The Intrepid's combat role was also somewhat limited by her size unable to carry large numbers of torpedoes or high power phaser banks, Starfleet settled on a scouting and support mission for the ship. The ship has only 257 rooms her diplomatic capabilities are therefore limited to relatively small events generally involving Federation negotiations with a single party. A top cruise speed some three times that of the Galaxy would further enhance the vessel's exploration capabilities.ĭiplomatic functions would be more problematic - hosting such functions requires supporting large numbers of extra personnel, and the Intrepid class simply would not have the room for this. The computer system would be amongst the most advanced model in service the increased automation this afforded combined with a new generation of sensor equipment would allow the Intrepid class almost 30% of the scanning and analysis capabilities of a Galaxy class starship.

Although the limited size meant that the vessel would have much lower overall capabilities than the Galaxy class, this was to be in some part offset by the use of the latest technology. The design requirement, issued in 2358, called for a vessel in the 360 metre range with a volume some 15% that of a Galaxy class. The Intrepid design was fielded partly to correct this situation. Losses among the Galaxy class have also emphasized that placing 'all the eggs in one basket' is not necessarily the wisest choice. While the exploration capacity of these classes is still sufficient to meet the tasks demanded of them, the lack of numbers has led to a certain restriction in flexibility. However, this has led to a gradual fall in the numbers of vessels which can be fielded - where the Excelsior class numbers well over a hundred, the Ambassadors were limited to a production run of twenty six, and the Galaxy class was limited to six ships initially, though this has since been expanded. Starfleet's shipbuilding policy of the last century has emphasized ever larger, more capable designs capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions within a single hull, often simultaneously. Standard level Structural Integrity Field Standard Duranium / Tritanium Single hull.

Standard shield system, total capacity 729,000 TeraJoules 15 have been lost in all.ġ3 x Type VIII phaser arrays, total output 10,000 TeraWattsĥ x Standard photon torpedo tube with 38 rounds

Star trek enterprise intrepid