While the Tomobiki Class had been a huge success, it was clear that replacements were needed as ships were lost. Rather then construct new Tomobiki Class ships, the decision was made to fund two new designs with the latest technology: one larger class that could perform the same mission style as the Tomobiki Class, and a smaller class that could be produced in greater numbers, but which would operate with a smaller crew and a shorter duration of mission length.
This smaller design became the Freedom Class, while the larger one was to be the famous Constitution Class. Where their larger sister class was typically assigned a five year mission, the average duration of a tour for a Freedom Class vessel was two years. But as a smaller alternative to the Constitution Class, Starfleet was able to construct Freedom Class starships at a greater rate, so what little they lacked in flexibility in comparison to the Constitution Class, they made up in numbers. And between the two classes Starfleet was able to bring their fleet of Cruiser-type ships back up to the strength it had before the Tomobiki Class suffered so many losses in the course of their duty.
Freedom Class ships have undergone a few major refits during the length of their service, until finally reaching the current configuration in the mid 2270's.
This smaller design became the Freedom Class, while the larger one was to be the famous Constitution Class. Where their larger sister class was typically assigned a five year mission, the average duration of a tour for a Freedom Class vessel was two years. But as a smaller alternative to the Constitution Class, Starfleet was able to construct Freedom Class starships at a greater rate, so what little they lacked in flexibility in comparison to the Constitution Class, they made up in numbers. And between the two classes Starfleet was able to bring their fleet of Cruiser-type ships back up to the strength it had before the Tomobiki Class suffered so many losses in the course of their duty.
Freedom Class ships have undergone a few major refits during the length of their service, until finally reaching the current configuration in the mid 2270's.
Original Configuration:
List of Ships:
NCC-1500 U.S.S. Freedom
NCC-1501 U.S.S. Kilborn * NCC-1502 U.S.S. Stewart NCC-1503 U.S.S. Oliver * NCC-1504 U.S.S. Jones NCC-1505 U.S.S. Cenac * NCC-1506 U.S.S. Black NCC-1507 U.S.S. Sarver NCC-1508 U.S.S. Bee NCC-1509 U.S.S. Parang NCC-1510 U.S.S. McCoy NCC-1511 U.S.S. Madrigal NCC-1512 U.S.S. Radosh NCC-1513 U.S.S. Colbert NCC-1514 U.S.S. Haglund NCC-1515 U.S.S. Kalan NCC-1516 U.S.S. Koff NCC-1517 U.S.S. Hodgman |
NCC-1518 U.S.S. Carell *
NCC-1519 U.S.S. Williams NCC-1520 U.S.S. Parsons NCC-1521 U.S.S. Martin * NCC-1522 U.S.S. Bodow NCC-1523 U.S.S. Mandvi NCC-1524 U.S.S. Havlun NCC-1525 U.S.S. Amira NCC-1526 U.S.S. Schaal NCC-1527 U.S.S. Munn * NCC-1528 U.S.S. Corddry * NCC-1529 U.S.S. Miller NCC-1530 U.S.S. Winstead * NCC-1531 U.S.S. Klepper NCC-1532 U.S.S. Helms * NCC-1533 U.S.S. Riggle * NCC-1534 U.S.S. Wilmore |
* ship lost in the line of duty