Dhelan class

## SPACECRAFT CLASS

The Dhael variant

The ***Iirhhaedh'rrhiet Dhelan*** or ***Dhelan*-class**, Rihan for "swift," was a type of spacecraft developed by the Romulan Guard in the 23rd century, though the class did not progress beyond the development stage. The design was later adopted by some of the splinter groups from the Romulan Star Empire in the late 24th century. Most would eventually form the Romulan Republic in the early 25th century and the class became a common sight in the Romulan Republic Militia for decades.

## History

The *Dhelan*-class began development in the mid 23rd century in response to the Romulan Star Empire's conflicts with the United Federation of Planets, and was intended as a counter to the *Constitution*-class. A subsequent drop in tensions and the sharing of technology with the Klingon Empire, meant that the *Dhelan* did not advance beyond the early production stage for decades.

After several small conflicts with the Federation and Klingon Empire, the Dhelan was revisited and entered active production. Elements of the design influenced several later warbirds such as the *Mogai*-class.

In the early 25th century, a number of unfinished *Dhelan*-class hulls were acquired and completed by Romulan Republic shipwrights and incorporated into the nascent Romulan Republic Navy. These vessels would serve in many engagements fought by the Republic in subsequent years.

## Technical information

The *Dhelan*-class had three different configurations. The original design bore only two wings, as did the type that Starfleet classified as a light frigate. The dual-winged configuration was a destroyer.

## Derivatives

### *Dhael*

The *Dhael*-class refit, Rihan for "avian," was the Romulan Republic designers' take on the 23rd century design, making the warbird much sleeker than the standard *Dhelan* and 10 meters shorter. It was developed with two wing options, one with a top wing and the other without. The singularity inverter system was also added to this subclass, allowing the warbird to absorb some of the power of incoming directed energy attacks to provide additional energy to the *Dhael's* systems.

### *Hathos*

After seeing the success of the *Dhelan*-class, Reman engineers at Vauthil Station took its design and made it their own. The *Hathos-*subclass (Rihan for "hunter") was an aggressive warbird that was both durable and agile. The warbird was also equipped with a railgun destabilizer that allowed the vessel to deliver a withering barrage of explosive blasts at nearby foes.

## Appendices

### Connections

**Project Groups:** C3 warbirds (*Baratan* • *Deihu* • *Vastam*) • Miracle Worker (*Nijil* • *Tebok* • *Varel*) • Multi-mission explorers (*Galas* • *Surhuelh* • *Taenen*) • Pilot escorts (*Khaiell* • *Jaeih* • *Okhala*)

**Other Named Classes:** *Aelahl* • *Aves* • *Craeul* • *Deleth* • *Faehht* • *Kholhr* • *Laeosa* • *Osprey* • *Ra'nodaire* • *Rahhae* • *Thrai* • *T'liss* • *Valkis*

**Auxiliary Craft:** *Falconet* • *Kestrel* • *Scorpion* • *Talon*

**Agencies:** Romulan Republic Temporal Defense • Reman Resistance

**Military:** Romulan Republic Militia • Romulan Republic Army • Republic Militia Intelligence • Romulan Republic Navy • Republic Special Forces

**Facilities:** New Romulus Command • Dewa IV Shipyards • Rh'Ihho Station • Tephrei Fleet Yards • Vauthil Station

**Territory:** Crateris • New Romulus • Rhi III • Virinat

### Sources consulted

* Dhelan class article at *Memory Beta*.
* Dhelan Warbird article at the *Star Trek Online Wiki*.

### Footnotes

1. ↑ *STO* dev blog: *"Featured Ship: The Dhelan Retrofit and Dhael."*
2. ↑ Dev Blog #3