From: tallman@ailanthus.com (Robert Oliver)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.tech
Subject: Re: Excelsiorclass ship that was blasted in DS9
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 93 22:54:09 EDT
Reply-To: tallman@ailanthus.com (Robert Oliver)
Organization: Ailanthus Project

jsbell@acs.ucalgary.ca (Joshua Bell) writes:

> In article <1993Jan9.194125.11848@liberty.uc.wlu.edu> cwynne@liberty.uc.wlu.e
> >They never showed a very good view of the Melbourne, so it's possible it
> >wasn't exactly an Excelsior class.  
> 
> It looked exactly like an Excelsior class. We see about 3-4
> views of it. Its Excelsior. I just checked the tape, but my VCR
> sucks. I can make out "USS MEL" of the name. But it is definitely
> Excelsior-class. 
> 
> >However, did anyone notice, in one aft view of two ships attacking the
> >Borg cube, a ship that looked like an Enterprise class (big gull wing
> >nacelle struts and such) but with more TNG looking ship parts, like engine
> >nacelles and such?
> 
> Thats an Ambassador-class. Again, I just checked. A rear-view
> shows the nacelle pylons going straight out, then straight up.
> Its body is also more tubular than either an Excelsior or Galaxy
> class.
> 
> 
> >Also, wasn't the Saratoga from ST4:TVH an Avenger class, i.e. just like
> >thge Reliant?  The one from DS9 looked more like what some tech sources
> >call a Knox class -- a slightly smaller Reliant without the overhead
> >weapons pod.
> 
> I called this a Soyuz-class, which the TNG Companion described as
> a Miranda-class (the 'official' Okuda/Sternbach name for the
> Reliant-type) minus the roll-bar and with additional turrets.
> Robert Oliver (sp?) stated that the Lantree was a Miranda class,
> and that it lacked the roll-bar, and that the Soyuz-class was
> further differentiated from the Miranda-class (as well as being
> out of service). Personally, I vote we just don't call the
> Saratoga anything until we get some word on what it is, via
> press-releases, a Tech Manual update, or something on the show.
> I'll go with 'Modified-Miranda' though. :) Anyone want to look at
> "Unnatural Selection" and "Cause and Effect" and see if they can
> find a match?
> 
> Joshua

The USS Lantree is a Miranda without the roll bar. There are no other 
modifications made to it, no weapons protrusions (Saratoga), strange 
turret-like thingies (Bozeman) and a standard movie-style bridge module 
(unlike the Bozeman, which has a TOS-looking module). Cinefax magazine 
(#37) has two pictures of the Lantree model being prepared for filming. 
All they did was chop off the roll bar (and you can see the seam) and 
change the hull numbers and name. It is interesting to note that even 
though you never get to see a clear enough shot in the episode to see the 
name or number that the modelers did go to the effort to change 
everything. They even changed the name near the Starfleet logo on the 
warp nacelle even though it can barely be seen in the photograph. 
Essentially there is one difference between this ship and the Saratoga -- 
the addition of the protrusions near the warp nacelles (possibly a 
quickly mounted phaser pod?). Also, the Lantree is called a Class 6 
supply ship with Class 3 defensive weaponry and a crew of 26. Most likely 
it is a Miranda class that was converted into a freighter or simply a 
standard variation on what is obviously a successful design.
   The Soyuz class has been out of service since about 2285. Personally, 
I think it may have been the predecessor of the Miranda class but I doubt 
that there would be any around in 2369. Remember, in "Cause and Effect" 
Geordi (or was it Worf?) seemed mildly surprised to see one. Also, any 
talk about an Avenger class is a bunch of invalid tech fandom nonsense. 
If tech fandom can define classes then we might as well call the Saratoga 
a Pineapple class Dreadnought. Or maybe a Screwdriver class Battleship or 
a Tortoise class Scout or ....

........
Robert Oliver, tallman@ailanthus.com
via Ailanthus Project +1 207-989-6562 - Brewer, Maine.
........
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.tech