Canon Facts Backstage Info  Speculation
Type
Courier
Unit Run
Over 3,250 built in total. None now remain in service with Starfleet, although some are still to be found in civilian hands.
Commissioned
2251 - 2279
Dimensions
Length : 55 m
Beam : 12 
Height : 14 m 
Decks : 2
Mass
18 tons
Crew
1 plus up to 1 - 12 passengers
Armament
None
Defence Systems
Standard Monotanium single hull.
Low level Structural Integrity Field
Warp Speeds
(Cochrane Scale)
Normal Cruise : Warp Factor 6 
Maximum Cruise : Warp Factor 6.2 
Maximum Rated : Warp Factor 6.5
Strength Indices
(Galaxy class = 1,000)
Beam Firepower : -
Torpedo Firepower : -
Weapon Range and Accuracy : -
Shield Strength : -
Hull Armour : 1
Speed : 100
Combat Manoeuvrability : 14,000
Overall Strength Index
30
Grade 1
Expected Hull Life
60 years
Refit Cycle
Minor : 2 years 
Standard : 5 year 
Major : 10 years

Notes : Although supply and support vessels have never had the glamour of the big Explorers, their role is at least as important to the day-to-day functioning of an organization like Starfleet as any other class. The Vulcan Warp Sled is a classic example of this; these handy little ships where in Starfleet service for over a century, in numbers which at their peak rivalled any other single class in service. Although they received little fanfare during their time, the warp sleds importance to starfleet can hardly be overstated.

The Warp Sled was one of the first shuttlecraft-sized vessels with a true interstellar capability. Although several previous shuttles did have warp capability, these where generally confined to specific routes between neighbouring systems - they tended to be either too slow or two short ranged for general use. The Warp Sled was capable of holding Warp 6 for up to two months on internal fuel alone, and was unique among shuttle craft in that it could conduct in-flight refuelling from standard tanker craft. This allowed it to operate almost indefinitely - on one occasion a warp sled made a flight lasting one hundred and fifty six days.

Another major advantage of the warp sled over previous designs was its flexibility; the sled itself consisted of a pair of warp nacelles, matter/antimatter reactor assembly and fuel supply mounted onto a large docking platform. A wide variety of pods was developed for attachment to this platform - the most common was a twelve person shuttle pod which was intended for relatively short duration flights. A six person unit with small bunk spaces was also available, as well as a single occupant VIP unit. Other variants included a cargo pod, a sensor pod which allowed the sled to be used as a long range remote controlled sensor probe, a medical evac unit with space for four patients and an attendant and a search and rescue pod designed to locate and retrieve ships lifeboats.

Although originally designed for a life span of only sixty years, the warp sled has proved to be capable of continuing far beyond this. The last warp sled was retired from Starfleet service in 2358, but many are still to be found in service with other agencies and with civilian operators both within the Federation and with several allied governments. It seems that these handy little craft will continue to serve even into the next century.
 


Last updated : 25th April 1999.
This page is Copyright Graham Kennedy 1998.

Star Trek et al is Copyright Paramount Pictures 1996/97.
No Copyright  infringement is intended and this page is for personal use only.
All  of the above classes of star ships and all of the
named ships are copyright Paramount 1996/97.