INDEPENDENT "NIGHTINGALE" CLASS XI MEDICAL SHIPConverted Citadel (FASA) Chandley class Frigate mini as a medical ship!Images credit: Orthographic 3 views and 3/4 above port image by
JAFisher44 , based on kitbashed Citadel/FASA
Chandley mini below.
Image Credit: Modified FASA
Chandley class Frigate by Unknown.
Note: NCC number on mini does not reflect applicable number from the
Chandley class nor my assigned numbers in my backstory.
INDEPENDENT "NIGHTINGALE" CLASS XI MEDICAL SHIP (by trynda1701)Construction Data:Model Numbers- Mk.IShip Class- XI
Date Entering Service- 2/2911.06
Number Constructed- 2
Hull Data:Superstructure Points- 28
Damage Chart- C
Size -
Length- 268 meters
Width- 219 meters
Height- 51 meters
Weight- 175,103mt
Cargo -
Cargo Units- 1,000 SCU
Cargo Capacity- 50,000mt
Landing Capability- n/a
Equipment Data:Control Computer Type- M4 - 70WDF
Transporters-
Standard 6-person- 8
Medical 20-person- 8
Emergency 22-person- 4
Cargo large- 6
Cloaking Device Type- n/a
Other Data:Crew- 300
Modules in standard basic configuration-
Medical staff- 100
Passengers (patients, std)- 150
Passengers (quarintined)- 150
Troops- none
Shuttlecraft- 12
Engines and Power Data:Total Power Units Available- 48
Movement Point Ratio - 3/1
Warp Engine Type- FWC-1
Number- 2
Power Units Available- 16ea
Stress Charts- O/M
Maximum Safe Cruising Speed- Warp 7
Emergency Speed- Warp 9
Impulse Engine Type- FIF-2
Power Units Available- 16
Weapons and Firing Data:
Beam Weapon Type- FL-6
Number- 4
Firing Arcs- 2 fwd, 1 a/p, 1 a/s
Firing Chart- H (range 10)
Maximum Power- 3 (twice per turn)
Damage Modifiers:
+3
+2 (1-4)
+1 (5-7)
Missile Weapon Type- FAC-3
Number – 2
Firing Arcs - 2 aft
Firing Chart - H (range 10)
Power to Arm – 4
Damage – 12
Shields Data:Deflector Shield Type- FSO
Shield Point Ratio- 1/3
Maximum Shield Power- 16
Defense Factor-
130.04
Weapon Damage Factor-
9.6
Combat Efficiency-
12.5
Backstory for the ManualHow does a
Chandley class frigate hull end up in private hands? The story behind this stems from tragedy, and ends in commemoration of those lost in said tragedy.
On Stardate 2/2606.01, the
USS Andrews was patrolling near the Romulan Neutral zone. The ship was running at Yellow Alert status, due to a severe ion storm about one parsec distant. Military Operation Command starships try to avoid such storms, as they can, of course, cause sensor blind spots, an unwanted occurrence patrolling near the Romulan border.
Galaxy Exploration Command vessels such as the
Constitution class have, of course, studied these phenomenon for years, as such storms can affect both planetary weather systems and starships at warp, a link that is still not fully understood.
Suddenly, without warning, a SECOND ion storm errupted practically on top of the ship, at the highest level of force variance (factor 7), severely endangering it. Captain Hernandez immediately ordered her vessel at maximum sustainable warp towards the nearest edge of the storm, estimated about 1/10 parsec distant, due to sensor interference.
They almost made it. Just as they were exiting the storm, a wave front of maximum variance slammed into the ship from astern, MASSIVELY crippling her. Engineering reported to the bridge that both warp nacelle pylons had been majorly compromised structurally, and that they had already initiated an emergency shutdown, dropping the vessel to impulse for safety purposes. But as she came out of warp, the pylons sheared completely from the extended hull modules! Magnetic safety interlocks and the shutdown of power from the main intermix chamber actually prevented the pylons or nacelles from exploding, which, had it occured, would have probably destroyed the ship.
She had been lucky to survive the encounter, but there had been injuries and fatalities. 4 crew and 8 Marines had perished, and many more injured, due to severe power overloads shipwide. With her vessel crippled, Captain Hernandez issued a distress call, despite damage to their communication systems. Luckily, the nearby location of Earth Outpost 8 meant that they picked up the call, and routed the
Belknap class
USS Briza to their location, while other rescue and recovery assets were also directed there from further afield.
The recovery effort resulted in the
Andrews being towed to the nearest major outpost, Starbase 28. The Starfleet Corps of Engineering repair teams began their assessment of the damage and overall integrity of the whole space frame considering the severity of the incident. After almost a month in drydock, the head engineer reported that the repair time to bring the vessel back to operational status would be almost TWO years, with extensive work needed on all major hull strongbacks (ESPECIALLY the nacelle strut to primary hull connection strongbacks), various primary hull frameworks, and internal power systems. The nacelle struts and nacelles were so much scrap metal.
Starfleet Command examined the report, and determined that with the Mk I vessel being over ten years old, and more than sixty Mk Is still in service, as well as over one hundred Mk III and IV variants also in use, that the vessel would be scrapped.
Herein lies the twist in the tale. Starfleet contacted the Yang/Anders Corporation, who had recently completed and commissioned for deep space commercial transport use the two converted Mk I
Brenton that Starfleet decommissioned over four years previously. Yang/Anders had at that time expressed interest in any further
Brenton hulls if they became available. Command thought that they might be able to use the
Andrews hull, even as damaged as it was, and as usual stripped of its' support, weaponary and shielding capabilities, and in this case, the experimental M-6A that is only fitted to the
Chandley class.
Yang/Anders did indeed express a desire to procure the vessel, but word had reached the Vulcan Science Academy, who also indicated that they would be interested in acquiring the vessel. This presents a quandary to Command, and it was decided that each entity would be given three months to come up with a proposal for the use of said vessel.
Yang/Anders were distraught upon hearing about their rivals intent, and set about designing a proposal differing from their original idea of an enlarged commercial transport. Their decision was influenced by a recent event. An outbreak of pergium radiation poisoning following a catastrophic reactor failure on an outlying AOFW mining colony within the Triangle was aided by the Starfleet
Hippocrates class Medical Frigate
USS Barnard. After the succesful medical evacuation and treatment of the mining personnel, this gave the lead designer of the
Brenton project, Stephan Erikson, an idea.
Utilizing experience gained on the original
Chandley class, he suggested designing a swappable system of medical modules to fit within the extended hull 'wings'. His engineering expertise designing the multilatch/magnatomic cargo latching system on their two
Brenton vessels meant that creating the complex power transfer requirements of said modules was relatively easy compared to that system. The Marines interior layout adaption system for mission planning meant that the basic infrastructure was already in place.
The proposal outlined how there would be a basic layout of six modules (three per extended hull 'wing'), with standard medical facilities (twin standard sickbay modules, including wards for 75 patients each and med labs), twin quarantine wards, and twin cargo modules for medical supplies storage. The modularity allowed for rapid replacement of module layout in cases of medical emergencies needing more ward layouts, quarantine wards or supply modules.
The plan was for said vessel to provide to civilians in the Triangle region with emergency medical support, as well as a similar service that
Constitution class vessels had been providing for decades to isolated personnel in Federation space, whether research personnel, prospectors or mining colonies (that of a routine medical examination by a Chief Medical Officer of a Starship class vessel at yearly intervals). The Yang/Anders proposal detailed which similar isolated personnel, colonies and the minor governments that the company currently dealt with in the Triangle business wise who would be amenable with such a medical arrangement. The vessel would help supplement said entities support services, making the proposal viable.
At the end of the three months, the two proposals were considered side by side. The Vulcan proposal was to install science labs and sensor suites in the former Marine contingent wings. While also a well thought out plan, it was decided that the Vulcan Science Academy, in conjunction with Vulcan crewed vessels within Starfleet, already had access to many science assets, and the more unique Yang/Anders plan was given the green light. It is rumoured that having the renowned company using the vessel in such a manner would subtly allow Federation sociological ideals to become popular within the Triangle, without it being official foreign policy in the independent region.
The Science Academy accepted this with typical Vulcan calm, although it should be noted that their proposals design team attended the launch of the vessel years later.
The next decision made was to arrange to tow the salvaged hull to the Yang/Anders civilian dockyards at Starbase 27. Upon arrival, the refit process began. Based on the Starfleet Engineering reports, it was determined that to combat what the civilian engineering team saw as a design flaw, that the top of the main nacelle pylons (the narrowest part) would be omitted. The nacelles and the widest part of the pylons, immediately adjacent to the nacelles, would be directly attatched to a strengthened underside strongback of the primary hull. With this design decision, it was determined that it would probably take the civilian yard THREE years to complete the repair and refit process.
As the hull structural problems were being assessed, the engineering teams began essentially the replacement of the ENTIRE power transfer system. The linear intermix chamber and impulse drive systems were also extensively refurbished.
As this was being performed, Yang/Anders requisitioned a repacement computer and shield generator system, as well as refurbished warp drives. The FWC-1 engines were the same as the originals. The M-4 and FSO systems were chosen. FL-6 lasers were chosen as the beam weapon armament. Twin FAC-3 were chosen as the missile armament. As work progressed on the main hull, differing weapon layouts were considered. The first was similar to the
Brenton transports FL-5 & FAC-3 combination (2f, 1ap, 1as & 1f, 1a), and a few variants were proposed. But the final design raised a few eyebrows.
The FL-6 lasers were to be arranged 2f, 1 ap, 1as. But BOTH accelerator cannons were to be fitted firing aft! It was explained that as a nominally non combat ship, the weaponry is considered defensive in nature. In a case where the vessel may be attacked, it was planned that the vessel would attempt to flee combat if possible, with the heavy cannons being arranged aft to be used while being pursued! With the vessel retaining the
Chandley class' warp capabilites, a cruising speed of Warp 7, and an emergency speed of Warp 9, this was deemed important to the vessels survival if a pirate raid (presumably for the medical supplies onboard) was attempted.
After the three years of refit and redesign, flight trials were performed. The vessel did indeed meet specifications. With the removal of the nacelle pylons, it looks like the vessel isn't as heavily structured as the Mk.I
Chandley, but the strengthened underside hull strongback connections make up for that. Even so, the vessel still retains its' Class XI tonnage classification.
As for the naming of the vessel, and the commemoration of those lost in the tragedy, the ship itself became YAC-1003" MSS Nightingale", after the famous Terran nurse who helped modernise nursing care during and after the Crimean War on Earth. The 12 shuttles of the
Nightingale were named after the 12 crew fatalities suffered during the tragedy.
YAC-1003/1 - Type F - Davies
YAC-1003/2 - Type F - Johnson
YAC-1003/3 - Type F - Sovar
YAC-1003/4 - Type F - Th'rarth
YAC-1003/5 - Type F - Cushing
YAC-1003/6 - Type F - Davidge
YAC-1003/7 - Type F - Hicks
YAC-1003/8 - Type F - Jereeba
YAC-1003/9 - Type F - Murphy
YAC-1003/10 - Type F - P'nik
YAC-1003/11 - Type F - Vasquez
YAC-1003/12 - Type F - Wilfred
The ship entered service from Starbase 27 to its' homebase of Tranquillity Station in system TR000164 on Stardate 2/2911.06.
One year after the launch of the
Nightigale, Starfleet decommissioned a second Chandley class, the
USS MacAllister, and sold it to Yang/Anders. Based on their experiences with repairing the previously scrapped vessel, the conversion to a second
Nightingale class vessel from an essentially intact if used spaceframe is expected to take only 12 months, with entry into service expected around Stardate 2/3112.
The vessel is expected to be named YAC-1004 "MSS T'Lan", named after a famous post-Reformation Vulcan healer. The name was chosen as a nod to the original Vulcan proposal for use of the Nightingale.
Starfleet Medical has been very impressed by the innovation of the design, and are considering entering into talks with Yang/Anders with the purpose of producing their own variant under license with the company. It is rumoured that the Starfleet Marine Corps may also be considering such an arrangement. It will be interesting to see what becomes of such talks.
My Designer notesSo, after posting a picture in my minis thread of this kitbashed medical Chandley mini WAY back in late July of 2017(!), I've FINALLY come up with a backstory to go with it. I've added it to my civilian Yang/Anders fleet, and while trying to keep the story short, I kept coming up with more rationale for the design, hence the novella! I've been working on this since mid 2023, on and off, and I am still working on finalizing a few of the stats for the design (hence the "WIP, TO BE DETERMINED" entries).
But I wanted it up on the forum for people to see. Hopefully, you will enjoy the design and story, and catch a few Easter eggs within the backstory.
Updates to come, but until then, onwards and upwards!
EDIT 05/01/24 - All WIP entries have been updated, so stats are completed. Also, backstory updated to allow for change in number of modulesEDIT 08/01/24 - Updated the dimensions per JAFisher44 s AMAZING 3 view schematics.EDIT 11/01/24 - Added JAFisher44 s 3 view schematics (with credits) to top of ship stats, above the original Citadel kitbashed mini.
EDIT 2 11/01/24 - Modified JAFisher44 s 3 view schematics from thumbnail to full size images, plus added the original 3/4 above port image and modified credit to reflect added image.Mark