CLASS NAME: Babcock
CLASS TYPE: Frigate
GOVERNMENT: United Federation of Planets

Port
view

IMAGE SOURCE: re-draw courtesy of Neale Davidson
Dorsal
view

IMAGE SOURCE: re-draw courtesy of Neale Davidson
Bow
view

IMAGE SOURCE: re-draw courtesy of Neale Davidson

BRAD'S COMMENTS:  While the Babcock Class is a solid frigate with a potent mixture of power, speed, and defense, it is also one of the worst violators of the "parts proportion" rule.  The Babcock winds up looking preposterously huge, if we're to believe that the nacelles and/or saucer are the same size as those on the Constitution refit.  And somehow both ships are roughly the same mass?!  Yes, the FASA guys did sorta get things right when they listed the Babcock as being 50 meters longer than the Constitution Refit.  But even so, if the saucer and nacelle scales are a match, then the Babcock should be at least 75 to 100 meters longer than the Constitution, or about double the length originally listed.  And the Babcock's bulky secondary hull gives the impression that this ship is packing a hell of a lot more under its belt than the Constitution refit could ever hope to.  So I say boo on the FASA designers for (once again) being lazy and not thinking through their designs before they tossed them into the book.  The overall looks of this class are just fine, but that saucer and those nacelles need to be totally different from the Constitution refit in order to resolve the discrepancy between mass and scale.
        It should be noted that Fan and graphics designer Neale Davidson has done us the favor of re-drawing the class, somewhat resolving the scale problems I've just mentioned.  Thanks Neale!
        All anal scale bitching aside, the Babcock is a competent frigate that is not quite as ballsy as the Northampton or the Chandley, but still much more powerful than older Loknars or destroyers like the Lenthal.  The FWF type warp engines crank out over 40 energy points between them, and both Babcock models dual-mount a destructive torpedo design in both the forward and rear arcs.  The shields are the best in the TMP-era Federation inventory, and the Babcock can go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest Romulan and Klingon ships of the same time period.  Due to this fact, the Babcock can operate as both a heavy escort and a stand-alone ship, able to execute scenarios on its own so long as the competition is not too potent, or too numerous.

From the FASA Star Trek FEDERATION SHIP RECOGNITION MANUAL, circa 1985
Babcock Class XI Frigate
NOTES:  Of the 140 Babcock Class frigates built, 84 Mk IIs and and all 48 Vs remain in active service.  One Mk II is used by Star Fleet Training Command, 6 Mk IIs have been destroyed, and 1 Mk II is listed as missing.  The Babcock is manufactured at the Morena and Merak facilities at a combined rate of 16 per year.

Construction Data:
     Model Numbers-
     Ship Class-
     Date Entering Service-
     Number Constructed
MK II
XI
2/1709
92
MK V
XI
2/2002
48
Hull Data:
     Superstructure Points-
     Damage Chart-
     Size
         Length-
         Width-
         Height-
         Weight-
     Cargo
         Cargo Units-
         Cargo Capacity-
     Landing Capability-
24
C

355 meters
150 meters
60 meters
170,900 tons
  
600 units
30,000 tons
none
26
C

355 meters
150 meters
60 meters
173,750 tons
  
600 units
30,000 tons
none
Equipment Data:
     Control Computer Type-
     Transporters-
         Standard 6-person-
         Combat 20-person-
         Emergency 22-person-
         cargo-		   
M-4
  
8
8
none
3		   
M-4
  
8
8
none
3
Other Data:
     Crew-
     Passengers-
     Troops-
     Shuttlecraft-		   
360
10
250
8		   
368
10
250
8
Engines and Power Data:
     Total Power Units Available-
     Movement Point Ratio-
     Warp Engine Type-
         Number-
         Power Units Available-
         Stress Charts-
         Maximum Safe Cruising Speed-
         Emergency Speed-
     Impulse Engine Type-
         Power Units Available-		     
46
4/1
FWF-1
2
20
G/L
Warp 6
Warp 8
FIC-3
6		     
46
4/1
FWF-1
2
20
G/L
Warp 6
Warp 8
FIC-3
6
Weapons and Firing Data:
     Beam Weapon Type-
         Number-
         Firing Arcs-
         Firing Chart-
         Maximum Power-
         Damage Modifiers
               +3
               +2
               +1
     Missile Weapon Type-
         Number-
         Firing Arcs-
         Firing Chart-
         Power To Arm-
         Damage-		    
FH-3
6 in three banks
2f/p, 2f, 2f/s
W
5
 
(1 - 10)
(11 - 17)
(18 - 20)
FP-6
2 in two bays
1f, 1a
O
1
12		    
FH-9
6 in three banks
2f/p, 2f, 2f/s
X
6
 
 
(1 - 12)
(13 - 22)
FP-6
2 in two bays
1f, 1a
O
1
12
Shields Data:
     Deflector Shield Type-
         Shield Point Ratio-
         Maximum Shield Power-		   
FSP
1/4
16		   
FSP
1/4
16
Defense Factor-
Weapon Damage Factor-		 130.3
48.2		 133.2
49.4

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