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Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow: The following content contains spoilers!
For other uses, see Galaxy class.

The Galaxy-class is a type of starship built by Starfleet from the mid 24th century into the 25th century. It was primarily intended to be a ship of exploration, but is also extremely heavily armed. This class of vessel is one of the largest and most powerful ever constructed by Starfleet. (TNG reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual)

History[]

USS Venture and Excelsiors

The USS Venture in 2375.

The Galaxy-class began development in the year 2343 and has the dubious distinction of having the longest design, development and construction period of any class in Starfleet history—delayed for a further year due to attempted sabotage by the Manraloth Giriaenn that was only just exposed by Lieutenant Data—with the prototype USS Galaxy finally launching in 2357 and its first two sister ships the ever-famous Federation flagship USS Enterprise-D and USS Yamato following six years later in 2363.

During the initial planning board at Starfleet Operations, Admiral Carstairs would often describe the vessel's strength as a deterrent against aggression by other powers. In stark contrast, Commodore Santin was a vocal critic of the new design, fearing that fielding a ship with such destructive capabilities might serve as a provocation to the Federation's enemies. (FASA RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual)

Initially conceived as a class of twelve ships, once the design was finalized it was decided that only six ships would be completed, with construction on the other six halted once their frameworks were finished. The six spaceframes were then broken down into smaller segments and transported by cargo carrier to remote sites throughout the Federation, held in reserve in case a later emergency necessitated their completion. (TNG reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual)

The emergency came sooner than anyone could have realized, with the loss of 39 starships to the Borg at the Battle of Wolf 359 in early 2367, including the USS Columbia, one of the few Galaxy class ships in service at the time. (TNG novel: Vendetta) As a result of the battle, Starfleet immediately launched a massive shipbuilding and design program, which also saw the remaining six Galaxy-class spaceframes pulled from storage and completed in addition to many more constructed from scratch in an attempt to bolster the fleet's strength. While the expected Borg invasion did not come as imminently as was expected, during that time the Federation did find itself engaged in a war with another opponent: the Dominion. In 2370, the USS Odyssey became the first casualty of Dominion aggression when it was rammed by a Jem'Hadar fighter, destroying the ship. Galaxy-class ships went on to play a major part in the Dominion War a few years later, participating in numerous engagements.

In an effort to get more ships into service, many of the existing Galaxy-class spaceframes were outfitted with additional weapons and minimal crew accommodations to decrease their construction time, leaving the yards with nearly 65 percent of their internal volume empty. (DS9 reference: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual)

Galaxy-class starships continued being produced into the 25th century, continuously being upgraded with more advanced technology. (STO video game: Star Trek Online)

FutureEnterprise

Advanced modification of the Galaxy-class

Since the spaceframe was designed with a hundred-year lifespan in mind, the Galaxy-class will likely remain in service for years, if not decades, to come. In a possible future created by Q, the USS Enterprise was refitted with an additional warp nacelle and additional phaser arrays. The USS Venture was later modified to mount two additional phaser arrays on its warp nacelles. (TNG novel: All Good Things...; TNG novel: Vendetta; DS9 episode: "The Way of the Warrior"; ST reference: The Next Generation Technical Manual)

By the year 2409, the Galaxy-class saw sub-class born out of the necessity with the eruption of another Federation-Klingon War. Modeled after the refitted Enterprise from Q's created future, this modified Galaxy-class would be known as the Galaxy-X class.

Features[]

The Galaxy-class did not present any particular technological revolution, but was the culmination of several Starfleet technologies to date. One of the largest classes of ships constructed by Starfleet, it accommodated not just the crew but also their families and other civilians in spacious quarters, providing extensive recreational areas including the latest in holodeck technology. Intended primarily as a ship of exploration, its size and facilities allowed unsupported missions of up to a decade if necessary. In addition, it could effectively serve as a mobile starbase in the Federation's outlying territories, showing the flag and defending against encroachment by hostile powers.

One of the main technological breakthroughs that the class did employ was the facility for routine saucer separation. While the separation option had been available in a number of previous starship classes, it had always been necessary to utilize starbase facilities to reconnect the severed parts of the ship. The Galaxy-class was the first design that was capable of separating and reconnecting at will, allowing a large proportion of the crew to escape hostile situations. (ST reference: Starship Spotter)

Galaxy-class starships also featured a large lounge and bar area in the most forward area of the ship, where the crew can relax and get something to eat. Located on deck 10, on the USS Enterprise-D this area was named Ten-Forward, whereas on the USS Challenger this area was known as Shuttlebay Four, until it was renamed to Nelson's. (NF novel: Stone and Anvil; TOS novel: The Return; TNG novel: Indistinguishable from Magic)

Known ships[]

See: Galaxy-class starships
USSOdyssey

The USS Odyssey

USSVenture

The USS Venture

USS Yamato

The USS Yamato

Appendices[]

Connections[]

Starship classes of the Dominion War
Federation Alliance
Federation, Starfleet
(and civilian auxiliaries)
AkiraCentaurDefiantGalaxyExcelsiorMirandaNebulaNorwayRaging QueenSaberSovereignFederation light cruiser (Constitution variant)Federation light cruiser (Intrepid variant)Federation medium cruiser (Excelsior variant)Federation medium cruiser (Intrepid/Constitution variant) UFP emblem image. Seal of the Federation Starfleet.
Klingon Empire, Klingon Defense Force B'relK't'ingaK'vortNegh'VarVor'cha Klingon emblem image. Romulan Star Empire, Imperial Fleet D'Deridex24th century Romulan shuttle Emblem of the Romulan Star Empire.
Dominion forces
Dominion and Jem'Hadar Jem'Hadar battleshipJem'Hadar battlecruiserJem'Hadar fighterJem'Hadar strike cruiserJem'Hadar super carrierJem'Hadar warship Emblem of the Dominion.
Cardassian Union, Cardassian Guard (and Obsidian Order) GalorGroumallHidekiKeldon Emblem of the Cardassian Union. Breen Confederacy Breen battlecruiserBreen destroyerBreen fighter Emblem of the Breen confederacy.
Other combatants and neutral parties
Bajoran Provisional Government, Bajoran Militia Bajoran starshipJanitzaPerikianBajoran raiderBajoran transport Emblem of the Bajorans.
Starship classes of the Federation Starfleet
subclass groups

Akira (AlitaArmitageThunderchild) • Ambassador (AlaskaNarendraYamaguchi) • Apollo (Akula frigate / light cruiser) • Cardenas (Buran) • Chesapeake (Mongrel) • Cheyenne (DakotaStargazer) • Concorde (Geneva battlecruiserPresidio) • Constellation (Challenger deep space explorer) • Chimera heavy destroyer (Manticore) • Constitution (AchernarBonhomme RichardTikopaiEnterpriseExeterExcaliburVesperKirkCrossfield (Glenn32nd century refit) • Danube (Yellowstone) • Decatur (Dreadnought) • Defiant (GallantIncursionNachthexenSao PauloValiantVigilant escort) • Dervish (GryphonHermes escortMaelstromTempest) • Destiny (NimbusOracleTrident) • Engle (Earhart) • Excelsior (BismarckCurryKirovNew JerseyResolute) • Galaxy (Andromeda (25th century)CelestialEnvoyGalaxy XMonarch cruiserRossVenture cruiserYamato dreadnought) • Hermes scout (CygnusMonoceros) • Inquiry (Avenger battlecruiserArbiter) • Hoover (Edison) • Intrepid (BellerophonCochrane science vesselDiscovery (25th century)JanewayPathfinderTrailblazerYeager) • Kumari (CharalKhyzon) • Luna (CometPolarisSolTitan) • Magee (Shran (escort)) • Malachowski (Helios (tug)) • Miranda (AntonReliantSoyuz) • Merian (Merian (dreadnought)) • Nebula (Magellan) • New Orleans (Lafayette) • Nimitz (Europa) • Norway (Oslo) • Nova (AuroraQuasarRhode Island) • NX (ColumbiaPoseidon) • Oberth (ClarkeGagarin (23rd century)GrissomSagan) • Odyssey (VerityYorktown (cruiser)) • Olympic (HopeHorizon science vessel) • Prometheus (CerberusHephaestusHestiaPhoenix) • Ptolemy (DollondDopplerKeppler) • Remora (Charger) • Saladin (CochiseSiva) • Santa Fe (Newport) • Saber (GladiusRapierUshaan) • Sentinel (EmissaryNomad cruiserVanguard) • Shepard (Gagarin (25th century)) • Solanae (HeliosMontgomeryOmega) • Sovereign (ArchonImperialMajesticNoble cruiserRegent) • Steamrunner (AppalachiaZephyr) • Vesta (AventineRademaker) • Walker (GeorgiouShenzhou ) • Wells (EternalOuroborosVerne)

Emblem of the United Federation of Planets. Seal of the Federation Starfleet.
other named classes

AA classAakennAchillesAdvanceAegianAeolusAerieAkula destroyer / escortAmbassador HardinAndesAndorAndromeda (24th century)AngelouAntaresApacheAquariusArcherArchimedesArk RoyalArielAscendantAtroxAvenger (scout)BabcockBaderBakerBaton RougeBerenaBodeBolarusBonaventureBradburyBrentonCaliforniaCanadaCanopusCapellaCastorCentaurCentaurusCeresCestusChallengerChandleyChariotChimerChimera fast frigateChristopherClarke (25th century)Cle DanCochrane transportColumbiaCondor (raider)ContinentContortrixCopernicusCourageDaedalusDauntlessDeckerDefenderDeltaD'KyrDenevaDerfDrexlerDurrettEagleEclipseEdwardEinsteinEisenbergEl Doradofuture EnterpriseEpochEpsilonErewonEternalFederationFenlonFermiFijiFreedomFriendshipFrontierGagarin (24th century)GalenGallantGangesGenevaGenserGracefulGraysonGriffonGuardianGeminiHaleHermes fast cruiserHestonHoganHokule'aHorizon cruiserIcarusIlthirinIndomitableIntrepid (22nd century)IowaIstanbulIwo JimaClass JJupiterKarekhKeithKethkinKievK'KmarakKolm-AnKorolevLarsonLauroLaweyaLegacyLenthalLexingtonLibertyLokiLoknarLondonMadisonMakinMannMarklinMarsMarshallM'BengaMediterraneanMercedMercury (courier)Mercury (escort)Mercury (scout)MerianMerian (dreadnought)MessierMeteorMidwayMissionMissouriMobulaiMoKalMoscowMulciberNarcineNautilusNelsonNiagaraNoble laboratory vesselNomad escortNorthamptonOberonOdinOdysseusOkinawaOppenheimerOrionOsakaOverfieldPaladin battlecruiserPaladin destroyerParliamentPaladin (24th century)PerseusPioneerPhalanxPhantomPhiladelphiaPinnaclePiperPolluxPortsmithPralimPremonitionProtostarProximaPyotr VelikiyPyreneesRakotaRanger battlecruiserRanger explorerRanger scoutRenaissanceRickenbackerRigelRochesterRoyal SovereignSagittariusSamsonSaturnSawyerScorpioScryerScyllaSequoiaSevaijenShiKahrSierraSolarSpringfieldSulekSurakSydneyTangentTheophrastusThomas PaineThucydidesThufirTiberiusTiconderogaUniverseTheseusTripperTritiumTyphonTyphoonUkoraUlyssesUralUtahVenture scoutVigilant scoutVoyagerWallenbergWambunduWei-FaWellingtonWilkersonWizardYamatoYorkshireYorktownZodiacunnamed

general type

Defiant pathfinderRaging QueenSun TzuValley ForgeFederation assault shipFederation battleshipFederation cargo shipFederation colony shipFederation construction shipFederation cruiserdeep galaxy shipFederation dreadnoughtFederation freighterFederation frigateFederation galaxy shipFederation holoshipFederation heavy cruiser (2380s heavy cruiser) • Federation light cruiser (Constitution-variant light cruiserIntrepid-variant light cruiser) • Federation medium cruiser (Excelsior-variant medium cruiser) • Federation mining freighterFederation repair shipStarfleet tanker

Galaxy-class class XVI explorer/exploration cruiser starships
Federation, Starfleet early series Galaxy (I)Yamato (I)Enterprise-DConstitution Federation icon image. Starfleet icon image.
various series / standard configurations BolivarBreedloveChallengerCheyenneCrockettDauntless (I)Dauntless (II)Excalibur-AGalaxy (I)Galaxy (II)HarrimanIdahoIntrepidLhasaMadisonMagellanMarquetteMcGinleyMukaikuboMusashiOdyssey (I)Odyssey (II)OraidhePhloxRenownSan FranciscoSequoiaSyracuseTridentVentureYamato (I)Yamato (II)unnamed Galaxy-class starships
Dominion War fleets AgrippaAsgardMagellanOdysseusRonald D. MooreSorakTrinculoVentureVictoryYamato (II)Zhurkov
command cruiser
fleet expansion
AdelaideArgonautAsigaraBermudaBlakeBolzanoCanariasCerveraColumbusDe RuyterGaliciaGloucesterHurutakaKinugasaLazarevMakarovMolotovMurmanskNavarraNing HaiOntarioRenownSalemSwiftsureSumatraTikumaTriesteTyokaiWichitaWorcester
post-war 2370s decade
fleet expansions
AlleghenyAndromedaArgoBerryCitadelDominanceFormidableFrontierGeronimoGoodmanJubeiMalevolentOregonPequodPerseusPersiaRenownReverantReverentRylanderScimitarTaylorUlyssesValhallaVindictive
Bonhomme RichardC. LewisConstellationDefianceEagleEl DoradoEndeavorEssexExcaliburExeterFarragutGalaxyHoodHornetKongoKriegerLafayetteLexingtonMerrimacMonitorOdyssey (II)RepublicSaratogaToriValiantWaspYorktown
First Splinter timeline and other alternate realities CanterburyChallengerEnterprise-DExcalibur-AHedderjinJefferiesMagellanRobinsonTridentTrinculoVenture
variant configurations Andromeda-subclass: AndromedaBirminghamCelestial-subclass: CelestialEnvoy-subclass: EnvoyGalaxy X-subclassMonarch-subclass: MonarchSamson (variant) • Ross-subclass: RossVanguardYi Sun-SinVenture-subclass: Samson (variant) • Venture-AVenture-BWorld Razer-subclass: BrazosWorld Razer-DYamato-subclass: Madrid
Terran Empire, Starfleet
(mirror universes)
Enterprise-DGalaxyVenture-subclass: GalaxyAndromeda-class/Cygnus-class: Pegasus Terran Empire icon image. Imperial Starfleet icon image.
Confederation of Earth, Corps
(alternate timeline)
World Razer-subclass: World Razer Confederation of Earth icon image. Confederation Corps icon image. Borg Collective
(mirror universe)
Assimilation Target Prime Borg Collective icon image.

Background[]

Apocrypha[]

The various ebooks published by Last Unicorn Games after they had lost their Star Trek license listed many other Galaxy class starships: USS Vel'dna (NCC-72406), USS Kludy (NCC-71095), USS Courageous (NCC-72579), USS Indomitable (NCC-73462), USS Hentar (NCC-71093), USS Frontiersman, USS Nevsky (NCC-71038), USS Benton (NCC-69130), USS Ishtar (NCC-70856), USS Pel-Gaash (NCC-71246) and the USS Vanuatu (NCC-68208).

References and notes[]

External links[]

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