Yeoman Class

Originally a Police Cutter design, the Yeoman serves as the smallest independent warship in the Hydran Royal Navy. She is most commonly found on convoy escort duty and as a picket, although her powerful Hellbore Cannon, around which the ship is built, does allow her to serve in the fire support roles if required.

## Development

During their long exodus in the Lost Colonies, the Hydrans realised that if they were ever to retake their ancestral home from the Klingon and Lyran invaders, a variety of light support ships would be required in addition to the heavy Capital Ships in so desperately short supply. These Screens would also be required in the short term for more mundane activities during their exile, such as policing duties (as alas, even the Great Cloud was not bereft of pirates), border patrols, scouting and the like. Agents of Hydran Military Intelligence also reported that light military starships were starting to find favour in the combat tactics of other powers. The initial problem for a Hydran light warship was a suitable weapons system. Both the Hellbore Cannon and Fusion Beam Emitter were too powerful to mount on such a small frame conventionally, and an armament of only Gatling Phasers would leave such a warship underpowered.

The solution was a rather unorthodox one. Rather than building a light starship and mounting weapons to it, Hydran engineers took a Hellbore Cannon and built a Frigate-class starship around it, using the cannon as spinal ridge. The result was quite unlike other Hydran designs, which resembled Klingon warships in their planform for the most part, but proved remarkably effective in trials. A pair of Gatling Phaser Emitters rounded out the armament of the new warship, and she entered service with the Hydran Royal Navy in 2258.

In 2281, after the introduction of the Halberdier Fusion Beam Fighter to the Hydran Royal Navy, the Yeoman was refitted to carry a pair of the new Fightercraft, one under each warp nacelle "wing". These fast attack craft complemented the ranged punch of the Yeoman's Hellbore Cannon.

## Operational History

Initially employed as Police Cutters, Yeomans were gradually integrated into the Hydran Royal Navy as new tactics were developed for their use. In mock engagements, Yeomans would support the flanks of Knight Class Destroyers and Regent Class Light Cruisers with volleys of Hellbore fire to soften enemy shields before the larger ships commenced their attack. After the widespread adoption of Fightercraft by the Hydran Royal Navy in the 2280s, the Yeoman's complement of Halberdier Fusion Beam Fighters would join in this charge, or the Yeoman and her Fightercraft would enact this same tactic alone on a smaller scale, with the Yeoman firing covering volleys for her Halberdiers.

The Yeoman's first large scale combat occurred during The Return in 2285, and the Organian Conflict that followed. Although not the strongest warship in her hull class, her Fightercraft gave her a surprising edge that confounded many enemies. During the War of Pacification, the limited involvement of the Hydran Kingdoms meant that the Yeoman saw little action, but where the Hydran Royal Navy did see combat, the Yeoman was at the forefront.

During the General War of 2292, a number of Yeoman Class Frigates were part of a Destroyer Flotilla sent by Monarch-Queen Emoleth III to aid the beleaguered Federation in the early days of the conflict. They helped to repel invading Klingon forces from Federation territory alongside the Gorn Royal Navy.

## Apocrypha

Although increasingly outpaced by newer designs, the Yeoman remained competitive by the addition of Fightercraft and the surprising range of her Hellbore Cannon. She remained in service with the Hydran Royal Navy until the end of Hydran independence in 2323, even seeing combat in the final climatic battle in the Targreth System. (See the "Battle of the Last Alliance")

## Specifications

* **Class:** Frigate
* **Hull Type Designation:** HFF
* **Length:** 124m
* **Crew:** 55
* **Warp Nacelles:** 2

* **Maximum Sublight Speed:** 4250 k/s (42.5 Mk/s)
* **Cruise** **Warp Factor Speed:** wf 7.2
* **Safe** **Maximum Warp Factor Speed:** wf 8.8
* **Hull Rating:** 190 HSF
* **Shield Rating:** 290 FSP

* **Sensor Rating:** 800 SRU

* **Armament and Equipment:**
	+ Primary
		- 2 × Hydran Type Gatling Phaser Emitter
	+ Secondary
		- None
	+ Heavy
		- 1 × Hellbore Cannon
	+ Advanced
		- None
	+ Equipment
		- Tractor Beam Emitter
		- Probes
		- 2 × Halberdier Fusion Beam Fighter

## Ships in Service (2292)

HMS Militia

HMS Shard

HMS Malath

HMS Togotar

HMS Corporal

HMS Sergeant

HMS Breacher

HMS Rupture

HMS Torsion

HMS Ballista

HMS Minuteman

HMS Harthor

HMS Tardax

HMS Companion

HMS Escort

HMS Cohort

HMS Guide

HMS Shepherd

HMS Attendant

HMS Legion

HMS Ferret

HMS Lynx

HMS Boxer

HMS Ardent

HMS Bruizer

HMS Hardy

HMS Haughty

HMS Porcupine

HMS Janus

HMS Salmon

HMS Snapper

HMS Dragon

HMS Contest

HMS Zephyr

HMS Conflict

HMS Teazer

HMS Wizard

HMS Handy

HMS Hart

HMS Ranger

HMS Sunfish

HMS Opossum

HMS Rocket

HMS Shark

HMS Surly

HMS Starfish