Raptor class The " Raptor " - class scout vessel was a small battle cruiser utilized by the Klingon Empire during the mid - 22nd century . History . The Klingon " Raptor " was a type of scout ship first encountered by the Vulcan s sometime prior to 2151 . As such , the vessel was listed in the Vulcan database , however , much of the information on the class remained classified . The first Earth encounter with a " Raptor " came in 2151 , when the Starfleet ship stumbled across the disabled within the atmosphere of a class 9 gas giant , where it was being crushed by the planet ' s brutal atmospheric pressure . With the crew apparently incapacitated , an " Enterprise " boarding party worked to restore the ship ' s propulsion system s and regain altitude . Though eventually successful , the boarding party became trapped on the ship , allowing them time to explore the interior of a Klingon vessel – the first Human s to ever do so . ( ) Schematics for the " Raptor " - class also appeared in ' 31st century database . ( ) Upon viewing the " Raptor " , among other Klingon vessel classes , Malcolm Reed noted that there were " " schematics on half a dozen different Klingon ships , " " but was reminded by Jonathan Archer that acquiring information on those ships was not the reason why they were accessing the database . ( ) Technical data . According to the Vulcan database , this vessel was identified as a " scout vessel " , but was later recalled by Jonathan Archer to be a " battle cruiser " . ( ) Physical arrangement . The outboard plan of the " Raptor " utilized the same basic avian design that would be further incorporated into a classic and noble warship lineage . It was similar in design lineage as the battle cruiser and Bird - of - Prey variant . The bridge module is separated from the main body by a thin neck that flares out into the up - swept wings , which contain the warp nacelle s . ( ) Hull . The " Raptor " s outer hull was reinforced with a type of coherent molecular alloy made it capable of withstanding atmospheric pressure of 15 , 000 GSC , or that found in a class 9 gas giant , at an approximate depth of two kilometer s . Overall , the " Raptor " s hull was twice as thick as that of Starfleet ' s . ( ) Propulsion systems . The impulse engine was located , like most Klingon starship classes , at the extreme aft section of the main structure . The various components of the propulsion system included a fusion manifold as well as port and starboard fusion injector s . ( ) Tactical systems . The " Raptor " - class was equipped with shields . The tactical systems included tactical sensor s , disruptor array s and at least six automated photon torpedo ports that could be loaded simultaneously . These including at least one torpedo port on the ship ' s ventral side . ( ) The primary weapon array was located on the dorsal side of the ship . ( display graphic ) Like its D5 - class counterpart of the same era , the " Raptor " was outfitted with standard multi - spectral sensors similar to those used on Starfleet ' s NX - class . ( ) Auxiliary craft . The " Raptor " class was not equipped with any form of escape pod . ( ) Interior design . The " Raptor " - class was comprised of at least four decks ; it had at least one docking hatch located on the port side , deck 2 , red sector . ( ) Main bridge . The main bridge was located in the " head " of the forward section of the vessel . The configuration of the darkened main bridge design of the " Raptor " - class scout was shared with many contemporary Klingon bridge layouts , including the D5 - class and Bird - of - Prey . Located in the front of the bridge , against the forward bulkhead , was the ship ' s main viewscreen . Located near the center of the bridge was an access console , separating the viewscreen from the command chair . Directly behind the command chair were two manned consoles , with a corridor access point located to the immediate rear . Along the port side of the bridge were several stations , each assigned to a specific task , including an engineering console and a tactical console . Additional stations were also located on the starboard side , including a station that displayed structural integrity and helm . ( ) Reactor pit . The " reactor pit " was located one deck below the bridge , in the ship ' s " neck " . It had at least two entryways and two free - standing work consoles . ( ) Galley . The galley was located on deck 4 , blue sector ; a targ pit and cold storage unit were located opposite of the entryway . ( ) Appendices . Background information . Name . The word " raptor " means " bird of prey " . However , in , the vessels which were referred to as the Bird - of - Prey were of a distinctly different design . It is of note that the original reference to the term " bird of prey " was also mentioned in the dialogue from the same episode in which the " Raptor " appeared . Model . The " Raptor " - class was the first new Klingon ship to be established in " Star Trek " in roughly a decade . The exclusive use of the 22nd century as the predominant setting of allowed the show ' s producers opportunity to introduce a new Klingon craft . Due to the relative earliness of the era in which the ship was to be portrayed as active , it had to seem more primitive than the battle cruiser s and Birds - of - Prey depicted previously , even though it meanwhile had to be recognizably Klingon . ( ) Several designs were considered when first establishing the " Raptor " , which was originally scripted to be a small scout ship . According to John Eaves , the designing of the ship went through " quite a gamut of shapes . " These were done as a series of quick sketches by Eaves himself , for Herman Zimmerman to show the producers . He explained , " " Originally , it was supposed to be a shuttle , then it got a little bigger as it went on . My thumbnails go from little two - man sized things to four - guy ships , up to the one they chose , which I figure is like a 12 - guy ship . It is lightly based on the Bird - of - Prey , but more on the D - 7 . " " ( ) The concept design chosen by the producers was a fairly detailed sketch that clearly showed the " Raptor " as a 22nd century ship . ( ) Despite this , John Eaves had , by now , a relatively clear idea of how he could continue making it look more primitive than the usual variety of Klingon vessels . ( ) Because the " Raptor " was clearly based on the D7 class , Eaves was able to work backward from a familiar design . Since his 22nd century design ethic involved him often wanting to show wings as being state - of - the - art at that time ( even if occasionally aerodynamic ) , Eaves instantly had a sense of how to modify the architecture of the " Raptor " without interfering with the basic shapes . He consequently accentuated the wings more than they are on the D7 class , which had more body than wings . ( ) After the chosen concept sketch was selected by the producers , John Eaves passed the appropriate drawing to Doug Drexler . He produced only a single view of the craft , constructing it as a CG model with . ( ) Drexler continued refining the design as he built it . He proceeded on the basis that his job wasn ' t to make any changes to the shape , but to reinforce the general impression which the producers were interested in creating . Drexler felt the " Raptor " had " a - quality to it . " He added , " " John ' s sketches suggested a trussed and cabled quality that I was sure to include in the model . Those distinctive touches helped to date it . The coloration is metallic , but suggests the gray tones of Matt Jefferies ' original battle cruiser . We are still a way off from the murky rusty - green of later years , " " which could have also been the color of . ( ) John Eaves was thrilled with Doug Drexler ' s CGI modeling of the " Raptor " , thinking it " compliments " his design in every possible way . After Drexler completed his work on the CGI design , the model was sent to Foundation Imaging , where it was completed in minute detail by modeler Pierre Drolet and his supervisor , Rob Bonchune . They added damage to the ship , which was called for by the script of . ( ) The length established for the CGI model , as scaled in relation to the other models created for the series , was 145 meters . " Sleeping Dogs " was the only time that the CGI model of this class appeared on - screen . However , it was also seen in the title menu of the " Star Trek : Enterprise " Season Two DVD . Apocrypha . In the 25th century timeline of " Star Trek Online " , the " Raptor " - class was one of three core ship types used by the Klingon Defense Force and its allies , the other two being the Bird - of - Prey ( also known as the Raider ) and the Battle Cruiser . Raptors were less maneuverable than Raiders , but more durable .