractor: Tlixis Ramab RRB, Coridan III)
M-16 Bio-Neural Gel Pack-Isolinear III with LCARS 2.5interface software
(System Contractor: Daystrom Computer Systems, Luna)
AEGIS Mk 7 Mod 1 Fleet Fire Control System
(System Contractor: RCA, New York, Earth)
5 Type X Collimated Phaser Array
(System Contractor: HiBeam Energies, Earth)
2 Mk 95 Quantum Torpedo Launchers
(System Contractor: Loraxial, Andor)
FSQ Primary Force Field
(System Contractor: Charlottes Shields, Earth)
MM6 Modular Gravity Unit
(System Contractor: Morris Magnatronics, Palyria, Mars)
AL4 Life Support System
(System Contractor: AAlakon Landiss, Divallax, Andor)

Image and Mesh by Sarod 2000

1010