Durance class transport

Durance class transport

The Durance class first entered service with the United Earth Stellar Navy in 2130, transitioned to the UE Starfleet in 2133, and fully decommissioned in 2163, the second year of the Federation. Within the overall series, 92 hulls were procured, with 15 specifically of the Durance variation, the others within two later subclasses. These primary Durances were 98.7 meters in length, 57.5 meters on the beam, 27.9 meters high (24.7 meters without the removable DSS), and massed 42,100 metric tons. Three officers led the 37 enlisted crew, for a total of 40. The ships cruised at warp 2 and had a maximum speed of warp 2.2, with a deployment endurance of 4.5 years.

The Durance was armed with three 2-gigawatt plasma cannons, one on the forward dorsal hull, and one on the outboard sides of each nacelle. The ships were protected by an electromagnetic shield, polarizable armor (on the forward hull and sections of the aft), and twin navigational deflectors on the ventral forward hull. They had no laboratories, but could carry one heavy atmospheric shuttle or two cargo handling pods, when outfitted with the optional hanger bay (in lieu of the forward cargo container). Two grappling arms were installed on the forward side of the triangular dorsal support structure (located between the two cargo containers), assisting the work pods in maneuvering the containers or transferring fuel to receiving ships. Within the dorsal support structure were additional fuel tanks.

Prior to the Romulan War (2156–2160), the Durances were the primary means of support for colonies antispinward from Earth, operating between Lorillia and Bolarus. However, as the Rihannsu became more aggressive to the interlopers, UESS Chandeleur (FR-263) was the first of the class to fall. The ships never made too much of an impact on Earth herself, as they had been built in such relatively meager numbers. However, during the war, their perceived potential led to the production of plenty more, in two subclasses: Redstone and Chryse.

_{Durance with one cargo container & optional observation deck/shuttlebay}

_{Durance with two cargo containers}

_{Durance with two loaded and two trailing cargo containers}

Durance-style cargo container

The cargo container designed exclusively for the United Earth Starfleet’s Durance class transport in 2130 carried up to 12,400 metric tons apiece. Variance in mass distribution due to the attaching of multiple containers aboard the transport was handled by a balancing system that moved propellant and ballast between tanks in the spine of the optional dorsal support structure (the triangular object just forward of a lone container placed on the stern section of the ship). When a ship visited an orbital port without cargo handling equipment, the versatile grappling arms would un-stow from the forward side of the structure and maneuver the pods away from the ship; if the Durance carried the optional shuttlebay, then the two cargo handling pods helped reduce the transition time, as well as improved the safety of the evolution. When energized, magnetic clamps on the ship would close position and lock on to the metallic portions of the container’s hull.

These cargo containers had enormous hatches on their rear side, reminiscent in style and function to personnel and shuttlepod ports found on starships. However, rarely were these pods pressurized and the massive hatches were intended to allow for the ingress and egress of cargo pods and workbees retrieving or stowing the various items in the container’s inventory. Temperature management systems, power, and required fluids were husbanded directly from the transport itself, but restricted to only one pod. When a single pod was carried, these services came through a direct connection of the ports from the dorsal support structure. In order to carry two pods, the Durance would be required to shed the structure, and the services came directly to the forward container from the rear side of the forward hull section. Trailing containers, attached by the magnetics contained within the rear-side seals, could never receive such services. As was standard, supply runs would often shuttle containers to their destination, unload them, and then depart with pre-loaded containers.

Aberdeen subclass escort cruiser

Within the overall Durance series, 92 hulls were procured, with two modified to the Aberdeen variation, in the years prior to the Romulan War (2156–2160). These two had the same dimensions as the primary ships, but were modified as prototype “escort cruisers” to protect commerce in the area when it became obvious that the expected lifetime of unescorted vessels near Triangulum Australe was lower than the reaction time of nearby UESF forces. Featuring added plasma weapons and omitting both the cargo pods and the dorsal support structure, the ships had no true offensive capabilities. They proved to be insufficient in protecting convoys against vicious Rihannsu attacks after the beginning of open war.

Rio Verde subclass survey vessel

The UESS Rio Verde was the only Durance to be converted from her original transport mission to a scientific survey one, with the removal of all services support for the cargo containers and installing commercial off-the-shelf sensors onto the articulated, extendable cargo-handling grappler arms. The ship could now enter fields of specific interest, such as asteroid belts or nebulae, and examine multiple scientific curiosities at the same time, or even focus on one particular target from slightly different vectors. If ship’s orientation allowed, the forward sensors could also be engaged, siphoning near-iso amounts of data relatively quickly. The ten Durance passenger billets were well-suited to host visiting scientists.

The concept of a dedicated and versatile survey vessel rang true within certain branches of the nascent UFP Star Fleet and led to vessel classes that were much better equipped and manned for the role.

Manheim subclass destroyer

The Manheim subclass of the Durances was created as a test of the configurability and utility of the primary class, with a specific focus on the march to war spinward of Earth in the early 2150s. To convert the UESS Manheim (FR-260) into a destroyer, spaces immediately below the amidships cargo platform were cleared to create a missile storage bay, with a retractable dorsal hatch. The versatile cargo grappling arms, now unemployed with the removal of the transport mission, were reconfigured to host a 500 GW phased particle cannon (port) and a fusion missile launcher (starboard). Both arms allowed for greater articulation than the installed plasma cannon turrets provided; the launcher would extend into the missile bay and select the designated ordnance, before then swiveling to the target’s vector. Follow-on launches could take place, on differing vectors, within 24 seconds of each other.

UESS Heron Bay (FR-251) was the only other Durance to follow Manheim out of the refit slips as a destroyer and both retained their combatant roles throughout the conflict and following it. However, the necessity of dedicated combatant lineages was evident, due to numerous logistics, training, and capacity reasons highlighted by the numerous roles the Durances filled.

Durance wartime fit

During the Romulan War, as individual Durance class ships entered range of dockyards equipped to upgrade them, their plasma cannons were replaced with 300 MW laser turrets, with a range of 230 nautical miles. The ships were protected by an electromagnetic shield, polarizable armor (on the forward hull and sections of the aft), and twin navigational deflectors on the ventral forward hull. The Durances had no laboratories, but could carry one heavy atmospheric shuttle or two cargo handling pods, when the optional hanger bay was equipped (in lieu of the forward cargo container). Two grappling arms were installed on the forward side of the triangular dorsal support structure (located between the two cargo containers). They could assist the work pods in maneuvering the containers or transferring fuel to receiving ships. Within the dorsal support structure were additional fuel tanks.

Redstone subclass transport

The Redstone subclass of the Durance series first entered service with the United Earth Starfleet during the Romulan War (2156–2160) and the last was decommissioned in 2163, in the second year of the Federation. Thirty-eight Redstones were procured, on a cost-cutting measure to acquire more logistical support for the rapidly maneuvering front-line forces. The savings were acquired by not installing the expensive and massive warp repeaters. This prevented, of course, the towing of any cargo, including the class-custom Durance-style cargo containers; if it did not fit within the warp field-encased cargo deck, it did not go. This reduced the types and amounts of cargo to be delivered, but the quicker construction meant more ships in the lanes, so the trade-off was seen as equitable. However, one unanticipated aspect of the “shorter” transports was that the UESF was less willing to spare them for longer endurance missions, which meant the original Durances often undertook the longer deployments.

Chryse subclass transport

The Chryse subclass of the Durance first entered service with the United Earth Starfleet in 2158, during the Romulan War (2156–2160) and the last was decommissioned in 2163, in the second year of the Federation. Thirty-nine Chryses were procured, on a cost-cutting measure to acquire more logistical support for the rapidly maneuvering front-line forces. The savings were acquired by making the container pod concept permanent, installing a pressurized, shirt-sleeve environment inside a large cargo space. The standard rear hatch remained and the issue with having less cargo capacity than of the Redstones was reversed, by including the warp repeaters. However, the overall consistent blocky shape resulted in consistent fuel costs, also reducing the range of this subclass (though still improved over that of the Redstones).

Ship Registry

Clicking on the arrows will allow the sorting of the table.

Comparison/Blueprints/Orthos

Starship Comparison Guide

Durance class transport

Durance class transport (config 2)

Durance class transport (config 3)

Durance class transport (config 4)

Durance-style cargo container

Aberdeen subclass escort cruiser

Rio Verde subclass survey vessel

Manheim subclass destroyer

Durance wartime fit

Redstone subclass transport

Chryse subclass transport

Author: RevancheRM

Illustrator: Adrasil

Original Inspiration: Todd Guenther (Starship Aurora)

Permission is granted to save and use above images. While permission to download files with Delta Dynamics’ label is granted, re-hosting or provision of the files (or any parts contained within) must include proper citation of Delta Dynamics or the name of the relevant artist, at a minimum.