Guide:Burke

Burke
Class Overview
Category	frigate
Operational	2221-2267 Burke (nearspace frigate): 2221-2237; Aldrin (deep space frigate): 2222-2237; Burke Flt II (nearspace frigate): 2235-2254; Aldrin Flt II (deep space frigate): 2235-2254; Burke Flt III (nearspace frigate): 2244-2267; Aldrin Flt III (deep space frigate): 2244-2267; Magellan (scout cruiser): 2244-2267; Burke Flt IV (nearspace frigate): 2252-2260; Aldrin Flt IV (deep space frigate): 2252-2260;
Constructed	67 total: ; Burke: 43 (built 2221-26); Aldrin: 24 (built 2222-25); Burke Flt III: 43 (upgraded 2235-2237); Aldrin Flt III: 24 (upgraded 2235-2237); Burke Flt III: 8 (refitted Burke Flt IIs 2244-2245); Aldrin Flt III: 4 (refitted Aldrin Flt IIs 2244-2245); Magellan (scout cruiser): 8 (refitted Aldrin Flt IIs 2244-45); Burke Flt IV: 35 (upgraded 2252-2254); Aldrin Flt IV: 12 (upgraded 2252-2254);
Dimensions
Length	; 183.0 m (Burke/Aldrin Flt I); 185.8 m (Burke/Aldrin Flts II & IV); 179.6 m (Burke/Aldrin Flt III, Magellan);
Beam	122.0 m
Height	; 35.5 m (Burke/Aldrin Flts I, II, & IV); 39.9 m (Burke Flts II & IV w/ pod); 36.6 m (Aldrin Flts II & IV w/ booster); 41.7 m (Burke/Aldrin Flt III); 46.9 m (Magellan);
Mass	; 320,000 mt (Burke Flts I & II); 325,000 mt (Aldrin Flts I & II); 360,700 mt (Burke Flt III); 361,200 mt (Aldrin Flt III); 361,400 mt (Magellan);
Performance
Cruise Speed	; w 4 (Burke & Aldrin Flts I, II, IV); w 5 (Burke & Aldrin Flt IIIs, Magellan);
Max Speed	; w 6.5 (Burke & Aldrin Flts I, II, IV); w 8.0 (Burke & Aldrin Flt IIIs, Magellan);
Endurance	; 2 years (Burke); 3 years (Aldrin, Magellan);
Complement
Officers	25
Enlisted	214 ; ;
Tactical Systems
Beam Weapons	; Burke/Aldrin (original) 2x laser emitters (1.0 GW) (dorsal primary hull); 1x laser emitter (1.0 GW) (ventral primary hull); 6x plasma cannons (2.0 GW) (dorsal primary hull); Burke/Aldrin Flt II 4x Type L phased particle cannons (1.2 TW) (2 twin banks, dorsal primary hull); 2x Type L phased particle cannon (1.2 TW) (twin bank, ventral primary hull); 6x plasma cannon (2.0 GW) (dorsal primary hull); Burke/Aldrin Flts III & IV, Magellan 4x phaser VI emitters (2 twin banks, dorsal primary hull); 2x phaser VI emitters (twin bank, ventral primary hull);
Missile Weapons	; Burke Flt II refit 2x-4x fwd medium torpedo tubes (w/40 photorps) (various dorsal modules, optional); Burke Flt IV refit 4x fwd medium torpedo tubes (w/40 photorps) (dorsal module, optional);
Shields	; 2-layer conformal forcefields; Navigational deflectors (nacelle bows) (Burke/Aldrin Flts I, II, & IV); Navigational deflector dish (Burke Flt III); Navigational deflector array (Burke/Aldrin Flt III, Magellan); 3x auxiliary navigational deflectors (Burke/Aldrin Flts I, II, & IV); Optional deflector pod (Burke Flt IV);
Transporters	; Original 2x GP (6-pad), Mk II; 2 emergency evacuation (22-pad), Mk II; 2257-59 refit 2x GP (6-pad), Mk III; 2 emergency evacuation (22-pad), Mk III;
Auxiliary Craft	; none (Burkes); 4x work pods (Aldrins); 3x work pods (Magellan);
Historical
Ships of Note	; USS Aldrin (NCC-1450); USS Aquitaine (NCC-1629); USS Burke (NCC-1600); USS Interceptor (NCC-1605); USS Magellan (NCC-1462); USS Mayflower (NCC-1621); USS Mauritius (NCC-1633); USS Pailles (NCC-1612); USS Relentless (NCC-1463); USS Shackleton (NCC-1466); USS Vasco da Gama (NCC-1472); USS Vespucci (NCC-1471); USS Zheng He (NCC-1459);
Canonicity
Design	STXI; SFB, ST:Axanar/Tobias Richter
Name	SFB, LUG
History	SFB, ST:Axanar ;

Background

Timo

The successes of the Mann generation of capital combatants had not only increased the Federation’s chances of survival in a war against the Klingons – they had provided Chiokis Corporation with an excellent commercial reputation as an independent spacecraft designer. Yet the Manns and Rangers were a dead end for an ambitious company: saucerlike hulls of refined warp dynamics were the future of starflight. In 2219, Chiokis still remained but a junior partner in such projects, and the contract for the Burke class patrol ship went to Geering. While the nascent Andorian enterprise was asked to modernize the Rangers for a slimmer hull structure, the competing Earth company in turn launched its inaugural saucer hull, taking advantage of the fact that the specifications did not dictate a bulky total conversion powerplant.

Despite the seeming modesty of the patrol ship project, this was a major coup for Geering, and a decisive loss for Chiokis. The Burke class frigate (a bold new definition for the time-honored mission class) would have been the best possible way to make an entry to the market as an independent contractor: a spaceship already conceptualized, visualized and all but designed. This was what the Ranger would look like, once a more compact powerplant could be found for her. Yet without a number of the light cruiser’s mission-specific complications, the new design could be a clean slate for future expansion and eventual greatness. The significance was not lost to Geering’s designing team, which began drafting the shape of a ship far larger than her physical dimensions.

The saucer hull in all its simplicity held the crew accommodation, weapons systems, computing gear, sensors, fuel and impulse propulsion systems, all neatly modularized and sectored. The SAA impulse drive took up the aft centerline, its structures extending somewhat above the level of the widest deck of 122 m diameter. To both sides were main fuel tanks, then crew and support system spaces. On two dorsal positions and a single forward ventral one were the single laser cannon that formed the main armament of the class; six dorsal berths held standard defensive plasma cannon underneath their trapdoors. Even in the modern and ambitious definition of ‘frigate’, there was no mention of torpedo armament. Still, Geering was thinking ahead and introduced dorsal structural hardpoints for possible future installation of weapons modules.

Two stubby pylons underneath would house the PB-21 engines, complete with their built-in power systems. Each also held an integrated navigational deflector, although the saucer bow section was already provided with three auxiliary deflector beam emitters. The performance, or lack thereof, of the engines was no concern of Geering, and the company could deliver the first of the planned fifty hulls on schedule, for trials starting in 2221. Registries were allocated in Ranger fashion, starting out a whole new ‘century’; the 1600s would be a local patrol combatant range for the time being.

Satisfied with the results so far, Star Fleet also gave the go-ahead for a Mk II version of improved endurance, designated as the Aldrin sub-class. The main difference was to be found at the aft dorsal hull: a spinal protrusion housed extended fuel tanks, consumables storage, and a workshop and hangarette for repair pods. Adding a year to total patrol time was a largely theoretical exercise, as engine performance was unchanged and did not allow the vessels to deploy particularly far. Minor improvements in sensors, targeting systems and computers nevertheless contributed to Star Fleet assigning registries in line with contemporary deep space cruisers, in the 1400 ‘century’, right after the Baton Rouge heavy cruiser and the (much delayed and eventually re-registered) Ares battle cruiser.

The Burkes proved sturdy and dependable in most respects. Unfortunately, propulsion was not one of them. Through the latter half of the 2220s, Star Fleet struggled to find a suitable replacement for the PB-21, the failure rate of which kept the 43 plus 24 completed Burkes from efficiently contributing to Federation defense. It was only in 2244 that the PB-45 rose as a credible contender, bringing the Burkes to the solid state era and increasing their military potential. At that point, the baton had been passed; it would be Chiokis’ turn to give shape to Star Fleet’s future. Select ships received a modern phased beam arsenal with twin emitters, their impulse engines were brought to SAD standard, and a wholly internal warp core was installed. The nearspace units were also equipped with a destroyer-type underbelly sensor dish plus boosted shields. Chiokis crafted a ventral bulge to mount the former; the latter called for the customary downward extension of the saucer rim and removed the last traces of the original Geering shape.

The high endurance vessels remained truer to the origins externally. Eight of them received improved C3I facilities and had a host of new sensors bolted onto the spine. They were dedicated to deep space reconnaissance tasks and in theory were considered Magellan class scout cruisers, as per the lowest-registry conversion (NCC-1462). In this role, they saw sterling service in the Four Years War.

Timing wasn’t on the side of the dependable little ships, however. The Great Awakening brought up the possibility of much more capable frigates in this size range, and directed the attentions of Chiokis elsewhere. Further extension of the Burke hull to house a multilinear dilithium-focus powerplant was considered futile, especially considering the very recent investments that would keep these frigates a useful force until full transition could be made to Loknar and Miranda types. In practice, even these investments were cut, leaving almost a third of the Burke force unmodernized (save for a 2250s phaser upgrade) and stationed near the core worlds. Retirements began with laying off a dozen vessels immediately, then followed apace with Loknar and Miranda commissionings. Hulls from both the modernized blocks persisted until the mid-2260s, and the last such unit was stricken from records as late as in 2267.

Despite falling a tad short of longevity, the Burke class was elemental in ushering in the era of the saucer-hulled combatant. The tentative steps taken with Ranger light cruisers would soon be followed by the decisive on-march of Baton Rouge and Proxima cruisers, Detroyat and Saladin destroyers and Ptolemy armed transports, projects directly benefiting from work done on the Burke program. There would be no turning back now; no further lifting-body ships would be procured, and even the results of major modernization programs on such designs would be sent directly to second-rate assignments. Ever since the introduction of the Burke, the archetypal image of Star Fleet has been the silhouette of the saucer-hulled starship.

Delta Dynamics

Burke class nearspace frigate

In 2219, Geering (of Earth) was granted the contract for a new combatant to patrol the internal spacelanes of the Federation, now almost sixty years old. Along with the ship's mission, it was already conceptualized and visualized...just not yet designed. Geering had no issues jumping to this later development phase.

In 2221, the Burke class nearspace frigate was unveiled: comprised of two underslung nacelles and one thin but large saucer, the vessel was ready not only for immediate production, but also variation. The saucer held the entire crew complement, all of the weapons systems, computers, fuel and impulse propulsion systems, in precise modularized sections. The SAA impulse drive appeared to be an attachment to the aft centerline, extending just a slight amount above the widest deck. Within the saucer, fuel tanks rimmed the two sides, with then crew and support systems successively inboard. Two single 1.0 GW laser emitters were installed dorsally, with one on the ventral centerline, as offensive weaponry. Six dorsal berths, covered by protective portals, housed the defensive 2.0 GW plasma cannons. The contract specifically excluded torpedo weaponry, but Geering was thinking ahead by including two powered attachment points for a future weapons pod.

The dual PB-21 warp nacelles were attached by stubby support pylons to the ventral hull of the saucer. The nacelle had built-in power systems, accounting for the larger-than-expected bulk. Additionally, the nacelle's power systems also supported an integrated navigational deflector ahead of the (obstructed) Bussard collectors. These two dishes served as the primary deflection capability of the ship, supported by three auxiliary deflectors built into the saucer's forward rim.

Despite the complex nature of the nacelles, they were not considered to be super-performers; quite the contrary, they were fuel hogs and were capable only of propelling the ship's up to warp 6.5, with an endurance of 2 years. Geering was adamant they were necessary to properly equipping the saucer with all of the combat and support services that would otherwise be in space competition with an internal warp core.

The ships set sail with 239 crew (25 officers, 214 enlisted). Dimensions for the Burkes were 183 meters of length, 122 along the saucer's beam, and a height of 35.5, and massed 320,000 metric tons. Primary forcefields were of the 2-layer conformal type, with the extendable support of the two primary and three auxiliary deflectors. Two 6-person Mk general purpose and two 22-person emergency transporters were installed, and no auxiliary craft were provided. A total of 43 (original) Burkes were constructed by 2226.

Aldrin subclass deep space frigate

With the first ships of the Burke class slipping the rails, Star Fleet gave the go-ahead to Geering to produce a Mark II version, one intended to have a longer endurance and patrol the areas of the Federation not normally visited by the charted spacelanes. Adding 5,000 metric tons to the design was an extension aft of the bridge, along the saucer's spine. The interior provided extended fuel tanks, storage for consumables, a workshop, and a small hanger ("hangerette") to house a small number of repair pods. On either side, closer to the pilot house and one deck below, were docking ports. The powered attachment points on the Burke's saucer were left off, for the attachment rail along the top of the spinal extension would allow optional equipment to be quickly installed to these Aldrins, equipment that would preclude the type of weapon pods being planned for the Burkes.

The extension did increase the operational range of the class by 50%, which wasn't saying much, since the increase was only an additional year (from two). The PB-21B warp nacelles were not the workhorses necessary to take advantage of the extra fuel, so the frigates did not so much push the boundaries of the Federation than allow the cruisers and other explorers the freedom to not linger in the nether areas of semi-explored space. However, the subclass did benefit from minor improvements in sensors, targeting and computing power.

A total of 24 Aldrins were constructed by 2225.

Burke Flight II nearspace frigate

A versatile ship is a valuable ship. This concept was not unknown in Star Fleet in the 2210s, but practicality must outweigh lofty ideas; frigates were easy to pigeon-hole into the function of patrollers. Before Geering was selected to design and assemble the Burkes (in 2219), the idea of a torpedo-capable frigate was discarded as far from as important as getting responsive and capable patrollers into the spacelanes. Numbers were proving critical to assuring the mercantile fleets that they could and would be protected when they raised the alarm. Complicating a design with torpedo bays and launchers would not only lengthen the amount of time to produce each individual frigate, but would come at the expense of something else that was deemed critical. Crew? Range? Neither of these were worth torpedo capability. The simple answer was to get a capable energy-armed ship out there and out there now.

Geering had the foresight to suggest that there could be a time that a torpedo-capable ship might be required in great numbers and that time might not be on the Federation's side to design and produce such a combatant in the numbers required to handle the threat. The company was able to convince Star Fleet's Office of Support Operations that by adding only two powered attachment points to the dorsal hull now, there would be plenty of time to develop an optional sled with a weapons mount. The Burkes could hit the spacelanes in the short term but be quickly upgraded with torpedo capability, when called to do so. The attachment points required so little maintenance, claimed Geering, that it would a wise investment. The office agreed and directed Star Fleet Engineering to assist in preliminary planning for such a system.

The weapons sled and 4 torpedo module variants were ready well before the class' 2235 refit yard period was to begin. However, it was decided to go into full production of the pods only in preparation for the ships' tech upgrade. The four variants were produced in limited numbers each, so as to try each of the combinations equally. Torpedo launch venting was a serious concern in the cramped compartments of the modules, but venting was known to interfere with both heat build-up of the launching equipment and launch-phase targeting sensors co-located on the pods. For this reason, weapons exercises—and eventually operational combat use—were to be considered and recorded rather closely, to find which configuration was the most efficient and dependable. Of course, the ship's commanding and weapons officers would provide feedback and opinions critical to the decision makers.

The four variants were never used in any fleet operational actions. While there was certainly the opportunity, in reality operational area commanders only had the modules installed on their assigned Burke assets for the directed weapons exercises and rarely for scheduled patrols; the reason was that the other versatility of the vessel—diplomacy—was deemed far more important than the overt militarization of a respected response vessel. However, Star Fleet did not abandon the idea of the weapons pod, easily recognizing the need for such a capacity, and settled on a final configuration that was unveiled with the fourth flight of the Burkes, in 2252.

Burke Flt II weapons pod

The four torpedo module variants released with the Flight II were:

Module A: 2 forward launchers, large aft venting
Module B: 2 forward launchers, 1 aft launcher, forward and aft venting
Module C: 2 forward launchers, 2 aft launchers, forward and minimalized aft venting
Module D: 3 forward launchers, 1 aft launcher, restricted forward and standard aft venting

Burke Flight II w/ weapons pod (Module Type A)
Module Type A (all aspects)
Modules Type B, C, & D

Aldrin Flight II deep space frigate

Between 2235 and 2237, all 24 vessels of the Aldrin subclass entered drydocks and spacedocks for their standard refit periods, along with the Burkes. The most important tactical upgrade they each received was having the three laser emitters removed and replaced with six Type L phased particle cannons of 1.2 terrawatt capacity, secured by spacetight hatches. Four were provided on the dorsal saucer, with the remaining two on the ventral side.

A lack of satisfaction with the PB-21B nacelle crafted to the mission profile of the frigates was primarily focused on the range capacity afforded the ship, which was limited to a cruise limit of warp 4, and a maximum speed of warp 6.5. Modelling suggested that a reflux of the warp field, focused on the immediate aft, along with a few other longevity and internal maintenance tweaks, might tip the scales of efficiency a bit in the ships' favor; a subspace field visor coupled on to the extreme end of the nacelles, however, did not support the results of the modelling. They were not removed, as they seemed to have no effect one way or the other, other than somewhat restricting the light emissions from that particular field window.

Aldrin Flight II booster pod

Aldrin Flight II w/ booster pod

Gallery

Burke Flight III nearspace frigate

Aldrin Flight III deep space frigate

Magellan subclass scout cruiser

Burke Flight IV nearspace frigate

Burke Flight IV w/ weapons pod (Module Type E)
Module Type E (all aspects)
Burke Flight IV w/ deflector pod
Sensor module and a module-less pod

Aldrin Flight IV deep space frigate

Aldrin Flight IV w/ booster pod

Aldrin sub-class starboard stern view
"Voyage of the Mayflower"

Master Sheets

Burke Flight I
Aldrin Flight I
Burke Flight II
Burke Flight II (w/ weapons pod)
Aldrin Flt II
Aldrin Flt II (w/ booster pod)
Burke Flight III
Aldrin Flight III
Magellan

Magellan
Burke Flight IV
Burke Flight IV (w/ weapons pod)
Burke Flight IV (w/ deflector pod)
Aldrin Flight IV
Aldrin Flight IV (w/ booster pod)

Other Images

Supporting Documents

Notes

The number of Burke sub-class ships was increased by one in the text, to match the sidebar.

The initial inline image has been changed from Timo's Guide as a nearspace Burke to that of a deep space Aldrin, because Adrasil made an actual image that best shows the dorsal booster described in the caption.

The image and caption regarding the USS Vasco da Gama indicates a NCC of 1842. The caption has been changed to 1472, to better represent the range of codes for the Aldrin sub-class.

To clarify:

The Burke sub-class was built as a 'nearspace' frigate first, followed during the same production run by the Aldrin 'deep space' frigate, with a dorsal spine.
Starting in 2235, the both sub-classes received a significant upgrade, but the Burkes also received dorsal torpedo modules, with 2, 3 or 4 launchers; the Aldrins did not receive the package; instead they received booster pods.
In 2244, both classes were refit to (then) modern standards, with the Burkes generally retaining the weapons pod (also with an upgraded torpedo module). Eight from Aldrins were modified to become Magellan sub-class scout cruisers. Also note: the modernized Aldrins did not receive the ventral-mounted sensor dish. Note also, the original Geering-built saucers did not have the ventral bulge. These were added to some by Chiokis.
Starting in 2252, the ships were upgraded to the latest weaponry.
In the 2260s, all of the vessels started being decommissioned, ending in 2267.

The text says even the non-modernized Burke sub-class ships received the 2252 weapons upgrade, but it is likely they were all decommissioned by that time. I've decided that all Flight IV Burkes and Aldrins will be de-commissioned no later than 2260.

Mass figures have been added for the Aldrin Flt I, based on guesstimate.

Work pods have been listed to the auxiliaries for Aldrins and the Magellan.

Guide:Burke

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