Sovereign class starship

: This article is on the Sovereign class used by Starfleet in the Star Trek fictional universe. For information on the Sovereign-class of ship used by the Galactic Empire in the Star Wars universe, see Super Star Destroyer.

Related Topics:
Galactic Empire - Star Wars - Super Star Destroyer

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In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Sovereign class of starships was the most advanced and powerful type of ship in Starfleet from the mid-2370s onward. The Sovereign class design is similar to traditional Federation starship design with a ellipse-shaped saucer section directly attached to the engineering section. The main bridge, lifeboats, sensors, the main shuttlebay and phaser arrays are on the dorsal surface of the saucer section while additional phaser arrays, a captain's yacht and additional lifeboats occupy the ventral side of the saucer. The sleek engineering section features the main navigational deflector, two large warp nacelles, main torpedo launchers and an additional shuttlebay.

Related Topics:
Fictional universe - Star Trek - Starship - Starfleet - Federation - Ellipse - Saucer section - Sensor - Phaser - Lifeboat - Navigational deflector - Warp - Nacelle

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With 24 decks and measuring 685.1 meters in length, it was longer but less massive than the Galaxy class that preceded it. As of 2379, the Sovereign class starship Enterprise is the flagship of Starfleet.

Related Topics:
Meters - Galaxy class - Flagship

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Numerous encounters with advanced threat forces during the 2360s-70s, namely the Borg and the Dominion, prompted Starfleet to emphasize the class' battle potential over exploration capabilities, making it the most powerful starship in Starfleet in its day. The Sovereign class was equipped with type-twelve phaser arrays (the most powerful available for starship use at the time), quantum torpedoes, and standard photon torpedoes.

Related Topics:
Borg - Dominion - Quantum torpedoes - Photon torpedo

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As with the Galaxy class before it, Sovereign class vessels underwent at least one major upgrade only a few years after entering service, namely to increase the quantity and coverage of the ship's (aft) weaponry. This refit occurred sometime between the events of ' and '. Like the Galaxy class, the Sovereign class was capable of saucer separation; however, this ability has not yet been observed.

Related Topics:
Aft - Saucer separation

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In real life, the Sovereign class was designed by Rick Sternbach, Herman Zimmerman and illustrator John Eaves for '.

Related Topics:
Rick Sternbach - Herman Zimmerman - John Eaves

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