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» Flare Sci-Fi Forums » Sci-Fi » Designs, Artwork, & Creativity » (UP3) Norway Declassified!

   
Author Topic: (UP3) Norway Declassified!
Krenim
Unholy Triangle Fella
Member # 22

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The next round of UP3 declassifications begins with the Norway. It's all Lee here, folks, both the articles and the diagram. [Smile]

Norway Class

Project First Submitted - 2343

During the 2330's Starfleet was undergoing many changes, but one thing was certain: within the next 15 years the fleet would need to be restocked with new vessels. The Oberth-class, now over 65 years old, was proving to be a reliable though inflexible ship. The Miranda fleet was ageing rapidly and the only new candidates for future mass-production, the Ambassador and Excelsior classes, were beginning to displease Starfleet.

Federation tacticians predicted that if the fleet's technology level was not brought up to scratch before 2350, the Romulan and Klingon Empires could do serious damage to the Federation in an all-out war.

As it is today, there were some constants in starship design that can never be escaped from. All Federation ships have a primary hull, a secondary hull and two warp nacelles (although a handful of quite unsuccessful ships did feature only one nacelle). The ships are always symmetrical, if a line were to be drawn down the centre. The bridge is always on deck 1, on top of the primary hull, which is always a saucer.

This last point would, however, be blown out of the water in 2342 with the submission of the initial designs for the Olympic class which, in a deliberate homage to the Daedalus class of old, used a spherical primary hull. This design was the work of the (now) infamous Rigel Alpha team, based on Rigel VI. But before this project there was another less-known design that proved a reliable workhorse for the fleet; a well-known ship which is hardly ever seen in fleet manoeuvres. A project that brought them from being underlings to the forefront of the ASDB, this ship was the Norway.

The design brief (dated February 20, 2339) called for a small- to medium-sized Starship intended to spend more than a decade in deep space, making first contact with new races and surveying planets. Huge fuel tanks and supply storage were essential, as were large-scale sensor coverage and planetary landing capabilities. Due to the nature of the ship's mission, large areas of space for the crew would be required. However, bulk considerations meant keeping the actual flight crew at a minimum, in order to leave plenty of room for the scientific and civilian complement. What resulted was a great deal of automation in the ship's systems: technology that would be put to use on an extensive scale in upcoming larger vessels. The first design brief called for 36 independent science labs, later expanded to 42. After a 4-year battle with dozens of concepts submitted by each Bureau - a modern Starfleet record - Rigel VI's design, the Norway-class Deep Space Exploratory Vessel, was approved for development in 2343.

What would now be the Rigel bureau's trademark for all of its vessels to follow, an arrowhead-shaped primary hull, was present from the very earliest drafts. A massive Deuterium tank would sit deep in the centre of this hull, with an equally large volume of antimatter stored in dozens of pods. Double the standard cargo bay space for a ship of its size was also included. All good starships have tended to have at least one revolutionary design feature: in the Norway's case this was the interesting double secondary hull. This unique layout created a compressed warp field aft of the ship that expanded as it moved foreward, an application of warp physics which, though bizarre, increased engine efficiency by 60% and cut down on the amount of fuel needed for deep space missions.

Although new warp coils developed a decade later would render this technique obsolete, at the time this was truly revolutionary. Thanks to this design, the Norway could travel indefinitely at medium warp speeds, using small portions of fuel, limited only by engine maintenance requirements and fuel supply.

But the design team's celebration would soon be cut short. Six months into the contract, after the outer frame was finalised but before specifics such as warpcore design could be developed, the bureau was contacted by upper levels of Starfleet command about a top-secret project that would eventually become known as the Prometheus class. Six months into the project, the Copernicus division of the ASDB assumed the reigns of the Norway-class. Many years earlier, this division had developed the Oberth class surveyor. Now, the words on everyone's lips were "Super-Oberth".

Unlike its diminutive ancestor, the Norway would be equipped with much more powerful weaponry and shields. Though still nowhere near the lofty firepower of most other contemporary vessels such as the Akira and New Orleans classes, the added strength made the vessel much more viable than the Oberth when exploring uncharted territory and making first contact with possibly hostile civilisations.

Under the watchful eye of a Vulcan construction team, the USS Norway began construction at the 40 Eridini-A shipyards in the summer of 2345. Methodically and logically, the ship was assembled over the next four years. Upon launch in late 2349, testing showed few flaws and after a brief Starbase layover the ship was declared operational in 2351. Within 10 years, 30 Norways were in service.

An unlikely task assigned to Norway-class starships in recent times has been their usage in the deployment of subspace booster relays. Thanks largely to their large aft combination cargo/shuttle bay, the Norway is well suited to carrying and deploying these relays out beyond the edges of the Federation. Much of the Federation's subspace radio network found beyond sector 621 has been deployed by the Norway-class.

Although not a warship, the Norway class proved to be more than apt during the Borg incursion of 2373. Of the six Norway-class ships under construction in Sector 001 at the time, three were certified battle-ready and dragged into service, along with a plethora of other half-finished ships, to meet the Borg. Also joining them was the USS Budapest, returning after a nine-year mission spent surveying planets for terraforming beyond the Tzenkethi frontier. In the battle that followed, only one Norway would be lost, and the Budapest would receive severe damage when caught in the explosion of the Borg Cube. In light of the rather hardy nature of the class, and the possibility of far-greater threats to the Federation's security, an additional 24 Norway-class vessels were ordered after the incident. During the recent Dominion War, though not on the front lines, the Norway-class has been instrumental in the Federation's efforts. Many Norway's, along with Olympic and other less militarily-minded Federation vessels are currently performing duties that would otherwise be routinely carried out by other Starfleet vessels currently serving in battle fleets.


Commissioned Vessels:

USS Norway - NX - ????? Current Status - ????
USS Budapest - NCC - 64923 Current Status - Active


2339: Starfleet requests a tender for a starship suited to deep space planetary survey, replacing the outdated Oberth class and supplementing the Olympic class.

2340: A large design battle ensues. The Rigel bureau's unique warp field geometry system wins critical acclaim, but competition remains stiff.

2341- 42: Work continues. Rigel pulls ahead in design race. San Francisco bureau pulls out of race and places support in Rigel's bid.

2343: March: The Rigel VI submission, entitled "Norway-class", is approved.
April-August: Design work moves forward at phenomenal speed.
September: Rigel is relieved of design duties by Starfleet Command, and re-assigned to develop the top-secret "Prometheus-class", following initiation of hostilities with the Cardassian Union. Copernicus bureau assumes design duties.

2344: Copernicus bureau continues pre-production work. Warp core designed, prototype core built. Weapons systems finalised.

2345: January: Impulse systems finalised. Shuttlecraft previously developed for the Akira-class are selected for use on board the Norway.
May: Final pre-production draft of blueprints approved by ASDB and Starfleet Command.
July: Construction of prototype begins at the 40 Eridini A Fleetyards in the Vulcan system.

2346-48: Construction continues without incident under the supervision of Cmdr. Turol of Vulcan.

2349: January: Main core is powered up for first time. Starfleet orders 20 Norway class ships to be built at the Antares Yards.
April: Live weapons systems installed.
June: Bridge Module docked.
November 30: USS Norway commissioned in a brief ceremony. Leaves dock for trials.

2350: Speed trials commence. Weapons-testing finds the port torpedo launcher to be mis-aligned. USS Norway returns to Earth Station McKinley for refit.

2351: USS Norway awarded operational status after refit.


(Note: here follows the original Utopia Planitia conjectural info for the Norway class: it's quite interesting for various historical reasons - mainly that it's actually talking about an Akira-class vessel seen from an odd angle, as the description should make clear!)

Project First Submitted - 2357

The Norway Class of Starship was originally designed as a diplomatic vessel designed to carry and protect Federation ambassadors. As with most diplomatic ships the Norway is armed to the teeth and features advanced shields. Generally the ships is quite unremarkable. It is small, features one warpcore, has a small secondary hull to which to Nacelles pylons are attached at 45 degree angles and is very well armed. In addition the ship normally has 5 Peregine Class raiders which act as an escort. Its only unusual feature is the rapid fire photon launcher which is capable of launching 5 photon Torpedoes per second. The ship, due to the nature of its missions is not fitted with Quantum or Tri-cobalt torpedoes.

(Notes: Well, we have the Sabre and Akira - why they designed yet another ship with a similar layout who knows - I have made it nothing special, however many people have noted the odd photon launching sounds. You must remember that the Norway is firing 5 torpedoes spread at once, unlike the Akira which is launching singular torpedoes. Which is the reason for the odd noise it makes.)

Commissioned Vessels:

USS Norway - NX - 62341 Current Status - Active

USS Reliant - NCC - 63421 Current Status - Undergoing repairs
USS Visigoth - NCC - 70110 Current Status - Active
Under Construction: (Provisional naming not completed)
NCC - ????? (Unknown) Utopia Planitia
NCC - ????? (Unknown) Utopia Planitia


2357: Starfleet issues a brief for a short range Diplomatic vessel which would be capable of defending itself in potentially hostile situations. In addition Starfleet issue a brief for small escort vessels with multi-purpose functions .Design plans commence at the ASDB

2359: Ten Design plans are submitted to the ASDB, the Norway project is approved by Starfleet along with the Peregrine Class

2360: Design work continues on new weapons and warpcore design.

2363: Weapons prototypes are issued to the ASDB. Work begins on the Prototype vessel

2364: Basic chassis is manufactured and central computer core from the Galaxy Class is Gamma Welded into place. Warp core is ordered.

2366: Outer hull is nearing completion except for the engine bay. Late in the year the Warcore arrives and is slotted into place. Ejection system is tested.

2368: Warp coils arrive and are welded into place. Computer systems begin initial boot up sequences. Warpcore is tested at 20% power. Vibrations are deemed too great and recalibration of the the SIF is required.

2371: After much testing USS Norway leaves Utopia Planitia for primary testing. After a few month the ship returns to Utopia Planitia and is officially commissioned by Starfleet.


Officer Crew: 90
Enlisted Crew: 130
Civilians (Families): N/A
Maximum Capacity: 300
Number of Decks: 8
Height: 44 Meters
Width: 112 Meters
Length: 165 Meters
Warp Engines: MARA
Impulse Engines: Standard.
Computer System: LCARS
Expected Duration: 140 Years
Times Between Resupply: 2 years
Times Between Refits: 5 years
Category : Light Frigate

The Norway class of Starship has to date only appeared in Star Trek: First Contact. Two to three ships of this type are seen during the Battle of Sector 001. Visible armament consists solely of one or maybe two forward-mounted phaser emitters. No phaser strips, torpedo launchers or escape pods are identifiable on the only schematic available.

This class has one of the most unique configurations ever seen in a Starfleet ship, with virtually no features that match any other design. The saucer hardly deserves the name, with its angular wedge shape; the twin secondary hulls look more like wings, es[pecially the way they are angled to stop the Bussards being blocked by the primary hull. The best estimates put its length at about 335m.

The Norway was designed by Alex Jaeger as a CGI model, and is apparently the lowest-quality rendering of the four he did for the movie, hence its failure to reappear even in crowded DS9 battle scenes. The schematic has been spotted on a ship chart at the fake Starfleet Academy created by Species 8742.

Known Norway-class Ships:

USS Norway
USS Budapest (NCC-64923)

Notes:

This was the last of the "FC Ships" to be identified, and was thought by Utopia Planitia (version 1) to be the Akira seen firing a volley of Photon Torpedoes from above the Enterprise.

Data: (cannot be confirmed)

Production base: ASDB Integration Section, Spacedock 1, Earth
Type: Medium Cruiser
Accomodation: 190 officers and crew; 500 personnel evacuation limit
Power plant: One 1500 plus Cochrane warp core feeding two nacelles; one impulse system
Dimensions: 364.77 meters long, 225.61 wide, 52.48 meters tall
Mass: 622,000 metric tonnes.
Performance: Warp 9.7 for 12 hours
Armament: Six type-10 phaser emitters; two photon torpedo launchers.

Sources:

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual
"Star Trek: First Contact"
"In The Flesh" (VOY)

Available pictures: (1)

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"Kirito? I killed a thing and now it says I have XPs! Is that bad? Am I dying?"

-Asuna, Episode 2, Sword Art Online Abridged

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MinutiaeMan
Living the Geeky Dream
Member # 444

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Ahh, so that's where the old conjecture about "diplomatic transport" came from, all those years ago! An interesting little tidbit, considering the near-complete lack of information about the canonical Norway!

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“Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov
Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha

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Jason Abbadon
Rolls with the punches.
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Good article and well thought out, but the ship should not be that small.

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Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering.
-Aeschylus, Agamemnon

Registered: Aug 2002  |  IP: Logged
   

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