Canon Facts Backstage Info  Speculation

Notes : As with almost every aspect of the Breen, relatively little is known about these ships. In size they are slightly smaller than the Miranda class, but appear to be considerably weaker than those vessels. The ship seems to score quite low in several aspects - they are able to take only one or two volleys of fire, indicating that both shields and hull armour are weak even for a ship of this relatively small size. Offensive armament also seems to be relatively poor, with a single light torpedo tube the only conventional weapon so far seen in operation.

Their small size does make these ships quite manoeuvrable, and at Warp 9.88 they are also fast. This does help to offset their weaknesses, but these advantages are of more use when avoiding the enemy than when engaging it. Overall then, the Breen frigate is not a serious competitor to the likes of a New Orleans class, let alone a Defiant. Breen philosophy appears to be to try to make up for these deficiencies by deploying the ships in very large numbers - there are thought to be over six thousand of these ships in their fleet, though details are not very clear. So far as is known this is the only warship class they employ.

The decisive advantage which the frigate did have was its energy damping weapon. Located in the ships bow, one shot from this device was able to completely paralyse virtually any opponent. The Breen would then close and use their conventional weapon to finish off their helpless prey. The weapon was first used against the allied fleet sent to reinforce the Chin'Toka system in the latter stages of the war, where it allowed the Dominion forces to annihilate the allies.

It was several weeks before the allies were able to neutralize this advantage. Once they had, the tide of the war quickly turned against the Breen and their ships deficiencies made them relatively easy targets.