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Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive Data on all 42 Classes of Federation Starships
Review: Over the last 130 years Star Fleet has grown into the most powerful military, colonial, and exploratory force in the known galaxy. Its primary duties are to defend the United Federation of Planets from any and all enemies and invaders; to keep open the space lanes; to render any necessary humanitarian assistance to any in need; and to explore, colonize, and develop frontier regions. This manual describes the assets of Star Fleet that enable it to fulfill those obligations. Moreover, it gives the full historical roster of ships going back to the founding of the service on Stardate 0/8910.Every class of starship is listed: Combat Vessels (assault ships, battleships, corvettes, cruisers, cutters, destroyers, escorts, frigates, monitors, scouts), Support Vessels (transports, freighters, warpshuttles) and Repair Vessels and Facilities (tenders, tugs, mobile docks, and defense outposts.) The full historical range of vessels from the Constitution, Anton, Larson, and Nelson class ships of "The Great Awakening" to the Excelsior and Scorpio classes of the present day are detailed. Each class of ship is shown in profile, top, and bow-on view. Then there is a full specification section listing: Construction Data (model numbers, date entered service, and total number constructed), Hull Data (length, width, height, weight, cargo capacity, and landing capability), Equipment Data ( control computer type, number and type of transporters), Personnel Data (crew, passenger, and shuttle craft capacities), Engine and Power Data (warp engine type and number, maximum safe cruising speed, emergency speed, impulse engine type), Weapons (beam weapon type and number, missile weapon type and number), Shields Data (deflector shield type and maximum power) and the Combat Efficiency Rating. In addition, a note section is included listing the brief history of the class, strengths and weaknesses, and exploits and anecdotes of famous representative vessels. The appendixes include both a fold out chart of Federation Recognition Silhouettes and a Full Timeline of Active Duty Service of all classes. In summation, this manual provides all known combat, visual, and historical data on all 42 different Federation ships and their varients. It is provided to Federation personnel on a "need to know" basis.
Rating: 
Summary: A fine technical manual; recommended for Treknophiles
Review: This FASA-published, out-of-print book, though certainly non-"canon," is still a worthy addition to non-canonical Star Trek lore. It details a number of Federation starships--some canonical, like the Constitution class, and some non-canonical, like the Andor, Baker, Larson, Northampton, Chandley, Loknar, and Nelson classes, just to name some of the more prominent ones. Some of the designs featured in this book are not as good as others, but they do help to spark the imagination nonetheless. I definitely recommend this book (if you can find it) as well as its sister books: "Ship Construction Manual," "Romulan Ship Recognition Manual," "Klingon Ship Recognition Manual," "Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual," and "Star Trek: The Next Generation First Year Sourcebook," all from FASA, and all (as far as I know) out of print.
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