Originally Commissioned 2357 - present

Dimensions:
Overall Length : 641 meters
Overall Beam : 467.1 meters
Overall Draft: 137.5 meters
Decks : 42
Type Explorer / Heavy Cruiser

Crew 1012 persons (varies)

Weapons
11 Type X Cullimated phaser arrays
3 Mk 80 Direct-Fire Phonton torpedo tubes

Warp Speeds
Cruising Warp Factor: 6
Maximum Warp Factor 9.6

Duration:
Standard Mission: 7 years
Recommended Yard Overhaul: 20 Years

Notes : The Galaxy class was developed to replace the ageing Ambassador and Oberth class starships as Starfleets primary exploration vessel. The design was initiated in 2343 with a highly challenging specification13 which called for a ship based on the Nebula design then being developed, but equally capable of scientific, exploration, diplomatic, cultural, and combat roles all within a single multi-mission hull.13 In fact, many came to regard the requirement as too challenging; the project suffered from numerous delays due to a wide range of design, manufacturing, and construction problems. The first of the class, the USS Galaxy, was launched in 2357 and commissioned in 2362, nearly two decades after initial approval.

The Galaxy class which emerged from the Utopia Planitia shipyard15 had very similar lines to the Nebula class. The Galaxy is slightly larger in volume, although its less compact design gives it considerably greater length than the smaller vessel. The major change between the two is the lack of a mission specific pod on the Galaxy class,16 the increased volume allowing sections within the hull to be mission customized. This combined with a more advanced systems level to allow all functions to be performed by the single design. In addition the saucer and engineering hulls are separated by an eleven deck connecting neck section. This separation between the two hulls allows the nacelles to be located outboard and above the engineering hull,16 a position which increases the efficiency of the warp drive field slightly. This gives the Galaxy class warp coils an efficiency of 88% at speeds of up to Warp 7 and 52% through Warp 9.113 - the comparable figures for the Nebula class are 84% and 47% respectively.

Saucer Section features Deck Contains...
1 Main bridge, main observation lounge, captain's ready room.17
2 Junior officers quarters18
3 Junior officers quarters18
4 Residential quarters.19 main shuttle bay, cargo bays18
5 Science laboratories, residential quarters18
6 Transporter room 1, 2,18 3,20 and 4, science laboratories, 18 main dorsal saucer phaser array
7 Residential quarters18
8 Residential quarters 21
9 Residential quarters, including captains quarters, 22 Saucer impulse engines,18 secondary dorsal saucer phaser arrays
10 Ten forward,17 computer cores, escape pods18
11 Holodeck21, residential quarters18
12 Sickbay,23 medical laboratories,18 gymnasium,24 transporter room 25, Medical Quarters Senior Officers
13 Residential quarters, life support system, main ventral saucer phaser array18
14 Conference room,21 residential quarters18
15 Maintenance centre18
16 Captain's yacht docking port18

Stardrive Section features Deck Contains
8 Battle bridge18
9 Docking latches and supporting mechanisms18
10 Emergency batteries, phaser bank systems18
11 Life support systems,18shuttlebay 2 and 3,26
12 Science labs18, Science Personnel Quarters Senior Officers
14 Shuttle bay support,18 personnel transporter10 5 and 618
15 Science labs18
16 Maintenance18
17-20 Living quarters18 each, Engineering Quarters
21 Power distribution18
22 Engineering support laboratories18
23 Main impulse engines18
24 Life support18
25 Dorsal docking port, forward photon torpedo launcher18
26 Engineering support18
27 Deuterium fuel pumps and fill ports18
28-29 Deuterium fuel storage18 each
30 Deuterium injection reactors18
31 Science laboratories18
32-33 Living quarters18 each
34 Environmental support18
35 Aft photon torpedo launcher18
36 Main engineering, 27 secondary ventral stardrive section phaser arrays18
37 Environmental support, waste management18
38 Cargo bay 327, brig18
39 Cargo bay 1228
40 Antimatter injection reactors18
41-42 Antimatter storage pods18 each


The increased internal volume allowed for 800,000 square metres of mission adaptable facilities.29 This allows the Galaxy class to support a wide range of ongoing research projects independently of the vessels primary mission.17 Although not a new idea in Starfleet vessels, the Galaxy class is unique in the extent to which this is possible. These ships are capable of supporting up to 5,000 mission specialists, while the decentralized nature of the secondary power grids allows laboratories to function effectively even during combat operations.

The combat capability of the Galaxy class was also significantly greater than that of the Nebulas.30 The burst fire torpedo tubes are each capable of launching groups of photons torpedoes9, up to ten at a time31 every six seconds, while there are no less than twelve phaser arrays16 rated at Type X.32 As with many recent Federation designs, the use of long phaser arrays rather than banks gives the main phasers of the Galaxy class a great capability for sustained firing and rapid recharge/cool down time. The Galaxy class is the first on which all segments of every phaser array are supplied by a separate power system; although this increases the complexity of the system tremendously, it gives the phaser arrays a tremendous survivability in the face of combat damage.

In service the Galaxy class at first proved exemplary, beyond any of Starfleet's expectations33 but by 2371 no less than three of the initial six ships had been lost - the Yamato,34 Odyssey,35 and finally Enterprise-D36. Yamato 's loss was particularly horrific, as she was destroyed with her entire complement of crew and families aboard.34 This alarming record led to many changes being introduced during refits of the remaining three vessels, and also to the construction of six new Galaxy class ships from space frames held in reserve against future need. The unfortunate history of the Galaxy class vessels combined with the recent escalation's in tensions within the alpha quadrant has led to all six vessels being subsequently completed, and all are now on active service against the Dominion.

Major changes to the Galaxy class have included a new warp core,37 a redesigned shield system intended to perform far better against phased polaron beam weapons,38 various changes to the ships computer systems, plus many minor changes to the ships systems. There are currently nine galaxy class vessels in service. Production of these vessels continues today; five Galaxy class ships took part in the recent operation to retake Deep Space Nine from the Dominion39 and the class has gained a fearsome reputation during the war, so far operating without loss. Though new Galaxy class ships are being produced without any science or diplomatic facilities included in order to reduce the vessel mass and so enhance combat performance during the Dominion war.29 These ships will be "filled out" after the war, considerably enhancing Starfleets exploration capacity. At this point further production is expected to be terminated in favour of the new Sovereign class.

Notes : The uprated Galaxy class has been fielded by Starfleet in order to increase the combat capability of the class for service in the Dominion war. The improvements include an extra pair of phaser arrays mounted on the nacelles,40 an increase in the maximum speed to Warp 9.9,5 and various other enhancements. As with the Nebula class, Starfleet refuses to comment on which Galaxies are enhanced and which are not.

*information was gathered from www.ditl.org , Star Trek Starship Spotter by Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz and Robert Bonchune (creators of ST ships for years), Star Trek Encyclopedia, Star Trek TNG blueprints, some deck features added to accomodate the Maelstrom Sim.