Typhon Class Carrier

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STARSHIP
United Federation of Planets logo.pngTyphon Class CarrierUnited Federation of Planets logo.png
Typhon.jpg
Class
Typhon-class
Allegiance
United Federation of Planets
TyphonOrtho.jpg
TyphonMSD.jpg


Now often described as a solution looking for a problem, the Typhon-class carrier is a limited-production vessel that was developed during the Dominion War as a combat support platform, but which now has extremely niche applications within Starfleet. Sometimes classified as a mobile base, this relatively small starship carries two wings of fighters and is generally meant to serve as a command and control hub for an area of space beyond the normal range of a starbase, operating in support of other small starships.

Class History

Developed after the disastrous encounter between the USS Odyssey and the Jem’Hadar, the Typhon was originally envisioned as a combat starship that would completely eliminate the structural vulnerabilities common to Federation starships, namely the connections between various hull components, such as the interconnecting dorsal and nacelle pylons. Based off of design elements more common to bulk freighters than to Starfleet vessels, the original space frame design was boxy and angular, studded with phaser arrays and left with open space to accommodate new weapons designs. It would be slow and ungainly, so it would be delivered into battle by other starships. However, early on in the design process, Starfleet managed to solve the problem that made the Dominion’s polaron weapons so effective against Federation shields, and so the need for an armored starship became less pressing. Indeed, the new Sovereign-class starships coming online in the early 2370s were markedly superior in terms of armament.

Instead of an assault vessel, the Typhon was redesigned to repurpose the space that the designers had left over for experimental weapons into large hangar bays, to deploy two squadrons of experimental Valkyrie-class fighters, when it was seen that existing starship designs were ill-equipped to deploy and support starfighters with standard shuttle bays. The design was further altered to add command and control systems, as well as scientific and medical facilities that would allow it to serve as a mobile outpost in support of Starfleet’s smallest vessels, many of which were not being built up to full spec anyway during the run-up of production for the war.

The USS Typhon was launched in early 2375, just in time to participate in some of the most crucial battles of the war, but by the time her sister ship, Prophyrion, left the yards, the Treaty of Bajor had been signed and the war was over. There were orders for an additional four units that were completed, as Starfleet was wary of how lasting the peace would be, but the majority of these vessels were held in reserve at shipyards rather than deployed on active service. The Typhon herself acquitted herself very well in combat situations, but her low top speed and lack of versatility meant that she was relegated to frontier areas that needed both her fighters and her fleet support capabilities.

During the 2380s, the Typhon-class carriers were deployed to protect refugee ships during the evacuation of Romulus, as well as to support the vast fleets of runabouts and shuttles that were in use for those missions. One vessel, the Theodamos, was destroyed during the attack on Mars in 2385. Following the destruction of Romulus, they were switched to a defensive posture along the Romulan border to ensure that the chaos roiling in their space did not spill over into the Federation.

By the turn of the 25th Century, the Typhon class remains in service, but is seen as an unusual design that lost much of its utility when the conflict it was built for ended. However, they remain extremely valuable in situations where Starfleet needs to deploy a force of small craft that can be supported independently.

Shipboard Life

Life aboard a Typhon-class carrier is quite different than aboard any other Federation ship, both in terms of the day-to-day routine and the ship’s command and control arrangement. While a standard bridge is used to control the ship itself, there is a second flight control center located above the bow which coordinates the movement of the ship’s fighters and other small craft.

Given how stressful piloting small spacecraft can be, the accommodations aboard the Typhon are comfortable. Pilots and other flight crew all have their own quarters, with generous lounges, gymnasia, and an arboretum available for rest and relaxation. The ship also has eight holodecks. A further four holosuites are reserved for pilot training exercises. Medical facilities are top-notch and significantly larger than other medium-sized ships. These crew support facilities both ensure that the Typhon’s crew is well taken care of, but also allow it to serve as a forward operating base for small starships like the Defiant and Saber-class, so that their crews can relax and recuperate between missions.