Valley
Forge-Class Cruisers
Diagrams

Orthographic
views Perspective
view
 

Deck plans,
part 1 Deck plans,
part 2
created by Allen
Rolfes (see notes) created by Allen
Rolfes (see notes)

Scenes

3D
model four views Valley Forge at warp Valley Forge in Earth orbit
created by Thomas Pemberton created by Thomas Pemberton created by Thomas Pemberton
 

Valley Forge
in
planet orbit
3D
scene 3D scene
created by Thomas Pemberton created by Jan
Seebald created by Jan
Seebald
 

3D scene 3D scene 3D scene

 created by Jan
Seebald created by Jan
Seebald created by Jan
Seebald
   

3D
model 3D scene from SF
Command 3D scene from SF
Command
created by Jan
Seebald created by Jay Hagen created by Jay Hagen
 

Sisters Silent
run Frontier
created by Tadeo D'Oria created by Tadeo D'Oria created by Tadeo D'Oria
 

Approach
vector Valley Forge
and Constitution
created by Tadeo D'Oria created by Tadeo D'Oria

History

Following the end of the Romulan War, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) engaged in more
than 50 years of frenzied exploration and expansion. However, after contact was made with the
Klingon Empire in 2218, many members of the Federation Council felt that the frontier was
effectively closed, at least in the Beta Quadrant. (Although some rabid imperialists in Starfleet
advocated invasion of Klingon space and drew up detailed contingency plans, this course of action
was never considered by either Starfleet Command or the Federation Council.) Furthermore, critics
of further exploration asked why new territory should be explored when known space had not yet
been completely colonized. Indeed, many colonies established in the years immediately after the
Romulan War still required generous financial and material support to remain viable.

By 2220, many influential council members believed that expansion had been too far and too fast.
Starfleet, too, recognized that the present borders could not be adequately defended without a
substantially increased investment in new starbases and starships. Accordingly, the consensus
was that further expansion of the borders of the Federation was unnecessary and, perhaps,
dangerous. Therefore, instead of advocating further expansion, the Federation Council proposed in
March 2220 that the non-self-sustaining, outermost worlds be "decolonized" (i.e., abandoned) so
that a smaller, stronger defensive perimeter could be established around core colony systems.

This reassessment of colonial policy led to a change in Starfleet doctrine. A Starfleet Command
Directive in 2221 called for the development of light cruisers, destroyers, and scouts that were to
be maintained at or near preexisting colonies along borders with potentially hostile powers. These
ships would be sufficient to successfully repel border raids or a reconnaissance in force. Although
such minor incursions could be expected to occur periodically, a large-scale invasion of Federation
territory was considered unlikely given the ongoing political turmoil in the Klingon Empire, and the
continued isolation of the Romulan Empire. However, if any indication of such an invasion were to
be received by Starfleet Intelligence, advanced warning would probably be sufficient to allow
redeployment of Federation forces opposite the expected point of attack. In the unlikely event of an
attack of which no warning had been received, Federation border forces would be capable of
slowing its advance until relieved or reinforced by a more powerful, centrally based task force that
included heavy cruisers and dreadnoughts.

Although this policy might conceivably result in the destruction of colonies in the most outlying
systems, it was the only defensive strategy that was feasible given the still-large border areas and
the unwillingness of the Federation Council to provide unlimited funds for the defense of
unprofitable colonies.

The Lancaster class (NCC-1209 to NCC-1258), which had entered service in 2205, had proven to be
powerful and trustworthy starships; however, they had also been enormously expensive in terms of
construction, maintenance, and manpower. While the decision to proceed with Lancaster had
undoubtedly been correct in 2201, Starfleet began to feel in the 2220s that faster, lighter, and,
above all, less costly starships were needed. In accordance with the high continuing cost of
colonial support, a strict, fiscally more responsible starship procurement policy was instituted in
2221 by Fleet Admiral Charlotte Goldberg-Liu. However, now that new technologies—subspace
radio, phasers, photon torpedoes, and transporters—first installed in the Lancaster class had
proven their reliability, older back-up systems could be safely omitted from any following class. The
new ships would presumably be smaller and less costly to build, maintain, and crew. These
projected savings would, Starfleet hoped, allow more ships to be purchased at a lower unit cost.

Therefore, the new class was not intended to introduce technologies that had not already been
proven aboard other classes. Instead, the new ships were to incorporate the engineering
experience of the past 30 years to produce a relatively austere, yet capable starship that could be
built in large numbers. In other words, the design was to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

In April 2223, the Starfleet Ships Specifications Review Board made public requirements for the
new cruiser class of a projected 50 units. The ships of the Valley Forge class were to be delivered
at a unit cost, adjusted for inflation, 15% below that of the Lancaster class. This reduction was to
be achieved with higher degrees of automation, decreased size and weight, and a smaller radius of
operation. However, other performance specifications, such as maximum speed, maneuverability
at impulse and warp, shield strength, and firepower were to be 10% to 25% superior to those of
Lancaster.

These new specifications were a victory for the "Light Cruiser Committee," a loose organization of
Starfleet officers and engineers who felt that starships were becoming too large and ungainly to
serve as effective fighting ships. They felt that if starships continued to increase in size at the
current rate, the only tactic available would be to attack targets head on with guns blazing. The
Light Cruiser Committee recognized that over time, starships, like any other complex system, tend
toward growth and expansion as new mission requirements are added and greater performance is
sought. In the 60 years since the launching of the Daedalus class, capital ship displacement had
increased nearly 600%. The lower tonnage of the Valley Forge class compared with that of the
Lancaster class halted, albeit temporarily, this trend towards gigantism. However, after Valley Forge,
the growth in starship tonnage resumed such that the USS Galaxy (NCC-70637) of 2356, at nearly 5
million tons, is 2500% heavier than USS Constitution (NCC-1700) of a century earlier.

Unlike preceding cruiser classes, Valley Forge was not the result of a design competition. Because
of the numerous irregularities that had marred the Lancaster competition of 2203, Starfleet
announced in 2206 that henceforth the design and construction of all military vessels were to be
"Federalized." Instead of Starfleet issuing a set of design specifications and inviting submissions
from private firms, all design work and construction was to be concentrated at soon-to be
expanded Starfleet yards, the first of which was to be in geosynchronous orbit above San
Francisco, Earth. Therefore, by the time work began on Valley Forge, several classes of smaller
vessels had already been produced at Starfleet Yards throughout the Federation. The lead ship of
the new class, USS Valley Forge, was launched in November 2226 and joined the fleet in August
2227.

     
     

Visually, the slim, refined lines of the Valley Forge class were a distinct change from the massive,
blocky silhouette of the Lancaster class. However, the basic starship layout that had been
established by the Daedalus class of 2160 was continued. Furthermore, the follow-on Constitution
class of 2245 was so similar in appearance to the Valley Forge class that when the
USS Constitution first entered service, she was compared to a "Valley Forge on steroids."
            

Although the Valley Forge class was not intended to break any new ground in terms of design or
technology, it did introduce several now-standard features. Valley Forge ships were equipped at
launch with a "modern" battery limited to phasers and photon torpedoes. Neither lasers nor fusion
weapons were carried. Because the man-rated transporters had become the principal means of
ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship personnel travel, the ship's complement of shuttlecraft was reduced.
Furthermore, fighter/attack craft and landing craft were now carried only by dedicated
shuttlecarriers and assault transports. Valley Forge ships were the first to have a completely
separable primary hull that was capable of independent action, although this capability was never
used. Compact, spherical fusion reactor chambers were used instead of the cuboid reactors that
had been standard in earlier classes. Finally, Valley Forge ships were the first to have duotronic
computer systems installed in 2243.
      
     

Soon after the first units of the Valley Forge class joined the fleet in 2227, border incursions by
Klingon forces became more frequent. However, no major engagements were fought until January
20, 2244, when contact was lost with the Federation border monitor station on Beta Tetsuwan XII.
Fourteen hours later, a squadron of 12 Klingon D6-class cruisers attacked the Federation colony on
Cicatrix IV. They were engaged there by USS Cougar (NCC-1468) under the command of Captain
Timsig Surrha which managed to disable two of the Klingon cruisers before destroying a third and
herself by ramming the enemy vessel. Nearly all 1,000 inhabitants of the colony were killed by a
ferocious orbital barrage. On January 22, the Klingons were intercepted near the fifth planet of the
Donatu system by a task force of 10 ships led by Commodore Ibrahim Proulx of USS St. Petersburg
(NCC-1467). Although the Klingons were forced to withdraw after the destruction of 6 more of their
vessels, USS Dallas (NCC-1496) and the Siegfried-class dreadnought USS Sampson (NCC-1603)
were destroyed and USS Franz Joseph (NCC-1233, Lancaster class), USS Proteus (NCC-1478), and
USS Lysander (NCC-1592, Siegfried class) were damaged. In 2250, several Valley Forge ships
(notably USS LaFayette under Captain J. Robert Fitzpatrick and USS Tokyo under Captain Jonas
Barstow) saw action with Garth of Izar at the Battle of Axanar; however, most vessels were newer
Constitution heavy cruisers and Siegfried dreadnoughts.
      
     

The perceived significance of the fleet actions of the 2240s and early 2250s along the Klingon
border depended on whose opinion was sought. Some defense analysts and Starfleet officers saw
the attacks as warnings of a future large-scale invasion and called for increased numbers of ships
along the border. Some even went as far as advocating preemptive Federation attacks upon
Klingon Imperial Fleet staging areas to prevent further invasions. However, other analysts saw the
successful repelling of the attacks as a vindication of the current defense policy. Although they
admitted the destruction of the Cicatrix IV colony was "regrettable," they considered the total
number of Federation lives lost to be "modest and acceptable." To these analysts, the risk of death
by alien invasion was just another of the many hardships of outer-colony life. These latter voices
prevailed, and significant efforts to strengthen border forces were not made until Klingon border
raids increased again in the mid-2250s, when the Avenger- and Predator-class destroyers joined the
fleet.
      
     

In addition to defending the Federation against external threats, Valley Forge ships were also active
in maintaining order within the Federation. Should disagreements between member planets or
colonies threaten to become violent, Starfleet vessels were called upon to separate the parties
while Federation mediators attempted a diplomatic solution. In 2239, open hostilities over mining
rights broke out between Human colonies on the fifth and sixth planets of the Ptomaine system.
The planets had been colonized by rival corporations, which now sought to exploit the mineral
wealth of the asteroid belt separating the planets. USS Aelita (NCC-1480) was forced to destroy
several armed transports of the Pandora Corporation when they refused to break off an attack on
an asteroid processing facility owned by the Grimaldi/Shasta Group.

     
     

Valley Forge ships were also involved in numerous "police actions." In 2256, USS Diana (NCC-1470),
USS Boxer (NCC-1498), and USS Dolphin (NCC-1504) spent eight months escorting convoys and
hunting down Orion pirates that had been preying upon interstellar commerce near the Elbow of
Böotes. The quick, maneuverable ships of the Valley Forge class were better suited for these types
of missions than were Lancasters, which had been designed to engage other capital ships.

     
     

After significant numbers of ships of the more powerful Constitution, Pyotr Velikiy, and related
classes began to join the fleet in the mid-2240s and early 2250s, the Valley Forge class was largely
relegated to the traditional roles played by escorts and destroyers. However, with upgrades and
refits Valley Forge ships continued to provide valuable service until their retirement in the 2280s.
Moreover, the Valley Forge class, with the addition of two decks to the primary hull and a
lengthened secondary hull, served as the basis for the Belleau Wood-class assault transports (NCC-
1547, launched 2232), the Al-Burak-class fighter carriers (NCC-1520, launched 2232), and the
Siegfried class dreadnoughts (NCC-1589, launched 2235).

     

The Valley Forge-class heavy cruiser USS Rattlesnake (NCC-1493), a participant of the Battle of
Donatu V, is on display at the Starfleet Museum.

 
 Commissioned Ships

USS Valley Forge NCC-1463 USS Yamato NCC-1485

USS Aldrin NCC-1464
USS Tigress NCC-1465
USS California NCC-1466
USS St. Petersburg NCC-1467
USS Cougar NCC-1468
USS Independence NCC-1469
USS Diana NCC-1470
USS Arizona NCC-1471
USS O'Bannon NCC-1472
USS Tokyo NCC-1473
USS Bonderenko NCC-1474
USS Europa NCC-1475
USS Normandy NCC-1476
USS Clarke NCC-1477
USS Proteus NCC-1478
USS Los Angeles NCC-1479
USS Aelita NCC-1480
USS Elvgren NCC-1481
USS Hong Kong NCC-1482
USS Ishtar NCC-1483
USS LaFayette NCC-1484
USS Vesta NCC-1486
USS Masaryk NCC-1487
USS Cherenkov NCC-1488
USS Oriskany NCC-1489
USS Clavius NCC-1490
USS Sheridan NCC-1491
USS Toklas NCC-1492
USS Rattlesnake NCC-1493
USS Asaph Hall NCC-1494
USS Ripley NCC-1495
USS Dallas NCC-1496
USS Canberra NCC-1497
USS Boxer NCC-1498
USS Cheetah NCC-1499
USS Artemis NCC-1500
USS Scorpion NCC-1501
USS Narcissus NCC-1502
USS Ganesa NCC-1503
USS Dolphin NCC-1504
USS Vargas NCC-1505
USS Anaconda NCC-1506

Specifications

Standard displacement:
136,350 t

  Overall 1°
Hull 2°
Hull Nacelles
Length
[m] 245.13 118.72 89.60 137.10
Beam
[m] 114.30 114.30 20.05 12.70
Draft
[m] 43.06 28.33 20.05 12.70

Crew complement: 325 (53 officers + 272 crew)

Weapons: 12 Type VI phaser turrets (6 × 2 mounts), 2 torpedo tubes with 36 Mark III photon
torpedoes
Embarked craft: 2 medium personnel shuttlecraft, 4 personnel shuttlepods
Warp drive: SSWR-XI-A spherical cavity M/AM reactor with 2 Merlin II nacelles
Velocity: wf 5.7, cruise; wf 7.3, supercruise; wf 7.6, maximum
Units commissioned: 44

Last modified: 04.06.15