3125 Scale Fed Classic Medium Cruiser (CM) WEM

As with other empires, the Federation attempted to squeeze more power and weapons into its war cruiser design [the new light cruiser] to produce a more powerful ship that could still be built in a smaller dockyard than that used by the heavy cruisers. While some empires employed paired frigate engines in place of a war cruiser engine, the Federation, as with some other empires, chose a different route. The production of the heavy command cruiser and battlecruiser saucers had included the development of a very small warp engine for “emergency use” if the saucer had to separate. The engine was small enough that it could be produced in far larger quantities than were needed to supply the heavy command cruisers and battlecruisers (which could only be built in limited numbers). It was found possible to construct a small structure under the hull of a new light cruiser where a slightly modified “emergency” engine could be installed. The structure provided space for additional systems, and by
moving the emergency bridge into this structure, it proved possible to double the new light cruiser’s forward-firing phasers.

The added mass slowed down the ship, increasing the movement cost, but the new warp pack compensated for the increase. This was acceptable to Star Fleet, as the resulting ship could maintain the same operational speeds as the original new light cruiser, and other modern ships of the fleet. Given the increased offensive power of the design, many (who did not understand the complexities of the situation) called for all new light cruiser production to be diverted to the new medium cruiser. This was, however, not possible, due to the complexities of the medium cruiser design. The new light cruiser was designed for mass production, but the more complex medium cruiser could not be built that way, requiring more tedious production methods. Total conversion of the new light cruiser assembly bays to the medium cruiser would seriously reduce the total number of hulls built, resulting in far less combat power. Cost was a minor issue; the medium cruiser cost more than the new light cruiser but the Federation economy could have funded the more expensive (and more capable) ships. Production was limited to one ship per year for the first three years of production and to two ships per year from the fourth year through the end of the General War, such ships displacing new light cruiser production. Known names include 1441 Ragnarok, 1442 Gotterdammerung, 1443 Doomsday, 1444 Armageddon, 1445 Emory Upton, 1446 Geronimo, 1447 Thomas Picton, 1448 Chief Manuelito, and 1449 Joachim Murat. The fans asked for the smooth-saucer version as a classic look and for ease of adding decals.

This ship is available in a variety of materials. Ships are unpainted, use standard flight stands available from many sources, and, while designed for gaming, make fine display pieces.