Klingon bird-of-prey

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The Klingon Bird-of-Prey was a classification of starship used by the Klingon Empire. They were typically small and agile classes of ships which made up a significant proportion of the Klingon fleet along side the larger classes.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 History 2 Classes 3 Connections

[edit] Overview

The Klingons produced numerous classes of starships designated Bird-of-Prey, traditionally these were smaller classes used as scouts. Over time the designation was expanded to be used on larger classes with a similar design to traditional birds-of-prey. (TOS movie: The Search for Spock; TNG episode: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

The typical Bird-of-Prey design featured a primary hull with a long protruding neck at the front with a command bulb at the end. Usually a photon torpedo tube was located on the lower side of the command bulb. To either side of the main hull are wings with disruptor cannons mounted at the end. Certain classes featured additional armaments such as rear firing torpedoes and additional disruptors. (TOS movie: The Search for Spock; TNG episode: "Yesterday's Enterprise"; ENT episode: "The Expanse", et al.)

[edit] History

The earliest known classes of Bird-of-Prey were in operation in the mid-22nd century. (ENT episode: "The Expanse")

By 2370 the Empire had introduced one of the most successful and long serving class of Bird-of-Prey, the B'rel-class. The B'rel-class was designed from Romulan concepts obtained in the Klingon-Romulan alliance, the most notable technology integrated into the vessel from that alliance being a cloaking device. (TOS comic: Trekkers; ST reference: Starship Spotter)

The B'rel was a highly successful design and served long into the 24th century. It also spawned several other Bird-of-Prey classes of near identical design, including the D12-class and K'vort-class. Though the K'vort, and later Chuq'Beh-class were notably larger than the original B'rel design. (ST reference: Starship Spotter; TNG movie: Generations; TNG video game: Armada II, et al.)

[edit] Classes

Klingonese name	standard designation	alphanumeric designation	classification	known service period
	22nd century bird-of-prey			2150s
Z'gavva-class	Stronger Bird-class	D32-class	cruiser
D'Gavama-class	Bird of Prey-class	K22A-class	far scout
B'rel-class		K22B-class	scout	2270s -- late-24th century
QuD-class	Insurrection-class		heavy destroyer	2290s
Taj-class	Bird of Prey-class		scout	2293
Z'gavasta-class	Great Bird-class	L42-class	frigate
K'vort-class			light cruiser	2nd quarter 24th century -- late-24th century
		D12-class	scout	2350s
Khitomer-class				24th century
Chuq'Beh-class				2370s

Insurrection class

K'vort class

Chuq'Beh class

[edit] Connections

• Klingon bird-of-prey article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.

Bird-of-Prey classes
Romulan Birds-of-Prey	2150s • 22nd century • 24th century • T'Liss • Vas Hatham
Klingon Birds-of-Prey	22nd century • B'rel • Chuq'Beh • D12 • D'Gavama • Khitomer • K'vort • QuD • Z'gavasta • Z'gavva