Hello and welcome to another episode of Truth OR Myth Beta Canon, a Star Trek web series that dives into the history of any given topic using Beta Canon sources and my own imagination to fill in the gaps. In today’s episode we’re taking a look at the 23rd Century Miranda Class of Starfleet Starships, as first seen in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, to better understand its place in Star Trek History.
This one was a very difficult video to research. Beta Canon for the Miranda Class is not only extensive, but all sources seem to contradict each other at every turn. So what I’ve done is mixed and match all these sources, picking all the things that make sense together and weaving a story that I hope you’ll all enjoy.
Also, please note, this video will refer to the vertical warp core. In previous videos, some fans of the channel have disputed the idea that the Miranda Class could contain such a core, so I thought Id cut those people off right here. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan clearly shows the vertical warp core of the Reliant, and it’s clearly vertical. And so since we see it, it IS canon, regardless of how you might personally feel about it.
And as always, Because this IS a Beta Canon video, all information relaid should pretty much be taken with a grain of stardust, and only considered a little bit of Star Trek Fun! And so, with all that out of the way. But what do we really know about this workhorse design? Well, let’s find out…
A testbed for revolutionary technology, the Miranda Class itself would become one of the longest-lasting designs in Starfleet History, however, Starfleet command had a tough decision to make.
The Constitution Class had made a very big mark on Starfleet’s history, but by 2265, it had begun to show its age. With starship after starship being destroyed, lost or otherwise incapacitated, Starfleet needed to decide its next move.
The citizens of the United Federation of Planets had followed the Constitution Classes various starships missions with bated breath, eating up the successes of these vessels like no other starships before them. And this in itself, left Starfleet in a bind.
Should they decide to decommission the class as a whole, Starfleet’s admiralty was worried that they would lose some of the faith of the public, which could have a detrimental effect on the Federation, but should they decide to keep the class, then something major would have to be done with it, in order to bring back it’s shining status.
The Daystrom Institute, in conjunction with Starfleet’s best and brightest Warp Drive Engineers, had been working on several new technologies since the end of the Federation/ Klingon war 2257. And finally, this partnership had begun to bear fruit, with a brand new style of warp core being invented, nicknamed affectionately as the Vertical Warp Core.
Several other advancements had also been made in technology, but as of yet, this experimental tech had not been tested, so Starfleet decided they needed a testbed to see if not only this technology would deliver on the promises it heralded, but also if they simply could work together in the first place.
And so, the Miranda Class would be born… Sitting at a length of approximately 277 meters and a width of approximately 127 meters, the Miranda Class would be designed to be operated by a crew of 220 officers and crew members.
Contrary to popular belief, the Miranda Class was not a refit vessel class itself, though it did share many attributes of simpler Starfleet Vessel Classes of the time.
A smaller, prototype version of the new vertical warp core would allow this class a standard cruising speed of warp factor 7, and an emergency maximum speed of warp factor 9.
Tactically this class had 6 standard phaser emitters and 4 photon torpedo launchers. But due to the adaptability of this class, Starfleet would eventually introduce several variants on the design, but the Miranda Class itself would also include 2 pulse phaser canons.
Phaser power would also be increased in this design, by channelling the Phasers through the warp core itself. This created a very impressive increase in Phaser destructive energy, but also had the side effect of disabling a starships Phasers would the warp core go offline.
This problem would be solved shortly after the launch of the Refit Constitution Class, where backup batteries would be installed to allow continued Phaser operations, though at a reduced power level.
Shield systems were also upgraded, increasing shield output by 58% over the Constitution Class, making the Miranda Classes shields some of the strongest shields in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
The aft section of this ship included 2 large shuttlebays. This allowed the class to have a multi-mission profile. It could carry cargo, deploy fighters and engage in a variety of scientific missions.
Transporter Systems strength and efficiency had also been increased thanks to developments by the Erikson Transporter Laboratories. And due to public concerns over this increase in power, a specially designed booth that held the transporter console and operator would become standard in this Transporter design.
Though appearing smaller visually than the Constitution Class, the Miranda Class actually had more internal volume than that famous starship line. This also meant that more areas, whether being scientific laboratories, guest quarters or cargo bays, could be fitted within her hull.
The Miranda Class would also be designed with what was known at the time as a modular configuration. This meant that parts of the ship could be detached and removed easily, and replaced with various other modules which would immediately change its mission profile or update its existing technology.
Though much smaller than the Engineering Complex that would be developed for the Constitution Class, the Miranda Classes Engineering section would also be a multi-level facility.
The entire design for the Miranda Class would utilize every bit of space available aboard the starship. A decrease in corridor size meant that many facilities could be added to the class without the loss of any of the normal creature comforts that had been introduced in the Constitution Class Era.
Construction on the Miranda Class began in 2268 and was completed in late 2269.
Launching shortly thereafter for its shakedown cruise, Starfleet Command held its breath in anticipation, having decided what a successful shakedown would mean for its fleet. Should the Miranda Class prove itself a worthy design, Starfleet Command would then begin the process of creating a new Constitution Class variant in the Miranda Class style, decommissioning the older Constitution Class Vessels and replacing them.
Thankfully the Miranda Classes shakedown was a complete success. Performing above and beyond the specifications that the class was believed to have had, and Starfleet Command, so impressed with the design, would not only commission the New Constitution Class project but also commission the Miranda Class itself, with an order for 36 starships after it’s shakedown.
By 2270 however, Starfleet Command faced a new problem.
Public Sentiment over the Constitution Class had completely eroded, with many species within the Federation concerned over Starfleet’s lack or slow to act mentality over its starships in the field.
Many were asking hard questions, and with several failed designs like the Atlas Class, Starfleet Command had to do something before it lost the public’s trust altogether.
With the return of the USS Enterprise, the first of the last batch of 5 year missioned starships to return to Earth, Starfleet saw an opportunity. Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise, along with the starship itself, had become true heroes of the Federation, capturing the hearts and minds of the majority of worlds within its space.
Seemingly always defying the odds, the Enterprise would be victorious and save many worlds from destruction in the process.
So quickly, Starfleet Command would announce that the Enterprise itself would not be decommissioned, rather it would receive a complete refit to incorporate the Miranda Class technology and be sent out as the Flagship of the Federation.
It was a brilliant PR move on Starfleet’s part, and the USS Enterprise would undergo 18 months of redesign and refit, becoming the only Constitution Class vessel to receive this type of upgrade, with all other Constitution Class starships, launched thereafter, being constructed in that style, from the ground up.
For its part, the Miranda Class would become somewhat of a workhorse for Starfleet Command. Easily adapted for any mission profile, this starship class would continually be upgraded with new technologies, keeping it at the forefront of Starfleet’s fleet, a situation that would see it survive well into the later part of the 24th century.
However, with the approach of the 25th century, and Starfleet Command’s desire to change their fleet to a more advanced design aesthetic, the decision would finally be made to put the class to rest, with the last Miranda Class starship finishing its service to Starfleet in 2403.
Revolutionary in its design, and a jack of trades, the Miranda Class would prove to Starfleet Command that they didn’t have to change their designs as frequently as they had, with just a bit of ingenuity put into its classes.
And for well over a century, the Miranda Class would prove to be one of the strongest backbone designs ever created. Earning this class its place, in Star Trek history…
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