L-42 "Great Bird" Class   ●   Frigate   ●   Klingon Empire


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THE LARGEST OF THE THREE "BIRD OF PREY" CLASS SHIPS, the L-42 looks no different from the smaller K-22 scout (the ship FASA says was seen throughout Star Trek III and Star Trek IV) and the mid-sized D-32 cruiser.  In a strange way, having three different ship classes that all look alike is accurate with current canon, because it seems obvious in ST:TNG and ST:DS9 that the Klingon Empire operates a variety of different types of 'Bird of Prey' style ships, though on the TV shows they are not always called a 'Bird of Prey'.
        The L-42 being classified as a frigate is yet another example of what I consider to be a mistake on the part of the FASA writers, in that a frigate in 21st century Earth terms is smaller than your average sea cruiser, and not as heavily armed.  Like so many FASA frigates the L-42 is a match for some of the bigger cruisers, doing well against ships like the V-27, Enterprise (Constitution Refit), and Reliant (Miranda/Soyuz) classes, to say nothing of other overpowered frigates like the Chandley class.  In game play this ship can be lethal due to its cloaking capacity, which most other large FASA-created Klingon vessels do not have.  My best tactics usually involve cloaking the L-42 and pouring the rest of the available power into movement and torpedoes.  Spend movement phases getting in close to the enemy, then de-cloak and fire.  Don't worry about shields, with the cloaking device on you will never have enough juice left to energize them significantly.  The L-42's torpedoes give it great punch, and a lucky shot can usually disable or destroy most smaller craft, and seriously damage larger vessels.
        As with many FASA ships whose operational life spans cross over into the murky period between the christening of the Enterprise-B and the events of ST:TNG, I have provided up-rated stats so that this ship might be playable in interim or early TNG-era scenarios involving opponents well advanced beyond the time of Captain Kirk.

        — BRT

From the FASA Star Trek KLINGON SHIP RECOGNITION MANUAL, circa 1985
L-42 (Great Bird) Class IX - XII Frigate
Known Sphere Of Operation: Triangle and Romulan borders
Data Reliability: D for L-42A; E for L-42B
Major Data Source: Operation Dixie; Triangle Sector Intelligence
The L-42 frigate is the largest vessel type produced as a direct result of the last Klingon-Romulan technology exchange.  Taking its hull design from the Romulan S-11 class scout, these frigates look very much like a giant K-22 class scout or D-32 class cruiser, sporting the same type of adjustable wings.  When cruising, the wings are horizontal and when in combat, they are down; they have no up position for landing, as the vessel is much too large for atmospheric operations.  The command pod can be jettisoned in case of emergency, with the entire boom section detaching from the main hull.  A departure from standard design is the mounting of disruptors into banks of three, providing devastatingly- concentrated firepower but increasing the danger of major reductions from weapons hits.  The efficient engines of the L-42A provide high maneuverability and give extra power to weapons and shields; these vessels are more maneuverable than most capital ships in both the Romulan Navy and Star Fleet.
        The L-42B is reported to be more powerful overall but not as maneuverable.  It is said to mount two forward and two aft-firing KP-6 torpedoes.  The strength of the superstructure is also said to have been increased.
        Of the approximately 20 L-42s believed to have been built, Operation Dixie reported one has been destroyed. The disposition of the remainder is not known. Operation ixie further reports that the L-42s are currently being produced at the Mustaka shipyards at an approximate rate of six per year.  It is highly unlikely that the Klingons will keep the rate at this level, but an increase in the number of facilities is likely and may be underway already.  The reports from Operation Dixie indicate that the class is equipped with a cloaking device, but the reliability of such devices on vessels this size is questionable. 
        The class name is a direct translation of the Klingon z'gavasta.

Construction Data:
     Model Numbers-
     Ship Class-
     Date Entering Service-
     Number Constructed


A
IX
2/2101
12


B
X
2/2106
8


C *
X
2310 A.D.
252


D *
XI
2322 A.D.
(classified)


E *
XI
2341 A.D.
(classified)


F *
XII
2355 A.D.
(classified)

Hull Data:
     Superstructure Points-
     Damage Chart-
     Size
         Length-
         Width-
         Height-
         Weight-
     Cargo
         Cargo Units-
         Cargo Capacity-
     Landing Capability-


22
C

164 meters
242 meters
31 meters
120,000 tons
  
60 units
3,000 tons
None


26
C

164 meters
242 meters
31 meters
146,400 tons
  
60 units
3,000 tons
None


30
C

166 meters
244 meters
31 meters
153,450 tons
  
60 units
3,000 tons
None


33
C

166 meters
244 meters
31 meters
160,250 tons
  
60 units
3,000 tons
None


38
C

166 meters
244 meters
31 meters
168,240 tons
  
60 units
3,000 tons
None


45
C

166 meters
244 meters
31 meters
182,390 tons
  
60 units
3,000 tons
None

Equipment Data:
     Control Computer Type-
     Transporters-
         Standard 6-person-
         Combat 22-person-
         Emergency 18-person-
         cargo-
     Cloaking Device Type-
         Power Requirement-

  
ZD-6
  
3
None
2
1
KCC
32

  
ZD-6
  
3
None
2
1
KCD
48

  
KINM-A
  
3
None
2
1
KNCF
38

  
KINM-B
  
3
None
2
1
KNCF
38

  
KINM-B
  
3
None
2
1
KNCF
38

  
KINM-C
  
3
None
2
1
KNCF
38

Other Data:
     Crew-
     Troops-
     Passengers-
     Shuttlecraft-

  
220
None
10
2

  
240
None
10
2

  
212
None
20
3

  
190
None
20
3

  
172
None
30
3

  
160
None
30
3

Engines and Power Data:
     Total Power Units Available-
     Movement Point Ratio-
     Warp Core Type-
         Power Units Available-
         Stress Charts-
         Maximum Safe Cruising Speed-
         Emergency Speed-
     Impulse Engine Type-
         Power Units Available-

    
55
3/1
KWF-1
32
H/J
Warp 8
Warp 9
KIF-2
23

    
63
4/1
KWE-3
40
H/J
Warp 7
Warp 8
KIF-2
23

    
70
3/1
KNAW-1
42
L/M
Warp 7
Warp 9
KFKD-2
28

    
78
3/1
KNAW-2
48
L/M
Warp 7
Warp 9
KFKD-3
30

    
89
3/1
KNAW-3
56
L/M
Warp 7
Warp 9
KFKD-4
33

    
95
3/1
KNAW-4
62
L/M
Warp 7
Warp 9
KFKD-4
33

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-


KD-13
6
3f/p, 3f/s
X
5
  
(1 - 7)
(8 - 15)
(16 - 22)
KP-6
1
F
R
2
20


KD-13
6
3f/p, 3f/s
X
5
  
(1 - 7)
(8 - 15)
(16 - 22)
KP-5
4
2f, 2a
Q
1
10


KD-13
6
3f/p, 3f/s
X
5
  
(1 - 7)
(8 - 15)
(16 - 22)
KRP-10
4
2f, 2a
Q
1
15


KD-13
6
3f/p, 3f/s
X
5
  
(1 - 7)
(8 - 15)
(16 - 22)
KRP-11
4
2f, 2a
R
1
18


KAVD-17
6
3f/p, 3f/s
U
12
  
(1 - 6)
(7 - 14)
(15 - 18)
KRP-11
4
2f, 2a
R
1
18


KAVD-18
6
3f/p, 3f/s
U
13
  
(1 - 7)
(8 - 16)
(17 - 20)
KRP-14
4
2f, 2a
U
3
24

Shields Data:
     Deflector Shield Type-
         Shield Point Ratio-
         Maximum Shield Power-

  
KSP
1/3
15

  
KSP
1/3
15

  
KST-X
1/2
18

  
KSU
1/2
20

  
KSV
1/2
24

  
KSSG-F
1/5
25

Defense Factor-
Weapon Damage Factor-

130.5
40.1

133.2
57.8

unknown
unknown

unknown
unknown

unknown
unknown

unknown
unknown

* Denotes completely hypothetical model number and stats, devised by Brad R. Torgersen.


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