USSN Starships
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USSN Starships
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INTRODUCTION

I created this web page to honor the starship designs of my friend John DeBonnaire. John and I have known each other for many years and supported each other in our speculative spaceship design efforts. John works mostly in the Star Trek universe and usually focuses on Federation ships. He has created many of his designs by kit-bashing and prefers working with models over drawing. In the images above, I started by scanning John's line-art and a few photos of one of his favorite models into my computer. Then, the images were imported into Corel Draw 12 where coloration and registration markings were added. In the case of the kit-bashed model images, running lights were added using Universe Image Creator 1.63 and some final tweaking done in Corel Photo-Paint 12.

In creating these images and the accompanying background text below, I tried to keep the flavor of John's work. Since these images are only my interpretation of his work, I put them in their own Star Trek-like universe and gave most of the ships generic American names to honor John's patriotism. In selecting which of his ships to use, I did not chose my personal favorites. Rather, I picked those designs that seemed to fit best into families of ships that could be arranged into a plausible timeline of historical development. The sizes, classifications, and order of the ships in the timeline are my invention. The logo used is based on one done by John. He has given me approval to share these images with my website audience and I am proud to show them to you. If you wish to contact John directly, he would be glad to hear from you. His email address is Redherefordsrule@aol.com.

THE UNITED STAR SYSTEMS UNIVERSE

This background material is set in an alternate 23rd century to that of "Star Trek". In this alternate universe, Humans and a few alien allies formed an interstellar federation named the United Star Systems (USS) in 2215 AD. The star fleet of the USS is the United Star Systems Navy (USSN). The "current/present" year of the USS timeline is 2269 AD. In the over fifty years of its existence, the USSN has developed four generations of starships. The key opponent to the United Star Systems is the Klorgi Empire (KE). United Star Systems and Klorgi Empire forces first clashed during the 2220's AD as USSN starships led a sizable colonization program. Fighting was sporadic until the Klorgi Imperial Fleet (KIF) began a large-scale invasion of United Star Systems territory in 2237 AD. This invasion started the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War. The war lasted until 2242 AD with the vanquishing of Klorgi forces from United Star Systems space and the signing of a formal ceasefire. While a legal border was established between the United Star Systems and Klorgi Empire, no peace treaty resulted. USSN and KIF starships have continued to clash on occasion ever since. As of 2269 AD, the uneasy truce remains in place as USSN and KIF border patrols eye each other nervously. It is known that a number of Klorgi Empire member systems wish to join the United Star Systems. As these systems agitate for their freedom, some suspected to be receiving help from USSN covert forces, it is likely that the truce will not remain in place for much longer . . .

MAJOR USSN STARSHIPS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE

The Enterprise Class Battleship entered service in 2266 AD. It is the largest, most powerful, and most advanced warship in the USSN. The Enterprise Class is also the first 4th generation USSN starship. It is intended to counter new KE warships now entering service. 3 Enterprise Class Battleships have been built with 1 more to be complete by the end of 2269 AD.

The Independence Class Dreadnought entered service in 2251 AD. This warship was built to counter KE dreadnoughts entering service in the late 2240’s AD. The Independence Class has been victorious in most encounters with Klorgi warships. It has three hangar bays, one for noncombatant shuttles, and two for fighters. Up to 100 fighters can be carried making the Independence Class a carrier as well as a dreadnought. A total of 12 have been built and 10 remain in service as of 2269 AD.

The Courageous Class Heavy Cruiser entered service in 2248 AD. This warship was built to replace the very successful but aging Washington Class Heavy Cruiser. The Courageous Class is the current backbone of the USSN. Its four faster-than-light engines enable it to outrun most other vessels. The Courageous Class can carry up to 50 fighters in addition to noncombatant shuttles. It is the most common starship used for border patrol but a handful have been dedicated to deep space exploration. 43 Courageous Class Heavy Cruisers have been built and 31 remain in service as of 2269 AD. Most losses have been due to sporadic incursions into USS space by KE forces.

The Vigilant Class Light Cruiser entered service in 2244 AD. This warship was built primarily for long-range exploration and carries the most extensive sensor suite of any USSN vessel. The Vigilant Class has two very efficient faster-than-light engines that give it the longest range of any USSN starship except for the new Enterprise Class. It carries a wide-range of exploration shuttles in addition to a small number of fighters. 82 have been built and 65 remain in service as of 2269 AD. Most losses have been due to non-combat causes.

The Essex Class Escort Carrier entered service in 2240 AD. This warship is a dedicated carrier with a large thru-hangar holding up to 80 fighters and a small bay for noncombatant shuttles. The Essex Class is the primary vessel used to escort Courageous Class Heavy Cruisers on border patrols. It has also proven useful in disaster relief operations. The unarmed Mercy Class Hospital Ship is a variant on the Essex Class. A total of 63 Essex Class Escort Carriers have been built and 55 remain in service as of 2269 AD.

The Ranger Class Armed Scout entered service in 2239 AD. This warship was the first 3rd generation USSN starship. The Ranger Class is currently the most numerous capital ship serving in the USSN. They are used for a variety of missions including star charting, star system surveying, light escort duty, piracy patrols, and priority cargo transport. 332 have been built and 195 remain in service. The Reliant Class Armed Freighter is a variant on the Ranger Class with 212 built and 187 still in service as of 2269 AD.

The Washington Class Heavy Cruiser entered service in 2232 AD. This warship was the backbone of the USSN during the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War. The Washington class was a lean fighting vessel with little exploratory capabilities. Its high speed and heavy armament offset its modest fighter-carrying ability. 112 were built and about 40 remain in service as of 2269 AD. About two-thirds of the surviving Washington Class starships serve on patrols deep inside United Star Systems space while the rest are in the USSN Reserve.

The Einstein Class Exploration Cruiser entered service in 2235 AD. It became the most popular research vessel in the USSN. The four faster-than-light engines give the Einstein Class improved survivability on long-range exploration missions. It normally tows a large, detachable lab module that is often left at sites of scientific interest and picked up later. During the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War, the Einstein Class was converted into a heavy tug. As such, it towed a variety of module including heavy weapons modules, carrier modules, hospital modules, and cargo modules. After the war, about half of the surviving Einstein Class Exploration Cruisers returned to exploration duties with the rest continued service as heavy tugs. A total of 202 were built and about 90 remain in service as of 2269 AD. Most of these are in the USSN Reserve.

The Patton Class Destroyer entered service in 2231 AD. This warship was the first 2nd generation USSN starship as well as the most numerous USSN capital ship to serve in the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War. The Patton Class was unusual in having only one faster-than-light engine. It had only minimal shuttle and fighter carrying ability and was used equally as an all-purpose escort and in wolf-pack attack squadrons. 598 were built and about 120 remain in service as of 2269 AD. About half of these ships are in the USSN Reserve.

The Valiant Class Light Cruiser entered service in 2222 AD. This warship was originally classified as a Heavy Cruiser and served on long-range exploration missions in the 2220's AD and 2230's AD. It suffered disproportionate losses during the early part of the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War and was reclassified as a Light Cruiser. It was unusual for an USSN vessel in being wider than it was long. The Valiant Class was the fastest ship of its day and its layout would serve as the inspiration for the Courageous Class Heavy Cruiser. Of the 315 Valiant Class Light Cruisers built, only about 50 survive as of 2269 AD. Most of them are in the USSN Reserve.

The Valley Forge Class Armed Transport entered service in 2219 AD. This ship formed the core of the United Star Systems colonization fleet during the 2220’s AD and 2230’s AD. While it could carry a variety of cargo modules, in practice most Valley Forge Class vessels towed freight modules or small outpost modules. Most later served in the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War as armed freighters. Their slow speed made them easy targets for Klorgi starships so they usually operated in large convoys escorted by USSN warships. Of the 547 built, only 70 remain in the USSN Reserve as of 2269 AD with most other surviving examples in commercial or private service.

The Revere Class Tug entered service in 2217 AD. It was one of the first USSN 1st generation starships. Unlike the more general-purpose Valley Forge Class, the Revere was specifically designed to tow other starships. The Revere Class is currently the oldest warship class in USSN service. During the United Star Systems/Klorgi Empire War of 2237AD-2242AD, many were outfitted with heavy weapons pods but they were easy prey for more advanced Klorgi warships. 462 Revere Class were built but only 35 remain in USSN Reserve as of 2269 AD. A few others now serve in commercial or private service.