Type:

General purpose interstellar craft

Unit Run:

U.S.S. Danube
U.S.S. Ganges, NCC 72454
U.S.S. Mekong, NCC 72917
U.S.S. Orinoco, NCC 72905
U.S.S. Rio Grand, NCC 72452
U.S.S. Rubicon, NCC 72936
U.S.S. Yangtzee Kiang, NCC 72453
U.S.S. Yukon, NCC 74602 plus eight hundred more since 2365 (approx.)

Commissioned

2365 - present

Dimensions

Length 19.8 m
Width 12.7 m
Height 6.7 m
Decks 1
Mass 40 tons

Crew

1-5

Warp Speeds

Normal Cruise Warp 4
Maximum Cruise Warp 5
Maximum Rated Warp 5.2 for twelve hours

Armament

1 x Type IV phaser bank, total output 1,500 TeraWatts
1 x Micro-photon torpedo tube + 6 torpedoes

Defense Systems

Shield system, total capacity 54,000 TeraJoules
Duranium/Tritanium single hull
Strength Indices (Galaxy Class=1,000)
Beam Firepower 15
Torpedo Firepower
20 Weapon Range & Accuracy 20
Shield Strength 10
Hull Armour 75
Speed 130
Combat Manoeuvrability 260
Overall Strength Index 35

Diplomatic Capability

Grade 1/2

Expected Lifetime

20 years

Refit Cycle

Minor 6 months
Standard 2 years
Major 10 years

General Information

The Starfleet Runabout is a development of the warp capable shuttle craft which have been in use since the earliest days of the Federation. The first requirement for the Runabout, issued in 2342, called for a vessel based on the Type 9A cargo shuttle but capable of short and medium range interstellar operations carrying out limited spatial and planetary surveys.
The fuselage was lengthened from 10.5 to 14.8 metres, allowing a much larger antimatter fuel cell to be installed to increase the vessels endurance from 36 hours to fifteen days at Warp 2.2. The two person emergency transporter was replaced by a one person fully functional model, and the rear of the cargo bay was fitted with four bunks. The remaining cargo space was used to expand the front cabin and install extra electronics systems.
The Type 10 Runabout proved reasonably successful in service, though the small cabin size limited its operations somewhat. Starfleet has gradually enlarged and improved the Runabout concept over the next twenty years or so, culminating in the Danube class Runabout first fielded in 2365. This is a much larger, more capable craft than previous designs. It features a large front cabin for the pilot and co-pilot / navigator plus up to three mission specialists.
A two person transporter is at the rear of the cabin, with a small cargo area and engineering spaces behind this. A short passageway to one side connects the front cabin to the cargo bay and rear area. This incorporates six bunks, each of which can be closed off behind a privacy screen. The rear cabin is thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide; it can be fitted out according to the mission type with scientific instruments, extra weapons, a first aid station, evacuation support system, or other such equipment.
Below the main spaces are the warp core and power transfer conduits, impulse drive system and fuel tanks. The nacelle supports contain two small escape pods, a group of emergency communications beacons and various other equipment.