Akira class

[mckinneyc]

I know for some it is like marmite, you either love it or hate it, but I have spent ages looking long and hard at screencaps and spec drawings and have come to the conclusion she isn't a fighter carrier that most people think.

Those so called doors at the front of the saucer don't seem large enough to take a shuttle let alone a fighter. When you look at the screen caps, the best one being in FC of the Thunderchild, the so called doors look like windows and are coloured as such.

Also that area seems only a deck tall but at the back of the ship features two shuttlebay doors that are at least two decks tall perhaps even three.

I have never liked the idea of Star Wars like fighter carriers or fighters in Star Trek and the lack of such is what I like about Trek and makes it unique. So have a look at the evidence and see what you think.

[Nebula]

The doors aren't at the front (as you stated those are windows and most likely for that ships ten-forward) they are actually placed on the top of the saucer section... that was through my investigation. Also you no longer need to look for screen caps of the Akira... there are great concept drawings of it and a full/close-to ortho available on DrexFiles.

Anyway aside from this ship holding a small complement of fighters(peregrines). The Akira's major roll is a torp boat with 15 total torp tubes.

[deadthunder2_0]

nope nebula, there is 3 hanger doors in front of the saucer that are open in First contact, showing that they either use a force field, or the fighters/shuttles were launched

The Akira-class was designed by Alex Jaeger of Industrial Light & Magic in 1996, who was inspired by the Miranda-class and the Klingon Bird-of-Prey designs. It was named after the Japanese animated film Akira. (Star Trek Encyclopedia)

In parts of his Nemecek interview that were published in Star Trek: The Magazine, designer Alex Jaeger stated that he created the Akira as a sort of "carrier/gunship," armed with fifteen torpedo launchers. Visual inspection of the hull and design drawings show all fifteen: ten on the ships weapons pod, one forward torpedo launcher over the deflector dish and also four flanking torpedo launchers on the saucer.[1]

He further stated in his July 1999 "Designing the Akira-class" interview, appearing on page 48 of the Star Trek: The Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 3, "This was my gunship/battlecruiser/aircraft carrier. It has 15 torpedo launchers and two shuttlebays &nash; one in front, with three doors, and one in the back. I really got into it with this one, with the whole idea that the front bay would be the launching bay, and then to return they'd come into the back, because they'd be protected by the rest of the ship."

In June 2009 Jaeger commented about the overall design of the Akira-class on the web blog of Doug Drexler:

    "Set nestled between the catamaran split secondary hulls the bridge is nicely protected. Just on either side of the bridge in a notch on top of the secondary hulls are the shield generators. This further protects the command unit of the ship since one of its duties is launching smaller craft, communication protection is a must. At the back of the bridge there are emissary docking hatches and just below that the circular hatch is the captain's lifeboat. The rear view at the back of the saucer is the main shuttle bay and shuttle control center. This area is also well protected tucked down between the hulls and below the weapons pod flanked by the Nacelles. This serves as a safe haven for the smaller craft in a fire fight and a calm entry point. Also in this protected center region are most of the sensor arrays for the transporters and communications with the remainder of the sensors atop the weapons pod. Moving forward the notch in the front of the saucer is the forward launch bay doors(3). This is for the fast exit of small craft into battle. There are extra shield generators on either side of this notch as this would be a target for enemy ships. Surrounding most of the saucer section is the phaser array strip. Also on the saucer there are flanking torpedo launchers. At the rear of the saucer are the impulse engines. Underneath is the deflector dish, 2 flanking phaser arrays and a forward facing torpedo launcher. You'll also notice that the Akira class utilizes the escape pods from the Sovereign Class, but the panel details more like the Galaxy class. That's because I imagined this ship was commissioned right before the "E" and served as a testbed for the new escape pods. At the rear is the weapon's pod with spreads of both photon and quantum torpedo launchers. And of course the warp nacelles. This overall design makes for a much more narrow side profile and a more friendly crew environment as the engineering folks are no longer in 'the bowels' of the ship Also the crew get a better view of their own ship as the split hull allows for more windows and a view of the bridge, something that's not very common in the previous ship designs."

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb21710/common/skins/common/blank.gif

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Akira_class

[Nebula]

I'm sorry deadthunder but you are 100% wrong... Drexfiles has the model from FC and he showed the front of the ship... those are three large windows... not doors.

not to mention if these were so called doors... they would be to short... not even a type 6 would fit through em.

FC

DS9/Voy



this is a case where you can't trust Memory-alpha.

oh and you should really put what you copied from Mem-A in a quote box... would make it easier to read XD

[Shadowknight1]

Neb...you're the wrong one I'm afraid.  The post that those pics come from has a very detailed run through of the design by Alex Jaeger and he states that those are doors for small fighters.  I think the small fighters like the ones the Maquis used or Star Trek Invasion's Valkyries would be perfect.

[Nebula]

well freaking crap... I just can't see it... those things can't be doors base on shape and size lol the people in those craft would be crunched lol

well I guess we're all open to our own opinions now.

[Morgan]

I think the small fighters like the ones the Maquis used or Star Trek Invasion's Valkyries would be perfect.

The attack fighters from DS9 would be perfect. The Maquis ship, at least the ones we're used to seeing wouldn't fit through...

I personally like the Akira-class, but my issues are with the locations of the torpedo launchers; namely the bottom three on the "rollbar." If you look at it head-on, it seems that when launched they would take out the bridge-dome. Not a very convenient location. I also can't see how ALL 15 torpedo launchers are facing forward, since the rear-end of the rollbar has obvious torpedo launchers facing aft.

If I were to do an Akira, I would have four forward-facing launchers, the ones that you see at the top of the rollbar; four aft-facing launchers on the rollbar, retain the two (each side) port and starboard launchers as well as the three underneath the saucer section (one below the deflector, two above below the fighter hanger). You still get a total of 15 torpedo launchers, but the locations make much more sense. I'd probably keep the phasers Scotchy added on the pylons and nacelles too.

[Nebula]

The attack fighters from DS9 would be perfect.

what the heck are you talking about? I know of no other fighter other than the peregrine!

I personally like the Akira-class, but my issues are with the locations of the torpedo launchers; namely the bottom three on the "rollbar." If you look at it head-on, it seems that when launched they would take out the bridge-dome. Not a very convenient location. I also can't see how ALL 15 torpedo launchers are facing forward, since the rear-end of the rollbar has obvious torpedo launchers facing aft.

umm sorry but those aft launchers on the roll bar aren't really launchers :/ they were explained as exhaust tubes

also the tube layout is this

7 fore tubes on roll bar
3 tubes ventral saucer
1 tube ventral deflector
2 tubes port
2 tubes starboard

[Morgan]

what the heck are you talking about? I know of no other fighter other than the peregrine!

Well Shadowknight did mention a Maquis ship and an attack fighter from Star Trek Invasion  

umm sorry but those aft launchers on the roll bar aren't really launchers :/ they were explained as exhaust tubes

also the tube layout is this

7 fore tubes on roll bar
3 tubes ventral saucer
1 tube ventral deflector
2 tubes port
2 tubes starboard

I know what was stated for the most part but the lack of aft weapons seems like a pretty serious design flaw, don't ya think? Also look head on at the rollbar, those bottom three tubes would smack the bridge dome right off, another design flaw. So I stand by how I would lay out the torpedo tubes on an Akira. I'd probably make those bottom three "exhaust tubes."

[Nebula]

Well Shadowknight did mention a Maquis ship and an attack fighter from Star Trek Invasion  cheeky

1. the maquis ship is the peregrine fighter
2. the attack fighter from ST Invasion isn't canon and it's still to large to fit through those so called doors >.>

I know what was stated for the most part but the lack of aft weapons seems like a pretty serious design flaw, don't ya think?

nope I don't think so... lol... this ship is meant to be escorted lol (It has always been seen in small to large fleet actions never alone.) (best example is the ep from Voy with the Prome.)

those bottom three tubes would smack the bridge dome right off,

no actually they won't... those three tubes just clear the bridge... *points to pic I posted above*

[Side 3]

Relax, all of you. You do know that inaccuracy is a key feature of Star Trek, don't you? Heck, we can't even properly say what sizes a bunch of the ships are! Trek is wrought together to tell stories, not about ships specs. While I can understand (and am guilty of it myself) wanting to suss out every ship and have a clear picture in my mind of how big each one is and what they do, you have to meet the creators half-way on these things.

If the designer says they're shuttlebays, then that's what they are. Regardless of visual problems.

1. the maquis ship is the peregrine fighter

There's also the training craft from TNG (Wesley's academy team, anyone?).

[Morgan]

1. the maquis ship is the peregrine fighter
2. the attack fighter from ST Invasion isn't canon and it's still to large to fit through those so called doors

Yes the Maquis used Peregrine's I know, but when I think "Maquis ship" I think of the kind that Chakotay's ship was - I think that's the image that comes into a lot of people's minds when they think "Maquis ship." I know the ST Invasion fighter isn't canon, but someone said it and I responded about it.

Either way looking at the front end closer those "doors" do look a bit small - the strike me more as windows to a mess hall or crew lounge to be honest...

nope I don't think so... lol... this ship is meant to be escorted lol (It has always been seen in small to large fleet actions never alone.) (best example is the ep from Voy with the Prome.)

Okay you're only thinking of war time examples, a lot of different ships were escorted during the Dominion War, including Galaxy's and Defiant's. In a post-Dominion War quadrant I'd expect to see the Akira out doing border patrol or patrolling shipping routes. In those situations it would likely be alone, so would you seriously expect Starfleet to leave it completely defenseless from behind? Please tell me how that's not a design flaw. The Federation may be all about peace and kumbaya and all that happy stuff but that doesn't mean they're naive enough to not think their ships will be shot at every once and a while, and that the Orion Syndicate or some other pirates wouldn't take advantage of a weakness like that...

no actually they won't... those three tubes just clear the bridge...

One way or another they come way too close for comfort for my taste. I wouldn't be too comfortable having torpedoes missing my ceiling by a matter of inches, one misfire or malfunction in the torpedoes guidance system and the bridge is still pretty close to the line of fire, and potentially vulnerable - doesn't seem too smart considering how important the bridge is...

Relax, all of you. You do know that inaccuracy is a key feature of Star Trek, don't you? Heck, we can't even properly say what sizes a bunch of the ships are!

Chill out Mr. Moderator things aren't as heated as you seem to think  :roll  Fans have fun debating these little inconsistencies and coming up with solutions, don't be a party pooper 

[Side 3]

Who said anything about me trying to moderate? I just think you guys are looking too deep into fiction... We've all seen Trek fans go to war over one thing or another. 

[ACES_HIGH]

actually the peregrine fighter (not to be confuesed with the Ju'day class raider from Caretaker) is quite small.  I've done quite a bit of research into this for my fanfic, but if you allow for folding wings, the peregrine could easily launch from those forward bays.  As you pointed out, the aft bays are larger, that is because they would have to be to facilitate landing of fighters, as well as the launching of shuttles.  I consider the Akira to be an "Escort Carrier" with a small fighter wing, rather than a full sized fleet carrier like the Midway or the Typhoon.

[mckinneyc]

The way I see it is that any ship with a large enough shuttle bay could carry the fighters. The main shuttlebay of a Galaxy or Nebula class alone would be able to carry a dozen maybe too.

I also like to think that Starfleet as a peaceful entity would not develop carrier vessels, they had to classify the Defiant as an escort not a warship which I assume is to appease those who object to having a fully fledged warship class in Starfleet.

All other designs in Trek have for the most part been multi mission so I would assume true of the Akira.

I would guess that like the Nebula and Miranda, its weapon pod is perhaps a module that can be changed depending on the mission profile which is why the Akira has at least one saucer mounted torpedo launcher.

To me, looking at onscreen evidence (cannon), the doors at the front are too small so are probably windows and we always saw in DS9 fighters operating alone even when damaged and in retreat. We know nothing of the internal workings of the Akira however it isn't a huge stretch to imagine that the aft doors lead to a sizeable single shuttlebay.

[Nebula]

actually the peregrine fighter (not to be confuesed with the Ju'day class raider from Caretaker) is quite small.  I've done quite a bit of research into this for my fanfic, but if you allow for folding wings, the peregrine could easily launch from those forward bays.

Have you watched DS9?? they are quite big in relation to the Defiant when seen flying over her... also again those so called doors are barely more than a meter in height. I know there was another thread around here on BCC where someone actually posted a pic of the akira with size references... we had this same discussion before and it was found nothing could fit through em... not even the small type 6.

[Villain]

The Defiant has had a size-complex throughout it's entire lifespan though. I'd mention the scene in FC but chances are the Ent-E was scaled up for visual impact (Like Vulcan was during the destruction scene in XI)... The way I see it, the ship was intended as a background filler for the most part, wasn't it? (Looking at the filming model right now it seems pretty easy to make that assumption), simplest way to solve the problem is for the next Akira to be built to have a little artistic liberty in regards to the front. Heck, make two, one with a lounge, the other with a hangar deck! And transparent bussards.  

[Meteorafallen]

I don't know If this will add fuel to the fire or not but I did manage to find an MSD of the Akria Class and It clearly shows two bays one forward and one aft. The second appears to have a through and through hangar style bay so choose your poison.

And the ortho Is taken from ST Magazine, which If you look at the fore view you can clearly see them labeled as "shuttlebay doors"

[Lionus]

Hm.. Starts to look like it's more of canon scaling issue than anything else..

[Nebula]

the akira saucer section is supposed to be as wide as the sov saucersection.