Class F shuttlecraft

SMALLCRAFT CLASS
Class F shuttlecraft
Affiliation:	Federation Starfleet also Terran Empire Imperial Starfleet
Classification:	administrative shuttle/ personnel shuttle
Service period:	2245-2290s
Dimensions
Length:	6.8 meters
Width:	4.1 meters
Height:	2.3 meters
Specifications
Capacity:	1 pilot plus 6 passengers
Speed:	0.5c
Armaments:	none
Defences:	deflector shields

The Class F shuttlecraft was the primary class of Federation shuttlecraft in operation in the mid 23rd century, entering service on reference stardate 1/88. This class is often referred to as the S-3, mark 12 or mark 12B shuttle, and also as the Galileo-model. (FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual; ST references: Spaceflight Chronology, USS Enterprise Owners' Workshop Manual; TOS novels: Prime Directive, Vulcan's Forge)

History

The Class F type was introduced in the early 2260s, serving as a replacement for the worn down classes B and E. By the time of the mid 2260s, they served prominently aboard Starfleet space stations and starships.

The Class F would be used until the late 2280s, when one served aboard the USS Gemini-A. (Trainferry88 storyline)

The Class F shuttlecraft had become obsolete by the 2290s. However, the Federation mission on Obsidian had one of these old vessels, modified for use in that world's desert climate. (TOS novel: Vulcan's Forge)

A model if this class was later seen aboard the USS Enterprise-D in 2364. (TNG episode: "Lonely Among Us")

Specifications

The class F shuttle was equipped with engines that ran on a bulk fuel, stored in tanks and fed through lines into the engine assembly. This fuel mixture was of a particular composition, but the shuttle could be refueled from other energy sources by a sophisticated conversion process performed by an experienced engineer. In order to start the engines, the ship's battery system would provide an energy charge for ignition. Without sufficient energy, the battery would be unable to start the engine. (TOS episode & Star Trek 10 novelization: The Galileo Seven)

The fuel carried aboard a class F shuttle was sufficient for a period of time at warp speed in deep space, although the craft was limited in range by fuel supply issues. A shuttle on a long trip might not have sufficient fuel to cross the distances of a starship, necessitating the calculation of return-trip fuel, so that the shuttle does not become stranded in space or travel beyond its capacity to maintain life support for crewmembers. (TOS episode & Star Trek 4 novelization: The Menagerie)

The Zodiac-class warp shuttle was a design offshoot of the F-class, with the main cabin of the F shuttle duplicated, but mounted on a large warp sled, without the small drive nacelle units present on the F craft. (TOS - Starfleet Academy novel: Cadet Kirk)

Known craft

United Federation of Planets

shuttle name	shuttle registry	assignment	service dates
	NCC-1701/9	USS Enterprise
	NCC-6038/5	Starbase 1
	NCC-K7	Deep Space Station K-7
	SF-10371	Starfleet Command
Armstrong	NCC-1701/7	USS Enterprise	until 2270
Apollo	NCC-1834/4	USS Cortez
Balboa	NCC-1622/1	USS Savannah
Columbus	NCC-1701/2	USS Enterprise
Conrad		Starbase 6	circa 2271
da Vinci	SB4-0314/2	Starbase 4
Einstein	NCC-1701/6	USS Enterprise
Ellis	NCC-1701/7	USS Enterprise
Galileo	NCC-1707/7	USS Enterprise
Galileo	NCC-1707/7	USS Enterprise
Galileo	NCC-1707/7	USS Enterprise
Galileo II	NCC-1707/7	USS Enterprise
Guo Shoujing		USS Endeavour
Icarus	NCC-1707/3	USS Enterprise
John Burke		USS Enterprise
Keppler		USS Enterprise
Masao		USS Endeavour
McAuliffe	NCC-1647/11	USS Farragut
Niagara		USS Enterprise	circa 2264
Picasso	SB11-1201/1	USS Enterprise
Sutherland		USS Enterprise	circa 2264
		USS Enterprise	until 2243
		USS Enterprise	until 2243
		USS Enterprise	until 2243
		USS Enterprise	until 2243

Terran Empire

shuttle name	shuttle registry	assignment	service dates
Bellarmine	NCC-1701/7	ISS Enterprise	until 2264
Galileo	NCC-1701/7	ISS Enterprise	circa 2267