Vesper class

## SPACECRAFT CLASS

Forward port view

Aft port view

The ***Vesper*-class** was a type of spacecraft developed by Starfleet in the early 24th century. It was rated as a scale 4 light cruiser at launch and later reclassified as a scale 4 frigate.

## History

Development of the *Vesper*-class was prompted by two factors: Starfleet’s need for a starship with similar capabilities to the *Excelsior*-class, but with lower crew requirements; and repeated setbacks in the development of the *Ambassador*-class. Critics of the *Vesper* project pointed to the *Centaur*, *Constellation*, and *Lancelot*-classes as viable alternatives to a new design. Proponents countered that those classes were not as versatile as desired, with the *Lancelot* itself being a costly refit of the tactically focused *Georgiou*-class. Those advocating for the project won out and the *Vesper*-class entered development in 2320.

While testing continued on many technologies within the *Ambassador* project, its new arrangement of phaser emitters and diburnium hull coating was ported to the smaller Vesper. Designated the Type-X phaser, the emitters were arranged in long arrays across the frigate’s hull. Due to issues with the *Ambassador’s* new warp propulsion system, and to simplify construction, designers employed coils derived from those used in the *Centaur*-class.

Though the *Vesper* proved successful in its trials, its longevity suffered from its association with the initial failures of the *Ambassador*-class and the continued use of the more easily adaptable *Miranda*-class frame. While the few *Vespers* commissioned remained in service for decades, Starfleet Command ultimately came to rely instead on its *Miranda* fleet and new designs coming out of the Century Cruiser Project.

## Ships commissioned

 USS *Sha Ka Ree* | NCC-6989
 USS *Vesper* | NCC-10109

## Appendices

### Connections

**Project groups:** **Union Station** (*Geneva* • *Concorde* • *Presidio*) • **Century Cruiser** (*Springfield* • *New Orleans* • *Challenger* • *Niagara* • *Freedom II* • *Galaxy* • *Nebula* • *Cheyenne*) • **Multi-Mission explorers** (*Brigid* • *Esquiline* • *Palatine*) • **Deep Shadow** (*Eclipse* • *Phantom* • *Scryer*) • **Miracle Worker** (*Scott* • *Daystrom* • *Tucker* • *Gagarin*) • **Aeronaut** (*Mercury* • *Ajax* • *Icarus* • *Shran*)

**Other named classes:** *Aegian* • *Aerie* • *Akula* • *Atlas* • *California* • *Centaur* • *Challenger* • *Cheyenne* • *Constellation* • *Constitution III* • *Crossfield* • *Curry* • *Daedalus* • *Dauntless* • *Excelsior II* • *Freedom II* • *Gemini* • *Glenn* • *Guardian* • *Inquiry* • *Iwo Jima* • *Jupiter* • *Lexington* • *Niagara* • *Obena* • *Okinawa* • *Parliament* • *Perseus* • *Pioneer* • *Ranger* • *Sagan* • *Solanae* • *Springfield* • *Turing* • *Ulysses*

**Auxiliary craft:** *Aero* • Class C • Class F • *Danube* • *Flyer* • *Gondola* • *Kodai* • *Mollard* • *Peregrine* • *Selenic* • Type 4 • Type 5 • Type 6 (Type 6A • Type 6S) • Type 7 • Type 8 • Type 9 (Type 9A) • Type 10 • Type 11 • Type 14 • Type 17 • Type 19 • *Valkyrie* • *Venture* • *Waverider* • *Yellowstone*

**Leadership:** Commander-in-chief • Joint Chiefs • Chief of Starfleet External Affairs • Chief of Starfleet Operations • Chief of Starfleet Research and Exploration • Chief of Starfleet Tactical

**Agencies:** Operations (Engineering • Judicial • Materiel Supply • Mission Operations • Personnel Management • Records Service • Shipyards Operations • Starbase Operations) • Research & Exploration (Science • Medical) • External Affairs • Tactical (Intelligence • Security • MACO)

**Notable units:** Ktarn Fleet • Task Force 77

**Facilities:** Deep Space K-7 • Deep Space K-13 • Deep Space 9 • Masamichi Array • Starbase 45-Keepsake • Starbase 82-Maat • Starbase 234-Beskerm • Starbase 247-Vershina

**Agencies:** Starfleet • Diplomatic Corps • Department of Temporal Investigations • Federation Security Agency

**Facilities:** 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards • Antares Ship Yards • Beta Antares Ship Yards • Copernicus Ship Yards • Laikan Starfleet Shipyards • McKinley Station • Memory Project • New Aberdeen Shipyards • Proxima Maintenance Yards • Salazaar Shipyards • San Francisco Fleet Yards • TL-9139 Starfleet Maintenance Yards • Tranquility Base • Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards

### Sources consulted

* Vesper class article at *Memory Beta*.
* Constitution Cruiser article at the *Star Trek Online Wiki*.
* STO Ship Lore: Vesper-Class Cruiser post by Thomas Marrone.