K't'inga class
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference
| K't'inga class | |
|---|---|
 Forward view | |
| Affiliation: | Klingon Empire |
| Type: | Battle cruiser |
| Active: | 2270s - 24th century |
| Speed: | Warp 5+ |
| Armament: | Disruptors, phasers, photon torpedo launchers (fore and aft), concussive charge launcher |
| Defenses: | Deflector shields, cloaking device |
 Starboard profile view | |
 Aft view | |
The K't'inga-class battle cruiser was a primary class of warship in service with the Klingon Imperial Fleet from the late 23rd century through the late 24th century.
Contents |
[edit] History
Introduced in the early 2270s, the K't'inga-class cruiser was considered one of the most powerful warships in the Klingon Defense Forces, even serving as a flagship of the Imperial Fleet for a time during the 2290s. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
K't'inga-class cruisers were in service as early as 2272, when the Epsilon IX station recorded the destruction of three K't'inga-class vessels by the V'Ger entity. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) Starfleet's interest in the K't'inga-class cruiser was such that in 2285, the class of ship appeared in the Kobayashi Maru training scenario at Starfleet Academy. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
For nearly a century, the K't'inga-class cruiser proved to be a rugged, sturdy design that saw continuous use. In that aspect they were much like their Federation counterparts the Excelsior-class and Miranda-class starships, whose usefulness outlived contemporaries such as the Constitution-class cruiser.
With marked improvements, these warships saw continuous use as front-line and border patrol ships throughout the Second Klingon-Federation War and the Dominion War of the early-2370s. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior", "Soldiers of the Empire", "Call to Arms") They were not always the ship of choice for all missions, however, as more agile craft like the Klingon Bird-of-Prey were better suited for some tasks. (DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach")
[edit] Technical data
The K't'inga-class cruiser was one of the most advanced and versatile warships in the Klingon Imperial Fleet, more than capable of facing an Excelsior-class cruiser in a one-on-one confrontation. (VOY: "Flashback")
[edit] Physical arrangement
The outboard plan of the K't'inga design incorporated the same basic shape and classic design lineage dating back over one hundred years to the D5 class battle cruiser. (ENT: "Marauders", et al.) The K't'inga-cruiser was a direct offshoot in design-lineage from the venerable D7 class battle cruiser introduced during the 2260s. (TOS: "Elaan of Troyius", et al.)
The bulk of the ship's overall mass was incorporated in the aft section of the ship. The bridge module was located on a bulbous forward section, which was separated from the aft section by a relatively thin connective section that attached to and flared into the aft section. Located on the caudal section of the ship were the ship's impulse engines. Jutting from below the port and starboard side of the ship's aft section were the ship's warp nacelles.
Aside from possessing a slightly sleeker shape and contour than its D7-class predecessor, the most notable design variations between the two classes included a less bulbous forward section, a larger bridge dome, differently-designed warp nacelles, and more extensive external hull plating. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture, et al.)
[edit] Tactical systems
The primary weapon systems aboard the K't'inga-class cruiser were disruptors, photon torpedo launchers, and a concussive charge launcher. (VOY: "Flashback") Some were even outfitted with phasers. (TNG: "The Emissary")
In its original configuration, the torpedo launchers were located such that one was forward section, and one aft. The forward torpedo bay was located below the bridge, in the foremost part of the ship, while the aft torpedo bay was located between the impulse engines. During the arming sequence, the interior perimeter of the torpedo tube area glowed a bright red until the torpedo or torpedoes were fired. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
This class of ship was also equipped with dual, forward mounted disruptors, including emitters located at the mid-point on each of the forward-facing portions of the aft section, above the nacelles. (TNG: "The Emissary") Considered "state of the art" during the late 2290s, they were no match for a Galaxy-class starship. They were, however, more than a match for any weakly-defended colony or outpost. (TNG: "The Emissary")
By the late 24th century, many of the K't'inga-class battle cruisers had been retrofitted to keep up with the advances of technology. By the 2370s, their forward torpedo launchers had been replaced with more powerful disruptors, allowing these vessels to remain the formidable adversaries they were nearly a century earlier. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior", "Rules of Engagement")
 Firing forward photon torpedoes |
 Firing aft photon torpedoes |
 Firing phasers |
 Firing disruptors |
[edit] Cloaking device
These vessels also had incorporated, like many Klingon starships of the time, a cloaking device, which hid them from detection in most evasive situations. (TNG: "The Emissary"; DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
K't'inga-class cruisers underwent several cloak upgrades during their years of service. Those cruisers equipped with cloaks installed prior to 2290 were known for the particular weakness of not being 100% efficient at blocking gamma radiation. (TNG: "The Emissary")
[edit] Propulsion systems
The warp drive of the K't'inga-class enabled it to reach the speed of warp 5. (TNG: "Heart of Glory", "The Emissary")
During an encounter between the USS Enterprise-D and the IKS T'Ong, Enterprise chief engineer Geordi La Forge figured that the Enterprise could probably knock out the T'Ong's warp engines without damaging the rest of the ship, as a means of disabling the vessel. (TNG: "The Emissary")
[edit] Additional systems
Some K't'inga-class cruisers were equipped with cryonic technology, which allowed crews of the late 23rd century to be placed in cryogenic sleep for long voyages. (TNG: "The Emissary")
[edit] Interior design
The primary color scheme aboard K't'inga-class cruisers was distinctively earth-tone colors, such as beige and gray.
In contrast to the corridors found aboard contemporary vessels, such as the Bird-of-Prey, these vessels were considerably spacious in size. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
[edit] Main bridge
The configuration of the darkened main bridge design of the K't'inga-class cruiser set the tone for many of the later Klingon bridge layouts, including the later Bird-of-Prey and Vor'cha-class cruisers.
The main bridge was located at the top portion of the forward section of the vessel. Located in the front of the bridge, against the forward bulkhead, was the ship's main viewscreen, used by the ship's captain.
Featured in the center of the bridge, on a raised platform, directly behind the viewscreen was the command chair, which had the ability to swivel 360 degrees. This positioning provided the commanding officer an unobstructed view of the screen, as well as allowed the commander to visually monitor all bridge operations.
Directly behind the command chair were two manned consoles. The port side position had control over the viewscreen display and could take the ship into evasive maneuvers (as with helm control on a Constitution-class ship. Lastly, at the rear of the bridge were two pivoting weapons targeting stations, which contained the ship's targeting systems. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
An alternate bridge style was also used on ships by the early 2360s. It featured the captain's chair at the back of a smokey and dimly lit bridge with banners of the Federation and Klingon Empire on the rear wall. (TNG: "Heart of Glory")
 Viewscreen of the IKS Amar with tactical display, 2270s |
 Captain's chair of the Amar, 2270s |
 Navigation and helm stations, 2270s |
 Tactical stations, 2270s |
 Bridge, 2293 |
 Bridge, 2364 |
[edit] Transporter room
The transporter room aboard a K't'inga-class cruiser contained five transporter pads, arranged linearly.
At an angle, and to the right of the pads, was the transporter control console, with an operator's chair; to the left was the doorway. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
[edit] Stateroom
The stateroom aboard the IKS Kronos One was the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon's private dining and conference room. This room featured a large transparent pedestal-table, with an overhead chandelier, set on a raised platform with surrounding chairs. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
[edit] Ships commissioned
- Named
- Unnamed
- Uncertain
[edit] Appendices
[edit] Appearances
- Star Trek films:
- TNG:
- DS9:
- VOY:
[edit] Background
[edit] Origins
In the Star Trek: Phase II script, written by Harold Livingston, entitled "In Thy Image", the three Klingon warships were identified as Koro-class. They were later changed to K't'inga-class in Gene Roddenberry's novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Although this designation was never referenced in any on-screen displays or dialog, it was adopted by the Star Trek Encyclopedia, where it was referred to as a "conjectural designation." Nevertheless, the designation has been recognized by the production staff as this design's name.
[edit] Studio model
Its design was based on the D7 class created by Matt Jefferies for Star Trek: The Original Series, which was, in turn based on the manta ray in both shape and color. (Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook)
The original studio model, built in 1977/1978 for Star Trek: Phase II, was built at Magicam and at Future General (supervised by Bob Abel), measuring a total of six feet in length. It was based on molds taken from the original television D7-class studio model and was originally intended to be this class. When Phase II was upgraded to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, further refinement was deemed necessary to meet big screen requirements. The upgrades on the model were done in 1979 by John Dykstra's Apogee model shop, brought in by Douglas Trumbull. In the process the D7-class became the K'tinga-class. The most significant change in the design of the K't'inga model was its more detailed surface, so that it would look more believable on the movie screen. The K't'inga-class cruiser sequence shots for Star Trek: The Motion Picture were shot under the supervision of Dykstra (Cinefex, No.1, 1980, pages 4-34). The footage taken for this movie were the only ones taken of the model in this finish[1]. Later appearances in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek: The Next Generation were stock footage taken from this shoot.
For Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country the studio model, in 1991, underwent extensive modification to become Gorkon's flagship IKS Kronos One. Modifications, done at the Industrial Light & Magic model shop by modelmakers Bill George, Mark Moore and John Goodson, involved a new paint scheme and gold colored metal etched ornaments applied all over the model[2]. As George recalls:"(...)Mark and I sent out to the library for books on military hardware; and out of that research, we came up with the concept that when Klingons return victorious from battle, they add some new piece of equipment or new graphics to their ships. We chose medieval armor as both our color palette and our design springboard and devised this regal and ornate looking paint job, which everyone liked and approved, so we transferred that look onto the model.". (Cinefex,no.49, 1992, page 49) In addition the warp engines were outfitted with internal lighting visible through newly applied jagged slotted patterns to the hull. In this finish the model would be used only twice more, in DS9: "The Way of the Warrior" (after emergency repairs when it came back from a tour in Scotland and was severely damaged by US-customs) and in VOY: "Flashback", as Kang's battle cruiser. In 1993 the model was on loan to Smithsonian Institution for their Star Trek Smithsonian Exhibit, where it was shortly re-united with its "mother", the original D7 class-model.[3]
A low resolution CGI model of the K'tinga was build for later appearances in Deep Space Nine and Voyager.
In "The Way of the Warrior" several other physicals models of the K'tinga were used for the massive battle scene, supervised by Dan Curry, Gary Hutzel and Glenn Neufeld. These however were modified commercially available toys and model kits (Cinefantastique, Volume 28, No.4/5, page 72). Being the first mass battle scene ever shown on Star Trek, it was also the last one entirely done with physical models (save for a few shots with a CGI-Defiant, the only one available at the time).
The heavily battle damaged IKS B'Moth as seen in "Soldiers of the Empire" was a separately build model by Greg Jein. This model was on tour in 1997 shortly after filming and could be seen at the Star Trek Convention in Pasadena, 1997.
The design patent issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office for the K't'inga in 1982 (there called a "toy spaceship") noted Andrew Probert as the sole "inventor" of the design.
In the 'Special Features' segment on disc seven of the VOY Season 3 DVD entitled Flashback to "Flashback", there is a 0:02:45 segment with Dan Curry discussing the filming of the encounter between the USS Excelsior and Kang's battle cruiser in the Azure Nebula.
The studio model for this design was eventually listed in the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction, where it was given an estimated sale price of US$3,000 to US$5,000; it ultimately sold for US$85,000 (US$102,000 with premium) as lot #996 on 7 October 2006. [4]
[edit] Interior
In the words of The Motion Picture's special photographic effects director, Douglas Trumbull, the Klingon battle cruiser interior should look like "an enemy submarine in World War II that's been out at sea for too long." (Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director's Edition))
The movies Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country both heavily featured the interior of the K't'inga-class cruiser – the only glimpses we've had into one of the oldest, yet most unexplored designs featured on Star Trek.
[edit] Technical Manual
The following information of specifications and defenses comes exclusively from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual:
- Production Base: Qo'noS Orbital Factory Base
- Type: Heavy Cruiser
- Accommodation: 800 plus flight crew and troops
- Power Plant: One M/A warp system; two impulse systems
- Dimensions: Length, 349.54 meters; beam, 251.76 meters; height, 98.41 meters
- Mass: 760,000 metric tonnes
- Performance: Warp 9.6
- Armament: Six ship-mounted disruptors; two torpedo launchers
[edit] Inconsistencies
The K't'inga-class studio model that appeared in VOY: "Prophecy" was incorrectly identified as a "D7 class cruiser" in the dialog. According to writer Mike Sussman, he had assumed the D7 studio model created for "Trials and Tribble-ations" was going to be used in the episode. In post production, the special effects staff instead used a low resolution CGI model of a K't'inga-class to represent the ship in the story, rather than the D7 model, as described. Sussman stated that if he had known that the K't'inga model was going to used, he would have (re)written the script so as to avoid this discrepancy. For more information on that particular vessel, see Kohlar's battle cruiser.
The same low-resolution CGI K't'inga-class model was later used as an alternative to the "D4-class" model that was designed to appear in ENT: "Unexpected", nearly 120 years before the original appearance of the vessel. For more information on that vessel and model, see Vorok's battle cruiser.
[edit] Apocrypha
- The K't'inga-class was also seen several times in the Star Trek newspaper comic strip.
- According to the instruction manual for Star Trek: Klingon Academy, some K't'inga's are refitted D7s. It also details how the new design was cast into doubt within the Empire, following the loss of three ships during the V'Ger incident, until details of the Federation's encounter with the entity came to light, revealing its immense power.
[edit] External links
- Klingon K'tinga-class Cruiser at StarshipModeler.com - includes over eighty close-up images of the actual shooting models from Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- The Everlasting Battlecruiser at Ex Astris Scientia - a comprehensive look at the lineage of the legendary Klingon battle cruiser
- K't'inga class at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- K't'inga class at Wikipedia
