Difference between revisions of "Starfleet Starfighter Corps"


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''After prolonged study Starfleet decided in 2338 to procure a new craft for advanced warp/impulse pilot and navigational training duties. Initially it was hoped to produce a completely new design, but this proved over-ambitious for such a low priority project and Starfleet was compelled to modify an existing civilian vessel; the Raider-type utility craft was an obvious choice for this role and after a short fly-off between it and the Alganth class, the Raider class was selected.
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== History ==
 
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In the 20th century, fighter aircraft were a large part of war. They were used in all three world wars, and to great effect during the Eugenics War, when up close and personal contact with a human augment was not a promising prospect. However, after first contact with the [[Vulcan]]s, humanity no longer used fighters, either in the atmosphere or in the space above. As the years passed, the United Earth saw no need for it, and neither did the Coalition of Planets nor the [[Federation]] after it was founded.
''The initial vessel procured by Starfleet was very similar to the civilian craft, with identical hull and propulsion systems. Changes included a cockpit which featured a master control station for the instructor, an aft compartment fitted with six consoles for navigator trainees, increased life support capacity for the extra personnel, a Starfleet model escape pod system and a more sophisticated computer core. One hundred and twenty of this alpha type were delivered between 2339 and 2342, replacing the older Swift class in Starfleet service. Once the Raider came into regular Starfleet use, the advantages of the design became obvious; although larger than most shuttle craft the Raider was much more suitable for interstellar level missions, and would make an ideal light utility vessel.
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This began to change during the Federation-Cardassian war.  Cardassian fighters proved effective in bypassing the defenses of larger federation vessels, and Starfleet was quick to develop the means to defend against it. The war ended before any sort of plan could be put in action, and fighter designs were put on the back-burner until resources could be allocated for it. During this time, the Raider Class assault ship was being phased out, although several were used for training. The first one to show was the Raider-class, though it was more of a troop and cargo transport than a fighter. It was much smaller than a starship but larger than a shuttle though it could technically fight inside a shuttlebay if needed.
''By 2345 Starfleet was concerned that it had become over dependant on transporters to land personnel and equipment on planetary surfaces against opposition by threat forces. Such systems were relatively easy to disrupt over wide areas even with relatively low-level technology, while transporters especially can be distinctly twitchy in the face of unusually adverse environmental conditions. To rectify this problem it was decided to produce a new beta type model of the Raider as a medium assault utility craft; the standard equipment of this type would include twin type 4 phaser emitters, photon torpedoes and a shield system considerably more capable than any existing shuttle craft. This would allow the Raider to carry larger loads into more dangerous situations than any existing cargo shuttle was capable of, while the warp capability of the Raider would allow it to operate on a true short to medium range interstellar basis - a considerable advantage over any shuttle craft then in service.
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In 2367 Starfleet introduced the {{Class|Peregrine}} for the Borg threat due to the belief that large capitol ships were not sufficient by themselves. It was stationed on starbases near the Delta Quadrant, as well as near other major powers such as the [[Klingon]], [[Romulan]], and [[Tholian]], though Deep Space Nine did not have starfighters due to the agreement with the [[Bajoran]]s.  These fighters used mainly {{Class|Akira}} as carriers while other carriers were being developed.
''A further two hundred of these beta type Raiders were procured for this mission; they served during peacetime as general purpose cargo and personnel carriers. The combat debut of the Raider came during the Cardassian war; three of these vessels were used to transfer supplies and personnel to Setlik III during the Cardassian attack of that settlement. The Cardassian war allowed the Raider to operate in its true role for the first time, where the craft proved to be generally successful in service despite a relatively high attrition rate.
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Soon Starfleet began to develop other fighters such as the Scorpion Mk I fighter and the Viper, just as the Dominion War was starting. The new fighters proved their value during this time, creating holes in shields and allowing the capitol ships to destroy enemy ships much more easily. The starfighters also went head to head with the Dominion attack ships as they were the same size. The starfighters did help a good deal in winning the Dominion War as more of the capitol ships would have been destroyed had it not been for the fighter pilots.
''The Cardassian war also proved the impetus for the next variant of the Raider class, the gamma type assault craft. For this variant the idea of routine cargo hauling was dropped completely; the design was scaled up to double the size of a standard Raider, at 60 metres long. The aft hold was kept at its original size, but was converted into a troop compartment capable of holding fifty fully armed personnel and two transporter systems. The extra space created behind the troop compartment was used to expand the relative size of the warp core and add extra shields and weapons. The type 4 phasers were replaced with type 5 models and the number of photon torpedoes was increased from six to twelve, while the shields were boosted by some 30%. The gamma type performed widely during the middle and latter part of the war, both in the patrol role and in strikes at targets just across the front lines. This brought the Raider into contact with the Hedeki class patrol craft, and a bitter rivalry quickly developed between the Starfleet crews and their Cardassian counterparts. While lacking the glamour of the big ship engagements, the Raider-Hedeki clash was if anything more furious and intense. The Hedeki is considerably larger and somewhat more heavily armed than the gamma Raider, which is in turn more manoeuvrable and has better sensors. Of ninety seven engagements between the two, fifty eight Hedekis were lost for forty six Raiders - a true testament to the determination of the Starfleet crews. Since the end of the Cardassian war many gamma's have continued to serve on the Cardassian border; others serve as patrol craft in low-threat areas of the Federation, while the remainder were demilitarized and sold into the private market.
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Shortly after the Dominion War, the Starfleet Starfighter Corps, whose headquarters at Starfleet Starfighter Command on Earth, was founded and the Research and Development department of the [[Corps of Engineers]] began to create more fighter classes and has so far made two, the {{Class|Razor}} and the {{Class|Scorpion Mk II}}, and many of the next generation of [[Starfleet]] vessels contain starfighter wings.
''With a craft as widely available as the Raiders it is inevitable that some will be used for dubious purposes. As mentioned, all Starfleet vessels transferred into the private sector have been demilitarized; however the modifications required to reverse this process are simple once the necessary hardware has been acquired and many bandits have fitted their Raiders with weapons. Several dozen beta type Raiders were operated by the Maquis during their struggle with the Cardassians, along with a handful of gamma types; the large number of civilian Raiders in use for legitimate business made an ideal cover for the terrorists operations. One of the Maquis larger Raiders was lost in 2371 when it was dragged across the galaxy by the being known as "The Caretaker". The ship was subsequently destroyed by the kazon, and its remaining crew was integrated into that of the USS Voyager.2 Almost all of these craft were destroyed by the Jem'Hadar after the Dominion absorbed Cardassia''
 

Revision as of 04:41, 11 June 2013

History

In the 20th century, fighter aircraft were a large part of war. They were used in all three world wars, and to great effect during the Eugenics War, when up close and personal contact with a human augment was not a promising prospect. However, after first contact with the Vulcans, humanity no longer used fighters, either in the atmosphere or in the space above. As the years passed, the United Earth saw no need for it, and neither did the Coalition of Planets nor the Federation after it was founded.

This began to change during the Federation-Cardassian war. Cardassian fighters proved effective in bypassing the defenses of larger federation vessels, and Starfleet was quick to develop the means to defend against it. The war ended before any sort of plan could be put in action, and fighter designs were put on the back-burner until resources could be allocated for it. During this time, the Raider Class assault ship was being phased out, although several were used for training. The first one to show was the Raider-class, though it was more of a troop and cargo transport than a fighter. It was much smaller than a starship but larger than a shuttle though it could technically fight inside a shuttlebay if needed.

In 2367 Starfleet introduced the Peregrine-class for the Borg threat due to the belief that large capitol ships were not sufficient by themselves. It was stationed on starbases near the Delta Quadrant, as well as near other major powers such as the Klingon, Romulan, and Tholian, though Deep Space Nine did not have starfighters due to the agreement with the Bajorans. These fighters used mainly Akira-class as carriers while other carriers were being developed.

Soon Starfleet began to develop other fighters such as the Scorpion Mk I fighter and the Viper, just as the Dominion War was starting. The new fighters proved their value during this time, creating holes in shields and allowing the capitol ships to destroy enemy ships much more easily. The starfighters also went head to head with the Dominion attack ships as they were the same size. The starfighters did help a good deal in winning the Dominion War as more of the capitol ships would have been destroyed had it not been for the fighter pilots.

Shortly after the Dominion War, the Starfleet Starfighter Corps, whose headquarters at Starfleet Starfighter Command on Earth, was founded and the Research and Development department of the Corps of Engineers began to create more fighter classes and has so far made two, the Razor-class and the Scorpion Mk II-class, and many of the next generation of Starfleet vessels contain starfighter wings.