Specifications - USS Columbia

Summary

Specifications for the USS Columbia NCC 50124, an Ambassador Class heavy cruiser assigned to Task Force 5.1 in a Diplomatic/Emissary role.


General

Class Ambassador Class Heavy Cruiser
Role Emissary / Diplomatic
Duration 100 years
Time Between Refits 15
Time Between Resupply 8

Dimensions

Length 526 metres
Width 322 metres
Height 128 metres
Decks 33

Personnel

Officers 320
Enlisted Crew 1000
Civilians 25
Emergency Capacity 5000

Speed

Cruise Speed Warp 6.2
Maximum Speed Warp 8.9
Emergency Speed Warp 9.4 (12 hours)

Weapons & Defensive Systems

Shields Multi-layered shielding systemsType: A symmetrical subspace graviton field. This type of shield is fairly similar to those of most other Starships. However, besides incorporating the now mandatory nutation shift in frequency, the shields alter their graviton polarity to better deal with more powerful weapons, such as the neutron-carbide beams of Tamarian vessels. During combat, the shield sends data on what type of weapon is being used on it, and what frequency and phase the weapon uses. Once this is analyzed by the tactical officer, the shield can be configured to have the same frequency as the incoming weapon - but different nutation. This tactic dramatically increases shield efficiency.

Output: There are twelve shield grids on the Ambassador Class starship, and each one generates 145.9 MW, resulting in a total shield strength of approx. 1750 MW. The power for the shields is taken directly from the warp engines and impulse fusion generators. If desired, the shields can be augmented by power from the impulse power plants. The shields are now comparable to the original New Orleans class and can protect against approximately 12% of the total EM spectrum (whereas the Galaxy Class Starship's standard shields can protect against about 23%), This improvement was made possible by the multi-phase graviton polarity flux technology incorporated into the shields, which is now standard issue on Federation starships.

Range: The shields, when raised, stay extremely close to the hull to conserve energy - average range is ten meters away from the hull.

Primary purpose: Defense from enemy threat forces, hazardous radiation and micro-meteoroid particles.

Secondary purpose: Ramming threat vehicles.
Weapon Systems Phaser Array arrangement: Three dorsal arrays on the saucer section, one for the forward, starboard and port sides. These arrays are duplicated on the ventral side of the primary saucer. Two smaller arrays cover the aft side firing arcs, are mounted on the nacelle pylons. Two small arrays cover the aft firing arc and are located on the aft, dorsal portion of the saucer section.

Phaser Array Type: The Ambassador Class starship utilizes the Type IX system. The eight arrays are all type IX arrays. Each array fires a pulsed beam of phaser energy, discharging the phasers at speeds approaching .986c (which works out to about 182,520 miles per second - nearly warp one). The phaser array automatically rotates phaser frequency and attempts to lock onto the frequency and phase of a threat vehicle's shields for shield penetration.

Phaser Array Output: Each phaser array takes its energy directly from the impulse drive and auxiliary fusion generators. Individually, each type IX turret can discharge approximately 3 MW (megawatts).

Phaser Array Range: Maximum effective range is 300,000 kilometers.

Primary purpose: Assault

Secondary purpose: Defense/anti-spacecraft/anti-fighter
Armament Arrangement: Two fixed-focus torpedo launchers, located just above the main deflector dish in the neck of the vessel. A third launcher is set to fire dead aft and is located on the rear of the engineering hull just below the aft shuttlebay. These launchers are the second generation of automated, high-speed launcher originally found on the Excelsior Class starships. Since the launch of the Ambassador Class, however, the vessel has had continuous upgrades to keep the vessel up to date with modern Torpedo Weapon technology.

Type: Mark XXV photon torpedo, capable of pattern firing (sierra, etc.) as well as independent launch. Independent targeting once launched from the ship, detonation on contact unless otherwise directed by the Chief Tactical Officer.

Payload: Ambassador Class starships can carry a maximum of 175 torpedoes.

Range: Maximum effective range is 3,000,000 kilometers.

Primary purpose: Assault

Secondary purpose: Anti-spacecraft

Auxiliary Craft

Shuttlebays 3
Shuttles Located at the dorsal bow of the ship, the Main flight bay module has replaced the shuttlebay module that is in previous Classes Starships. This Flight bay contains the latest in Starfleet shuttle and runabout designs. The Flight bay is controlled by a space/air-traffic control room, known as "Flight Ops". This is located against the forward wall of the Flight bay, next to the exit for the turbolift. The Flight bay contains the following:

The standard shuttle loadout aboard an Ambassador-class vessel is as follows:

Six Type 15 Shuttles

Four Type 6 Shuttles

2 Type 10 Shuttles

Secondary and Tertiary Shuttlebays are located in the Saucer Section. The Secondary shuttlebay can accommodate 50% of air traffic that the main flight bay module can process. The tertiary shuttlebay primarily focus on cargo and engineering support operations.