MIRANDA CLASS NX-1833
Starship Prototype
External Blueprints & Deck Plans

Design Team: David Schmidt, Tim Palgut
Copyright: 2009

DESIGN HISTORY:

Creating a Heavy Frigate
Starfleet is always searching for specialized designs to fit perceived - or anticipated - 'niches' in its FOBB (Fleet Order of Battle) Table. Various concepts have been explored in search of a practical Heavy Frigate - whose definition would include the capability to carry four squadrons of Attack Bees in addition to double the complement of shuttles and other embarked craft when compared to such capital ships as a Constitution-class Heavy Cruiser. In 2273, Strategic Design was tasked to develop such a design. As the Jefferies-Marvick 'First-Flight' or TOS (Technology-Original-Standard) version Knox-class Frigates completed their current 5-year deployments, 65% were assigned to the San Francisco Orbital Yards for Rebuilding into the corresponding Knox-class updated Probert-Scott 'Rebuild-1' or TMP (Technology-Modified-Program) version. The remaining 35% were assigned to the Tokyo Orbital Yards for Conversion into Miranda-class updated Probert-Scott 'Rebuild-1' or TMP Heavy Frigates - the Miranda-class Heavy Frigate being essentially a Knox-class Frigate with the hull extended aft 3.4 meters.

The original Knox-class had its forward photon torpedo launcher located in the Superstructure, on Deck 3. When designing the Miranda-class, the designers added a unique 'rollbar'-mounted Weapons Module, which also holds the Mega-Phaser common to Frigates of the TMP conversion.

The main task of a Frigate is to provide a launch/support platform for shuttles and fightercraft in the role of Fleet Support. Unlike carriers, Frigates are also capable of independent operation in a scientific and military capacity. The Knox-class Frigate has two side-by-side bays, each featuring a large, aft-facing space door. The port bay is dedicated to the Cargo Bay & Workbee Parking/Launch Bay. The starboard bay is the Landing Bay and Parking Bay, and carries a squadron of Killer Bee attack craft, as well as shuttles for the embarked Marine Attack Force and scientific research landing parties.

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