Time to take a look at this spec.

Duke Cornwall-Class
Category: Battlecruiser
Variant: Medium (Support)
Designer: Robert Archer
Mark I
Draft 1
Date: 19 March 2021

HISTORY AND MISSION OVERVIEW

In 2367 in the aftermath of the Battle of Wolf 359 many in Starfleet’s core building firms saw the need to up gun Starfleet’s rebuilding efforts with heavier armed ships to counter a future Borg or other threatening force incursion to the Federation.

The terms “up gun” and “heavier armed” feel redundant.

To this effort came classes like the Defiant, as well as numerous other refits and redesigns of aging and proven classes currently in the Fleet inventory.

The connection to the Defiant might be deemed problematic - it was considered a failure until Benjamin Sisko requested its reassignment to DS9. Maybe you should mention the Akira, Steamrunner, and Akira instead, given that those were successful immediately upon introduction.

One such new design which came to fruition in limited numbers was the Duke Cornwall class medium battlecruiser. Meant as a fast, heavy armed interceptor like ship. As well as a command and control ship for fleet engagements, troop and high security transports, and combat, it was well suited for its envisioned profile. As 2368 dawned, the Duke Cornwall class entered production from the shipyards around Andoria, soon gaining the class motto of ‘Put up your Dukes’ by the crews who served on them due to the robustness of its construction and firepower for the time.

The bold text is a sentence fragment. The emphasized sentence begs the question as to why combat-oriented missions weren’t part of the envisioned mission profile. I also wonder why, if the ship was made at Andoria, it has a human nomenclature.

Mission Profiles

The Duke Cornwall class is suited to the following mission profiles:

Troop and high security transport
Frontline and combat support roles
Cargo and supply transport
System and border patrols

You left off Fleet command and control from this list when you explicitly stated it above.

STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

The Duke Cornwall class is made up of a classic two piece circular saucer connected by a narrow short stubbed neck to a filled in U shaped secondary hull. Projecting downward on short static pylons, to port and starboard, are the ship’s two conical shaped nacelles.

The wording here makes me wonder how the saucer is bifurcated (x-axis, y-axis, z-axis), how big the split is, whether the two pieces are connected to one another or just to the neck section, and what, exactly, that has to do with a classic ship design. Am I supposed to be envisioning a larger version of the USS Franklin from Beyond, as far as the saucer goes?

The ship’s superstructure is made of duranium metals with a triple hull layer measuring 3.0 centimeters thick. Layered between each layer are combat energized duranium paddings. Layered atop the final outer hull layer was 8.0 centimeters of Rodium armor plating. The entire height of the Duke Cornwall spans 12 decks, with decks 1-5 encompassing the saucer and 6-12 encompassing the short connecting neck and engineering hull.

The way that you describe the deck layout makes me think that the neck section is technically unnecessary. Either say which decks make up only the neck section (e.g. decks 6 and 7) or just don’t have a neck section on the ship at all. Given the vessel designs we see after Wolf 359, it’s just as likely that neck sections just don’t happen anymore.

SCIENCE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS

Sensor Systems

The Duke Cornwall class makes use of the Type-VII sensor system. Made up of numerous grouped palettes about the edge lines of the saucer and secondary hull, the system has a low resolution scan of 3.72 light years and a high resolution scan of 11 light years. Arranged in an oval shaped inset on decks 11 and 12 is the ship’s main deflector dish.

The deflector dish location goes in Defensive Shields in the Tactical Systems section. Also, main deflectors aren’t typically placed at the very lowest deck on a ship. What’s the logic behind it here, given the traditional construction layout?

Computer Core / OS / Network systems

The Duke Cornwall class makes use of a single isolinear data storage computer core and network. The core is positioned on the forward areas of decks 11 and 12 behind the ship’s main deflector dish. It runs on the LCARS 5.0 operating system with MAJEL interface.

Warp Propulsion Systems WARP PROPULSION SYSTEMS

SNIP. Okay, save for the fact that the header needs to be in all caps.

Impulse Propulsion Systems IMPULSE PROPULSION SYSTEMS

SNIP. Ibid.

TACTICAL SYSTEMS

Defensive Shields

The Duke Cornwall makes use of the Type-10 Shield array system. The system has a maximum graviton load of 2,150 MW and a maximum dissipation rate of 5.84 x 10^5 KW. The system also has metaphasic programming for protection against solar radiation, solar body entry, or other similar anomalies.

This is where you would place the location of the main deflector.

Phaser Systems

The Duke Cornwall carries ten Type-IX phaser arrays. They are positioned as follows:

One array dorsal and ventral on the saucer, shaped as a half circle with 100 emitters each.

Well, if the saucer is a two-part design, that’s either two parts along the y-axis or the z-axis (assuming that the x-axis is the beam and the y-axis is the length) in order to make the arrays have a forward firing arc.

Two arrays port and starboard, dorsal and ventral, mounted on the nacelle pylons with 25 emitters each.
One array port and starboard dorsal and ventral on the forward and aft edges of the saucer and engineering hull with 25 emitters each.

Each array is capable of a max energy output of 3.8 MW to a maximum effective range of 225,000 km.

The wording is somewhat awkward here. That second line could be misread to be a total of 8 arrays on the nacelle pylons. Line 3 similarly seems to list list 8 arrays all on its own (port dorsal aft, port dorsal fore, starboard dorsal aft, starboard dorsal fore, etc.). Somebody could interpret this to say that, contrary to the 10 stated arrays, you have listed 18. That is a major discrepancy. You need to redo your wording somehow.

Torpedo Systems

The Duke Cornwall class carries four Type-4 burst fire torpedo launchers. The burst fire launchers are mounted with 3 forward and 1 aft, within the connecting neck of the engineering hull on decks 7 and 8. The burst fire system can fire 5 torpedoes/probes every 10 seconds, out to a range of 3,500,000 kilometers.

Are you saying that the connecting neck of the hull is decks 7 and 8, or that the launchers are there? That’s pretty cramped for so much armament, and 24th-century designs typically placed torpedo launchers into the secondary hull proper after Wolf 359 (e.g. the Intrepid and the Nova) unless they had placement entirely separate from the main hull (e.g. the Akira).

The Duke Cornwall carries 300 casings divided as follows:

270 standard photon torpedoes
30 assorted scientific probes

COMMAND AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Bridge

The bridge of the Duke Cornwall class is set up on deck 1 of the ship. It is arranged in a half circle shape. The CO’s chair is at the center of the bridge, to port of them it is the XO, to starboard is the CNS. Forward of the CO are the combined Helm, and Navigator stations. Aft of the CO from starboard to port are the CE, CSO, COS, CTO and two Aux stations as mission and personnel needs arise. Forward of the combined Helm and Navigator station is the main view screen. Entry to the bridge is gained by a single turbolift, to the port side of the main view screen.

Grammar fixes.

SNIP. The rest of this section is serviceable, given that it is an NPC environment.

UTILITY SYSTEMS

SNIP. No major issues here.

CREW SUPPORT SYSTEMS

SNIP. Deck 5 seems like it would be incredibly crowded. Given that you have stated that it is a “classic” shape, the biggest deck on the dish would be deck 3, as the deck size normally tapers at the highest and lowest points (and even into the 24th century with the Ambassador and the Galaxf), and yet you have placed a large amount of crew quarters and other facilities on Deck 4 and Deck 5. You should reconsider either your hull shape or your room distribution.

Marine Officer Quarters

Four marine officer quarters setup like the department head quarters are arranged on deck 6.

This might just be me, but isn’t this the neck section of the ship? That seems a little dangerous of a location to place literally any personnel quarters.

Marine Non-com quarters

Forty-six marine non-com quarters are set up like the JO quarters in a ring on deck 6.

Ibid.

AUXILIARY SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS

Shuttle Bay

The Duke Cornwall carries two shuttle bays, setup to port and starboard on decks 7 and 8 within the connecting neck structure. The ship carries 2 Type-6 shuttles in bay 1 to port, and 1 Danube class runabout with weapons pod standard to starboard in bay 2. Each bay can also retrieve a single runabout or shuttle sized craft if needed. Service and maintenance areas are set up to port and starboard respectively for each bay with their own overseeing connected launch control suite.

So, somehow, the neck portion of the ship has room for four torpedo launchers and two shuttle bays? How long and wide is this section, anyway? Besides that, how do you fit three forward-facing launchers, an aft facing launcher, and torpedo storage and transfer conduits in the same space as two shuttle bays with maintenance areas?

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions and Structure

Length: 175 meters
Beam (Width): 65 meters
Height: 58 meters
Decks: 12

Kind of on the smaller side there. You sure you’re giving us a battle cruiser and not a Destroyer?

Crew Complement

Officers and Crew: 175
Visiting Personnel: 10-16
Maximum Evacuation Limit: 800

Bit light on the personnel for a Battlecruiser, but it’s technically within limits per Milwaukee.

SNIP. No issues here.

Offensive Systems

SNIP

Phasers: 10 Type-IX Phaser Arrays

Given this, you definitely need to make your descriptions of the array placements more clear.

Deck Layout DECK LAYOUT

Deck 1
Main Bridge
Ready Room
Briefing Room

Deck 2
CO Quarters
XO Quarters
Upper impulse engines
Upper Deuterium Storage tanks 1 and 2
Deuterium refueling hatch

And you’re putting deuterium in the hull where the warp core isn’t because?

Deck 3
DH Quarters
VIP Quarters
Lower Impulse engines
Lower Deuterium Storage tanks 1 and 2
Emergency deuterium storage tanks ejection systems

Ibid.

Deck 4
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
General Guest Quarters
Emergency Transporter Room 1
Holodeck 1 and 2

Deck 5
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
COS Office
Brig
Armory
Holodeck 3
5-Forward
Sickbay
Counselor’s Office

Deck 6
Marine Company Complex
Marine Complex Storage Area
Marine Officer’s Quarters
Marine Noncom Quarters

Deck 7
Upper Shuttlebay 1 and 2
Standard Transporter Room 1
Upper Torpedo/Probe Launcher 1-4
Upper Torpedo/Probe Storage Room

Deck 8
Lower Shuttlebay 1 and 2
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
Standard Transporter Room 2
Emergency Transporter Room 2
Lower Torpedo/Probe Storage Room

Deck 9
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
CSO’s Office
General Science Lab 1 and 2

Deck 10
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
Upper Large Cargo Bay 1 and 2
Small Cargo Bay 1 and 2

Deck 11
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
Turbolift Service Area
Standard Transporter Room 3
Lower Large Cargo Bay 1 and 2
Upper Engineering Room
CE’s Office
Upper Deflector Dish
Upper Deflector Dish Control Room
Upper Computer Core
Upper Computer Core Control Room
Upper Warp Core
Upper Matter/Antimatter Pod Storage

Deck 12
JO Quarters
Non-com Quarters
Standard Transporter Room 4
Emergency Transporter Room 3
Tractor Beam Emitter
Lower Deflector Dish
Lower Deflector Dish Control Room
Lower Computer Core
Lower Computer Core Control Room
Lower Engineering Room
Lower Warp Core
Lower Matter/Antimatter Pod Storage
Warp Core/Matter/Antimatter Pod Ejection Systems

Ships Of The Class

Ships of the Duke Cornwall class are named after dukedoms on Earth within the United Kingdom from the 1300s to the mid 1600s. These ships are NPC status and may be reused by gamemasters as needed.

USS Duke Cornwall NCC-8500
USS Duke Rothesay NCC-8501
USS Duke Norfolk NCC-8502
USS Duke Somerset NCC-8503
USS Duke Hamilton NCC-8504

No issue with the nomenclature, just a bit of trouble figuring out why they were built at Andoria.

CONCLUSION

Though only five of these small nimble battle cruisers have been built, plans are in place should the need arise for additional construction in emergencies. Fast, heavy armored and armed for their time. The Duke Cornwall class battlecruisers are envisioned to become a staple in future Federation defense in the years to come.

SUBMITTED 19 March 2021
Robert Archer

This is a good start to the design, but there are some issues that need fixing. Grammar is the major concern; the grammatic issues may also contribute to some of the vagueness which is present in the spec. A major point of contention is the placement of certain parts of the vessel in relation to its overall shape and design, albeit its overall shape is one of the areas that requires more detail. Finally, there were some issues with the spec that aren’t per SSSF format; I should have noticed those and requested that they be fixed prior to posting for review, and you have my apologies in that area.

The review remains open until April 2, 2021 for Rob to reply and for others to give feedback.

Nicholas “Pelican” Villarreal
Engineering Director