Guide:Boyden - Revision history

Dan at 13:25, 21 June 2023

2023-06-21T13:25:13Z

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 |history= SFC
 }}
-In the [[2179]] mandate, [[Star Fleet]] was given a general overseer role in the newly organized [[Federation]],
+In the [[2179]] mandate, [[Star Fleet]] was given a general overseer role in the newly organized [[Federation]], including duties of defense, research, charting and maintenance of space lanes, Federation-wide law enforcement and support of civilian space traffic. It was obvious that warships and science vessels alone would not suffice for such a broad mission description. A wide variety of civilian vessels was drafted for support and maintenance roles, but some specific mission types were ill handled by such unsophisticated or perhaps excessively sophisticated equipment. A major problem was fast transportation of supplies, spares, fuel and valuables for extended Star Fleet operations.
-The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology
+The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology was only adaptable to moderately large vessels, too few of which existed for all the supply and support needs of the Fleet. Only a handful of [[Guide:Hercules|class ''Y'']] freighters suited for warp three upgrading were in Star Fleet possession, rather than the hundreds of vessels needed, and further production of the model was deemed unwise. Solutions were sought elsewhere, including the realm of unmanned cargo drones. Thus far, these drones had only utilized impulse or low-warp technology and were not fielded by Star Fleet in quantity. In [[2180]], the situation was changed by a request for proposals for a medium-warp unmanned cargo vessel for Star Fleet use.
-[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A relatively lightly laden ''Boyden'' drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a ''[[Guide: Drexler|Drexler]]'' frigate. Such
+[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A relatively lightly laden ''Boyden'' drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a ''[[Guide: Drexler|Drexler]]'' frigate. Such attention was reserved for priority shipments only. Whether this antenna structure qualified is a matter of opinion. As a scientific instrument, it undoubtedly was crude and outdated even back in the [[2190s]], as Vulcans would have pointed out. Yet a likely use was in a forward military listening outpost, a field of [[Star Fleet]] operations where Vulcan opinion weighed little.]]
-Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance
+Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations. Finally, in [[2183]], [[Gulliver GPF Industries]] was able to perfect an automated warp drive system utilizing a floating-core rotary fusion reactor, deuterium-tritium fuel and very short, simple and maintenance-free plasma conduitry. A fuel incompatible with the standard Fleet deuterium was
-of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations.
+bound to cause logistics problems, but pure deuterium fusion was deemed too risky due to the higher temperatures and compressions needed. Warp coils were purpose-built for the design, increasing costs but improving reliability in this special application.
-Overall hull shape was then dictated by utilitarian concerns. A boxy primary spaceframe mounted
+Overall hull shape was then dictated by utilitarian concerns. A boxy primary spaceframe mounted the three identical nacelles one down, two to the upper sides, the reactor bulging from between them, and fuel bubbles flanking the reactor housing. Impulse nozzles were located at centerhull stern, for a clear thrust vector while pushing external loads. Internal cargo handling machinery was located on the primary hull bow, from where small containers, bulk cargo, gases or liquids could be
-the three identical nacelles one down, two to the upper sides, the reactor bulging from between
+transferred to the cargo area. External loads could be slung on a bow mooring spine, similar in diameter to the ''[[Guide:Vanguard|Vanguard]]'' one.
-The drone obviously looked nothing like the Star Fleet defense or exploration designs of the time,
+The drone obviously looked nothing like the Star Fleet defense or exploration designs of the time, save perhaps for its warp nacelles. Still, it immediately found a place in the hearts of [[Logistics Command]] personnel, and 54 units were ordered initially. A selection of swappable cargo hold modules for the carriage of differing cargo types was also purchased, although ‘backward compatibility’ was promised for the major container types used by earlier manned transports. A second batch of the same size was ordered in [[2184]], when the first original-batch units were delivered. Service name '''''Boyden''''' was adopted for the drone series, and NCC numbers ranged from Q012 to Q119 (later G012-G119); the new ships more than doubled Star Fleet’s warp cargo drone complement.
-This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP Star Fleet efforts to produce non-military
+This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP Star Fleet efforts to produce non-military spacecraft, and as such was expected to run into some troubles. Initial cost overruns were quickly covered by savings from the replacing of manned craft with ''Boyden'' drones. However, the unmanned and undefended vessels easily fell into pirate hands if left unguarded—so some manned craft were always tied down to ''Boyden'' operations. Also, the AI programs piloting the drones did not perform quite as flawlessly as simulations had indicated, and only the Mk 6 version of the program was deemed reliable enough to allow the drones to run crowded space lanes unguided. Spaceport approach and departure was naturally always under full remote control.
-Based on operational experiences, Star Fleet chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating
+Based on operational experiences, Star Fleet chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating these craft. Destroyers or frigates were assigned to escort one to four ''Boydens'' at a time through pirate-infested regions; remote control units for the drones were installed on the escorts for contingencies. The flexibility of the drones still made these convoys more practical in supply duty than dedicated manned transports (which would have to have been escorted by manned defense ships as well). The ''Boydens'' served with distinction until [[2220]]; some 25 units were lost, 14 to pirates, and some 120 shipments were ransacked, but more than eleven thousand shipments reached their destinations more or less safely.
-The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo
+The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo drones somewhat. The follow-on design of ''[[Guide: Sherman|Sherman]]'' class was still a valuable part of Star Fleet inventory, and benefited from AI advances. Its delayed introduction in [[2224]] left a slight gap between drone generations, as the stopgap drones of ''[[Guide: Namaskaar|Namaskaar]]'' and ''[[Guide: Webb|Webb]]'' classes were never produced in sufficient quantity. Thus, the retiring of ''USS Bethesda'' (NCC-G036), the last of the ''Boydens'', in [[2220]] was accompanied with a definite sense of loss. Currently, no examples of the drones survive in surplus depots or museums, but the epic Robinsonade ‘Stardrifter’ by K. Wickly has immortalized the (fictional) ''USS Hooper'' of this class, as well as her single hapless occupant, Impulse Technician 3rd Class Gary Boone, in the minds of countless generations of young readers.
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 118: / Line 61: @@
 ==Notes==
 * The initial numbers ordered are dropped by two, in order to meet the statement, "a second batch of the same size was ordered."
 * The [[:File:Boyden.jpg|original image]] of the ''Boyden'' (found in ''Spaceflight Chronology'') was replaced with the current one in ''Timo's Guide''. The (missing) in-text picture (as shown in the ''Guide'') was a tongue-in-cheek reference to the swap. (The image was not included in this article because of the glaring contrast in art styles between the two ships, as well as missing imagery for other referenced vessels.)
 <br>
 ----
 * [[Guide: Timo's Guide to Star Fleet|Back to the Table of Contents]]

Dan: /* Notes */

2022-11-18T18:13:18Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 18 November 2022
Line 121:		Line 121:
	<br>		<br>
	----		----
	* [[Timo's Guide to ~~StarFleet~~\|Back to the Table of Contents]]		* [[Guide: Timo's Guide to Star Fleet\|Back to the Table of Contents]]
	* [[Guide: 2161-2200 - The Federation\|Back to "The Federation"]]		* [[Guide: 2161-2200 - The Federation\|Back to "The Federation"]]
	* [[Guide: Of Ship Statistics\|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]		* [[Guide: Of Ship Statistics\|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]

Dan at 18:13, 18 November 2022

2022-11-18T18:13:00Z

Dan at 18:10, 18 November 2022

2022-11-18T18:10:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:10, 18 November 2022
Line 58:		Line 58:
	Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance		Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance
	of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations.		of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations.
	Finally, in [[2183]], [[~~Corporations_of_the_UFP#Warp_Systems\|~~Gulliver GPF Industries]] was able to perfect an automated warp drive system		Finally, in [[2183]], [[Gulliver GPF Industries]] was able to perfect an automated warp drive system
	utilizing a floating-core rotary fusion reactor, deuterium-tritium fuel and very short, simple and		utilizing a floating-core rotary fusion reactor, deuterium-tritium fuel and very short, simple and
	maintenance-free plasma conduitry. A fuel incompatible with the standard Fleet deuterium was		maintenance-free plasma conduitry. A fuel incompatible with the standard Fleet deuterium was

Dan at 13:58, 19 March 2017

2017-03-19T13:58:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:58, 19 March 2017
Line 122:		Line 122:
	----		----
	*[[Timo's Guide to Starfleet\|Back to the Table of Contents]]		*[[Timo's Guide to Starfleet\|Back to the Table of Contents]]
	*[[2161-2200 - The Federation ~~(Guide)~~\|Back to "The Federation"]]		*[[Guide:2161-2200 - The Federation\|Back to "The Federation"]]
	*[[Of Ship Statistics (Guide)\|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]		*[[Of Ship Statistics (Guide)\|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]
	*[[Glossary (Guide)\|Appendix B: Glossary]]		*[[Glossary (Guide)\|Appendix B: Glossary]]

Dan: /* Notes */

2015-05-29T13:48:18Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:48, 29 May 2015
Line 118:		Line 118:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	* The initial numbers ordered are dropped by two, in order to meet the statement, "a second batch of the same size was ordered."		* The initial numbers ordered are dropped by two, in order to meet the statement, "a second batch of the same size was ordered."
			* The [[:File:Boyden.jpg\|original image]] of the ''Boyden'' (found in ''Spaceflight Chronology'') was replaced with the current one in ''Timo's Guide''. The (missing) in-text picture (as shown in the ''Guide'') was a tongue-in-cheek reference to the swap. (The image was not included in this article because of the glaring contrast in art styles between the two ships, as well as missing imagery for other referenced vessels.)
	<br>		<br>
	----		----

Dan at 13:43, 29 May 2015

2015-05-29T13:43:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:43, 29 May 2015
Line 30:		Line 30:
	\|historicalships= <br>		\|historicalships= <br>
	* ''SS Bethesda'' (NCC-G036)		* ''SS Bethesda'' (NCC-G036)
	\|design= SFC		\|design= SFC; own
	\|name= SFC		\|name= SFC
	\|history= SFC		\|history= SFC

Dan at 17:41, 18 May 2015

2015-05-18T17:41:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:41, 18 May 2015
Line 75:		Line 75:
	The drone obviously looked nothing like the Starfleet defense or exploration designs of the time,		The drone obviously looked nothing like the Starfleet defense or exploration designs of the time,
	save perhaps for its warp nacelles. Still, it immediately found a place in the hearts of Logistics		save perhaps for its warp nacelles. Still, it immediately found a place in the hearts of Logistics
	Command personnel, and 56 units were ordered initially. A selection of swappable cargo hold		Command personnel, and 54 units were ordered initially. A selection of swappable cargo hold
	modules for the carriage of differing cargo types was also purchased, although ‘backward		modules for the carriage of differing cargo types was also purchased, although ‘backward
	compatibility’ was promised for the major container types used by earlier manned transports. A		compatibility’ was promised for the major container types used by earlier manned transports. A
Line 115:		Line 115:

	</gallery>		</gallery>

			==Notes==
			* The initial numbers ordered are dropped by two, in order to meet the statement, "a second batch of the same size was ordered."

	<br>		<br>

Dan at 17:20, 18 May 2015

2015-05-18T17:20:18Z

Dan: created

2015-05-18T17:07:10Z

created

New page

{{Sidebar Guide ship
|image=[[Image:Boyden (starboard).png|250px|''Boyden'' class cargo drone]]
|classname= ''Boyden''
|category= cargo drone
|years= [[2184]]-[[2220]]
|constructed= 108
|length= 62.6 m
|beam= 31.0 m
|height= 39.5 m
|mass= 40,350 tons (unloaded)
|cruisespeed= w 2
|maxspeed= w 3
|endurance= 10 years
|officers=
|enlisted=
|troops=
|passengers=
|patients=
|crew= none
|cargo=
|beamweapons=
|missileweapons=
|otherweapons=
|shields=<br>
* 1-layer conformal forcefield
* 2x navigational deflector emitters (bow)
|labs=
|transporters= none
|auxcraft= none
|historicalships= <br>
* ''SS Bethesda'' (NCC-G036)
|design= SFC
|name= SFC
|history= SFC
}}
In the 2179 mandate, Starfleet was given a general overseer role in the newly organized Federation,
including duties of defense, research, charting and maintenance of space lanes, Federation-wide law
enforcement and support of civilian space traffic. It was obvious that warships and science vessels
alone would not suffice for such a broad mission description. A wide variety of civilian vessels was
drafted for support and maintenance roles, but some specific mission types were ill handled by such unsophisticated or perhaps excessively sophisticated equipment. A major problem was fast
transportation of supplies, spares, fuel and valuables for extended Starfleet operations.

The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology
was only adaptable to moderately large vessels, too few of which existed for all the supply and
support needs of the Fleet. Only a handful of class Y freighters suited for warp three upgrading were
in Starfleet possession, rather than the hundreds of vessels needed, and further production of the
model was deemed unwise. Solutions were sought elsewhere, including the realm of unmanned
cargo drones. Thus far, these drones had only utilized impulse or low-warp technology, and were
not fielded by Starfleet in quantity. In 2180, the situation was changed by a request for proposals for
a medium-warp unmanned cargo vessel for Starfleet use.

Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance
of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations.
Finally, in 2183, Gulliver GPF Industries was able to perfect an automated warp drive system
utilizing a floating-core rotary fusion reactor, deuterium-tritium fuel and very short, simple and
maintenance-free plasma conduitry. A fuel incompatible with the standard Fleet deuterium was
bound to cause logistics problems, but pure deuterium fusion was deemed too risky due to the
higher temperatures and compressions needed. Warp coils were purpose-built for the design,
increasing costs but improving reliability in this special application.

Overall hull shape was then dictated by utilitarian concerns. A boxy primary spaceframe mounted
the three identical nacelles one down, two to the upper sides, the reactor bulging from between
them, and fuel bubbles flanking the reactor housing. Impulse nozzles were located at centerhull
stern, for a clear thrust vector while pushing external loads. Internal cargo handling machinery was
located on the primary hull bow, from where small containers, bulk cargo, gases or liquids could be
transferred to the cargo area. External loads could be slung on a bow mooring spine, similar in
diameter to the Vanguard one.

The drone obviously looked nothing like the Starfleet defense or exploration designs of the time,
save perhaps for its warp nacelles. Still, it immediately found a place in the hearts of Logistics
Command personnel, and 56 units were ordered initially. A selection of swappable cargo hold
modules for the carriage of differing cargo types was also purchased, although ‘backward
compatibility’ was promised for the major container types used by earlier manned transports. A
second batch of the same size was ordered in 2184, when the first original-batch units were
delivered. Service name Boyden was adopted for the drone series, and NCC numbers ranged from
Q012 to Q119 (later G012-G119); the new ships more than doubled Starfleet’s warp cargo drone
complement.

[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A relatively lightly laden Boyden drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a Drexler frigate. Such
attention was reserved for priority shipments only. Whether this antenna structure qualified is a matter of opinion. As a
scientific instrument, it undoubtedly was crude and outdated even back in the 2190s, as Vulcans would have pointed out.
Yet a likely use was in a forward military listening outpost, a field of Starfleet operations where Vulcan opinion weighed
little.]]

This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP Starfleet efforts to produce non-military
spacecraft, and as such was expected to run into some troubles. Initial cost overruns were quickly
covered by savings from the replacing of manned craft with Boyden drones. However, the
unmanned and undefended vessels easily fell into pirate hands if left unguarded – so some manned
craft were always tied down to Boyden operations. Also, the AI programs piloting the drones did not
perform quite as flawlessly as simulations had indicated, and only the Mk 6 version of the program
was deemed reliable enough to allow the drones to run crowded space lanes unguided. Spaceport
approach and departure was naturally always under full remote control.

Based on operational experiences, Starfleet chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating
these craft. Destroyers or frigates were assigned to escort one to four Boydens at a time through
pirate-infested regions; remote control units for the drones were installed on the escorts for
contingencies. The flexibility of the drones still made these convoys more practical in supply duty
than dedicated manned transports (which would have to have been escorted by manned defense
ships as well). The Boydens served with distinction until 2220; some 25 units were lost, 14 to
pirates, and some 120 shipments were ransacked, but more than eleven thousand shipments reached
their destinations more or less safely.

The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo
drones somewhat. The follow-on design of Sherman class was still a valuable part of Starfleet
inventory, and benefited from AI advances. Its delayed introduction in 2224 left a slight gap
between drone generations, as the stopgap drones of Namaskaar and Webb classes were never
produced in sufficient quantity. Thus, the retiring of USS Bethesda (NCC-G036), the last of the
Boydens, in 2220 was accompanied with a definite sense of loss. Currently, no examples of the
drones survive in surplus depots or museums, but the epic Robinsonade ‘Stardrifter’ by K. Wickly
has immortalized the (fictional) USS Hooper of this class, as well as her single hapless occupant,
Impulse Technician 3rd Class Gary Boone, in the minds of countless generations of young readers.

==Gallery==
<gallery>

</gallery>

<br>
----
*[[Timo's Guide to Starfleet|Back to the Table of Contents]]
*[[2161-2200 - The Federation (Guide)|Back to "The Federation"]]
*[[Of Ship Statistics (Guide)|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]
*[[Glossary (Guide)|Appendix B: Glossary]]
*[[Starfleet Organization - General Outline (Guide)|Appendix C: Starfleet Organization - General Outline]]
*[[Abbreviations From Outside (Guide)|Appendix D: Abbreviations From Outside]]

[[Category:Guide|{{PAGENAME}}]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 18 November 2022
Line 34:		Line 34:
	\|history= SFC		\|history= SFC
	}}		}}
	In the [[2179]] mandate, [[~~Starfleet~~]] was given a general overseer role in the newly organized [[Federation]],		In the [[2179]] mandate, [[Star Fleet]] was given a general overseer role in the newly organized [[Federation]],
	including duties of defense, research, charting and maintenance of space lanes, Federation-wide law		including duties of defense, research, charting and maintenance of space lanes, Federation-wide law
	enforcement and support of civilian space traffic. It was obvious that warships and science vessels		enforcement and support of civilian space traffic. It was obvious that warships and science vessels
	alone would not suffice for such a broad mission description. A wide variety of civilian vessels was		alone would not suffice for such a broad mission description. A wide variety of civilian vessels was
	drafted for support and maintenance roles, but some specific mission types were ill handled by such unsophisticated or perhaps excessively sophisticated equipment. A major problem was fast		drafted for support and maintenance roles, but some specific mission types were ill handled by such unsophisticated or perhaps excessively sophisticated equipment. A major problem was fast
	transportation of supplies, spares, fuel and valuables for extended ~~Starfleet~~ operations.		transportation of supplies, spares, fuel and valuables for extended Star Fleet operations.

	The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology		The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology
	was only adaptable to moderately large vessels, too few of which existed for all the supply and		was only adaptable to moderately large vessels, too few of which existed for all the supply and
	support needs of the Fleet. Only a handful of [[Guide:Hercules\|class ''Y'']] freighters suited for warp three upgrading were		support needs of the Fleet. Only a handful of [[Guide:Hercules\|class ''Y'']] freighters suited for warp three upgrading were
	in ~~Starfleet~~ possession, rather than the hundreds of vessels needed, and further production of the		in Star Fleet possession, rather than the hundreds of vessels needed, and further production of the
	model was deemed unwise. Solutions were sought elsewhere, including the realm of unmanned		model was deemed unwise. Solutions were sought elsewhere, including the realm of unmanned
	cargo drones. Thus far, these drones had only utilized impulse or low-warp technology, and were		cargo drones. Thus far, these drones had only utilized impulse or low-warp technology, and were
	not fielded by ~~Starfleet~~ in quantity. In [[2180]], the situation was changed by a request for proposals for		not fielded by Star Fleet in quantity. In [[2180]], the situation was changed by a request for proposals for
	a medium-warp unmanned cargo vessel for ~~Starfleet~~ use.		a medium-warp unmanned cargo vessel for Star Fleet use.

	[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg\|left\|200px\|thumb\|A relatively lightly laden ''Boyden'' drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a ''[[Guide: Drexler\|Drexler]]'' frigate. Such		[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg\|left\|200px\|thumb\|A relatively lightly laden ''Boyden'' drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a ''[[Guide: Drexler\|Drexler]]'' frigate. Such
	attention was reserved for priority shipments only. Whether this antenna structure qualified is a matter of opinion. As a		attention was reserved for priority shipments only. Whether this antenna structure qualified is a matter of opinion. As a
	scientific instrument, it undoubtedly was crude and outdated even back in the [[2190s]], as Vulcans would have pointed out.		scientific instrument, it undoubtedly was crude and outdated even back in the [[2190s]], as Vulcans would have pointed out.
	Yet a likely use was in a forward military listening outpost, a field of ~~Starfleet~~ operations where Vulcan opinion weighed		Yet a likely use was in a forward military listening outpost, a field of [[Star Fleet]] operations where Vulcan opinion weighed
	little.]]		little.]]

Line 73:		Line 73:
	diameter to the ''[[Guide:Vanguard\|Vanguard]]'' one.		diameter to the ''[[Guide:Vanguard\|Vanguard]]'' one.

	The drone obviously looked nothing like the ~~Starfleet~~ defense or exploration designs of the time,		The drone obviously looked nothing like the Star Fleet defense or exploration designs of the time,
	save perhaps for its warp nacelles. Still, it immediately found a place in the hearts of Logistics		save perhaps for its warp nacelles. Still, it immediately found a place in the hearts of Logistics
	Command personnel, and 54 units were ordered initially. A selection of swappable cargo hold		Command personnel, and 54 units were ordered initially. A selection of swappable cargo hold
Line 80:		Line 80:
	second batch of the same size was ordered in [[2184]], when the first original-batch units were		second batch of the same size was ordered in [[2184]], when the first original-batch units were
	delivered. Service name '''''Boyden''''' was adopted for the drone series, and NCC numbers ranged from		delivered. Service name '''''Boyden''''' was adopted for the drone series, and NCC numbers ranged from
	Q012 to Q119 (later G012-G119); the new ships more than doubled ~~Starfleet’s~~ warp cargo drone		Q012 to Q119 (later G012-G119); the new ships more than doubled Star Fleet’s warp cargo drone
	complement.		complement.

	This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP ~~Starfleet~~ efforts to produce non-military		This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP Star Fleet efforts to produce non-military
	spacecraft, and as such was expected to run into some troubles. Initial cost overruns were quickly		spacecraft, and as such was expected to run into some troubles. Initial cost overruns were quickly
	covered by savings from the replacing of manned craft with ''Boyden'' drones. However, the		covered by savings from the replacing of manned craft with ''Boyden'' drones. However, the
Line 92:		Line 92:
	approach and departure was naturally always under full remote control.		approach and departure was naturally always under full remote control.

	Based on operational experiences, ~~Starfleet~~ chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating		Based on operational experiences, Star Fleet chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating
	these craft. Destroyers or frigates were assigned to escort one to four ''Boydens'' at a time through		these craft. Destroyers or frigates were assigned to escort one to four ''Boydens'' at a time through
	pirate-infested regions; remote control units for the drones were installed on the escorts for		pirate-infested regions; remote control units for the drones were installed on the escorts for
Line 102:		Line 102:

	The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo		The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo
	drones somewhat. The follow-on design of ''[[Guide: Sherman\|Sherman]]'' class was still a valuable part of ~~Starfleet~~		drones somewhat. The follow-on design of ''[[Guide: Sherman\|Sherman]]'' class was still a valuable part of Star Fleet
	inventory, and benefited from AI advances. Its delayed introduction in [[2224]] left a slight gap		inventory, and benefited from AI advances. Its delayed introduction in [[2224]] left a slight gap
	between drone generations, as the stopgap drones of ''[[Guide: Namaskaar\|Namaskaar]]'' and ''[[Guide: Webb\|Webb]]'' classes were never		between drone generations, as the stopgap drones of ''[[Guide: Namaskaar\|Namaskaar]]'' and ''[[Guide: Webb\|Webb]]'' classes were never
Line 121:		Line 121:
	<br>		<br>
	----		----
	*[[Timo's Guide to ~~Starfleet~~\|Back to the Table of Contents]]		* [[Timo's Guide to StarFleet\|Back to the Table of Contents]]
	*[[Guide:2161-2200 - The Federation\|Back to "The Federation"]]		* [[Guide: 2161-2200 - The Federation\|Back to "The Federation"]]
	*[[Of Ship Statistics ~~(Guide)~~\|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]		* [[Guide: Of Ship Statistics\|Appendix A: Of Ship Statistics]]
	*[[Glossary ~~(Guide)~~\|Appendix B: Glossary]]		* [[Guide: Glossary\|Appendix B: Glossary]]
	*[[~~Starfleet~~ Organization - General Outline ~~(Guide)~~\|Appendix C: ~~Starfleet~~ Organization - General Outline]]		* [[Guide: Star Fleet Organization - General Outline\|Appendix C: Star Fleet Organization - General Outline]]
	*[[Abbreviations From Outside ~~(Guide)~~\|Appendix D: Abbreviations From Outside]]		* [[Guide: Abbreviations From Outside\|Appendix D: Abbreviations From Outside]]


	[[Category:Guide\|{{PAGENAME}}]]		[[Category:Guide\|{{PAGENAME}}]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:20, 18 May 2015
Line 34:		Line 34:
	\|history= SFC		\|history= SFC
	}}		}}
	In the 2179 mandate, Starfleet was given a general overseer role in the newly organized Federation,		In the [[2179]] mandate, [[Starfleet]] was given a general overseer role in the newly organized [[Federation]],
	including duties of defense, research, charting and maintenance of space lanes, Federation-wide law		including duties of defense, research, charting and maintenance of space lanes, Federation-wide law
	enforcement and support of civilian space traffic. It was obvious that warships and science vessels		enforcement and support of civilian space traffic. It was obvious that warships and science vessels
Line 43:		Line 43:
	The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology		The time was not yet ripe for the fielding of fast, light warp transports. Advanced warp technology
	was only adaptable to moderately large vessels, too few of which existed for all the supply and		was only adaptable to moderately large vessels, too few of which existed for all the supply and
	support needs of the Fleet. Only a handful of class Y freighters suited for warp three upgrading were		support needs of the Fleet. Only a handful of [[Guide:Hercules\|class ''Y'']] freighters suited for warp three upgrading were
	in Starfleet possession, rather than the hundreds of vessels needed, and further production of the		in Starfleet possession, rather than the hundreds of vessels needed, and further production of the
	model was deemed unwise. Solutions were sought elsewhere, including the realm of unmanned		model was deemed unwise. Solutions were sought elsewhere, including the realm of unmanned
	cargo drones. Thus far, these drones had only utilized impulse or low-warp technology, and were		cargo drones. Thus far, these drones had only utilized impulse or low-warp technology, and were
	not fielded by Starfleet in quantity. In 2180, the situation was changed by a request for proposals for		not fielded by Starfleet in quantity. In [[2180]], the situation was changed by a request for proposals for
	a medium-warp unmanned cargo vessel for Starfleet use.		a medium-warp unmanned cargo vessel for Starfleet use.

			[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg\|left\|200px\|thumb\|A relatively lightly laden ''Boyden'' drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a ''[[Guide: Drexler\|Drexler]]'' frigate. Such
			attention was reserved for priority shipments only. Whether this antenna structure qualified is a matter of opinion. As a
			scientific instrument, it undoubtedly was crude and outdated even back in the [[2190s]], as Vulcans would have pointed out.
			Yet a likely use was in a forward military listening outpost, a field of Starfleet operations where Vulcan opinion weighed
			little.]]

	Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance		Warp propulsion was the major bottleneck in the development program, since the high performance
	of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations.		of typical modern systems came at the cost of complexity incompatible with unmanned operations.
	Finally, in 2183, Gulliver GPF Industries was able to perfect an automated warp drive system		Finally, in [[2183]], [[Corporations_of_the_UFP#Warp_Systems\|Gulliver GPF Industries]] was able to perfect an automated warp drive system
	utilizing a floating-core rotary fusion reactor, deuterium-tritium fuel and very short, simple and		utilizing a floating-core rotary fusion reactor, deuterium-tritium fuel and very short, simple and
	maintenance-free plasma conduitry. A fuel incompatible with the standard Fleet deuterium was		maintenance-free plasma conduitry. A fuel incompatible with the standard Fleet deuterium was
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	located on the primary hull bow, from where small containers, bulk cargo, gases or liquids could be		located on the primary hull bow, from where small containers, bulk cargo, gases or liquids could be
	transferred to the cargo area. External loads could be slung on a bow mooring spine, similar in		transferred to the cargo area. External loads could be slung on a bow mooring spine, similar in
	diameter to the Vanguard one.		diameter to the ''[[Guide:Vanguard\|Vanguard]]'' one.

	The drone obviously looked nothing like the Starfleet defense or exploration designs of the time,		The drone obviously looked nothing like the Starfleet defense or exploration designs of the time,
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	modules for the carriage of differing cargo types was also purchased, although ‘backward		modules for the carriage of differing cargo types was also purchased, although ‘backward
	compatibility’ was promised for the major container types used by earlier manned transports. A		compatibility’ was promised for the major container types used by earlier manned transports. A
	second batch of the same size was ordered in 2184, when the first original-batch units were		second batch of the same size was ordered in [[2184]], when the first original-batch units were
	delivered. Service name Boyden was adopted for the drone series, and NCC numbers ranged from		delivered. Service name '''''Boyden''''' was adopted for the drone series, and NCC numbers ranged from
	Q012 to Q119 (later G012-G119); the new ships more than doubled Starfleet’s warp cargo drone		Q012 to Q119 (later G012-G119); the new ships more than doubled Starfleet’s warp cargo drone
	complement.		complement.

	~~[[Image:No Photo Available.jpg\|left\|200px\|thumb\|A relatively lightly laden Boyden drone hauls a subspace telescope antenna, shepherded by a Drexler frigate. Such~~
	~~attention was reserved for priority shipments only. Whether this antenna structure qualified is a matter of opinion. As a~~
	~~scientific instrument, it undoubtedly was crude and outdated even back in the 2190s, as Vulcans would have pointed out.~~
	~~Yet a likely use was in a forward military listening outpost, a field of Starfleet operations where Vulcan opinion weighed~~
	~~little.]]~~

	This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP Starfleet efforts to produce non-military		This major acquisition program was one of the earliest UFP Starfleet efforts to produce non-military
	spacecraft, and as such was expected to run into some troubles. Initial cost overruns were quickly		spacecraft, and as such was expected to run into some troubles. Initial cost overruns were quickly
	covered by savings from the replacing of manned craft with Boyden drones. However, the		covered by savings from the replacing of manned craft with ''Boyden'' drones. However, the
	unmanned and undefended vessels easily fell into pirate hands if left unguarded – so some manned		unmanned and undefended vessels easily fell into pirate hands if left unguarded – so some manned
	craft were always tied down to Boyden operations. Also, the AI programs piloting the drones did not		craft were always tied down to ''Boyden'' operations. Also, the AI programs piloting the drones did not
	perform quite as flawlessly as simulations had indicated, and only the Mk 6 version of the program		perform quite as flawlessly as simulations had indicated, and only the Mk 6 version of the program
	was deemed reliable enough to allow the drones to run crowded space lanes unguided. Spaceport		was deemed reliable enough to allow the drones to run crowded space lanes unguided. Spaceport
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	Based on operational experiences, Starfleet chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating		Based on operational experiences, Starfleet chose convoying as the preferred mode of operating
	these craft. Destroyers or frigates were assigned to escort one to four Boydens at a time through		these craft. Destroyers or frigates were assigned to escort one to four ''Boydens'' at a time through
	pirate-infested regions; remote control units for the drones were installed on the escorts for		pirate-infested regions; remote control units for the drones were installed on the escorts for
	contingencies. The flexibility of the drones still made these convoys more practical in supply duty		contingencies. The flexibility of the drones still made these convoys more practical in supply duty
	than dedicated manned transports (which would have to have been escorted by manned defense		than dedicated manned transports (which would have to have been escorted by manned defense
	ships as well). The Boydens served with distinction until 2220; some 25 units were lost, 14 to		ships as well). The ''Boydens'' served with distinction until [[2220]]; some 25 units were lost, 14 to
	pirates, and some 120 shipments were ransacked, but more than eleven thousand shipments reached		pirates, and some 120 shipments were ransacked, but more than eleven thousand shipments reached
	their destinations more or less safely.		their destinations more or less safely.

	The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo		The emergence of compact warp technology in the next century diminished the need for cargo
	drones somewhat. The follow-on design of Sherman class was still a valuable part of Starfleet		drones somewhat. The follow-on design of ''[[Guide: Sherman\|Sherman]]'' class was still a valuable part of Starfleet
	inventory, and benefited from AI advances. Its delayed introduction in 2224 left a slight gap		inventory, and benefited from AI advances. Its delayed introduction in [[2224]] left a slight gap
	between drone generations, as the stopgap drones of Namaskaar and Webb classes were never		between drone generations, as the stopgap drones of ''[[Guide: Namaskaar\|Namaskaar]]'' and ''[[Guide: Webb\|Webb]]'' classes were never
	produced in sufficient quantity. Thus, the retiring of USS Bethesda (NCC-G036), the last of the		produced in sufficient quantity. Thus, the retiring of ''USS Bethesda'' (NCC-G036), the last of the
	Boydens, in 2220 was accompanied with a definite sense of loss. Currently, no examples of the		''Boydens'', in [[2220]] was accompanied with a definite sense of loss. Currently, no examples of the
	drones survive in surplus depots or museums, but the epic Robinsonade ‘Stardrifter’ by K. Wickly		drones survive in surplus depots or museums, but the epic Robinsonade ‘Stardrifter’ by K. Wickly
	has immortalized the (fictional) USS Hooper of this class, as well as her single hapless occupant,		has immortalized the (fictional) ''USS Hooper'' of this class, as well as her single hapless occupant,
	Impulse Technician 3rd Class Gary Boone, in the minds of countless generations of young readers.		Impulse Technician 3rd Class Gary Boone, in the minds of countless generations of young readers.