Type:

Light utility vessel / fighter

Commissioned:

2339 - present

Dimensions:

Length:

29 m

Beam:

24 m

Height:

7 m

Decks:

1

Mass:

38 tons

Crew:

1-5

Armament:

1 - 3 plus up to 50 passengers, depending on type

2 x Type 4 or Type 5 Phaser emitters, total output 1,000 TeraWatts maximum

1 x Micro-photon torpedo tube + 6 - 12 torpedoes

Defense Systems:

Shield system, total capacity 67,500 TeraJoules

Light Duranium/Tritanium single hull

Low level Structural Integrity Field

Warp Speeds:

Normal Cruise : Warp Factor 4

(TNG Scale)

Maximum Cruise : Warp Factor 4.5

Maximum Rated : Warp Factor 5.1

Strength Indices:

Beam Firepower : 20

(Galaxy Class = 1000)

Torpedo Firepower : 10

Weapon Range and Accuracy : 20

Shield Strength : 25

Hull Armor : 6.25

Speed : 120

Combat Maneuverability : 30,000

Overall Strength Index: 55

Diplomatic Capability:

None

Expected Hull Life:

20 years

Refit Cycle:

Minor : 1 year

Standard : 3 years

Major : 10 years

Added Features:

After prolonged study UFED decided in 2337 to procure a new craft for advanced warp/impulse pilot and navigational training duties. Initially it was hoped to produce a completely new design, but this proved over-ambitious for such a low priority project and UFED was compelled to modify an existing civilian vessel; the Peregrine class utility craft was an obvious choice for this role and after a short fly-off between it and the Alganth class ship the Peregrine was selected.

The initial vessel procured by UFED was very similar to the civilian craft, with identical hull and propulsion systems. Changes included a cockpit which featured a master control station for the instructor, an aft compartment fitted with six consoles for navigator trainees, increased life support capacity for the extra personnel, a UFED model escape pod system and a more sophisticated computer core. One hundred and twenty of this alpha-type were delivered between 2339 and 2342, replacing the older Swift class in UFED service. Once the Peregrine came into regular UFED use, the advantages of the design became obvious; although larger than most shuttlecraft the Peregrine was considerably more maneuverable at both warp and impulse speeds, ideal in a pilot trainer.

By 2349 UFED was concerned that it had become over-dependant on transporters to land personnel and equipment on planetary surfaces against opposition by threat forces. Such systems were relatively easy to disrupt over wide areas even with relatively low-level technology, while transporters especially can be distinctly twitchy in the face of unusually adverse environmental conditions. To rectify this problem it was decided to produce a new model of the Peregrine as a medium assault utility craft; the standard equipment of this type would include twin type 4 phaser emitters, photon torpedoes and a shield system considerably more capable than any existing shuttlecraft. This would allow the Peregrine to carry larger loads into more dangerous situations than any existing cargo shuttle was capable of, while the warp capability of the Peregrine would allow it to operate on a true short to medium range interstellar basis considerable advantage over any shuttlecraft then in service.

A further two hundred of these beta-type Peregrines were procured for this mission; they served during peacetime as general purpose cargo and personnel carriers. The combat debut of the Peregrine class came during the Cardassian war; three of these vessels were used to transfer supplies and personnel to Setlik III during the Cardassian attack of that settlement. The Cardassian war allowed the Peregrine to operate in its true role for the first time, where the craft proved to be generally successful in service despite a relatively high attrition rate.

The Cardassian war also proved the impetus for the next variant of the Peregrine class, the 'light patrol craft'. For this variant the idea of cargo hauling was dropped completely; the aft hold was eliminated completely, with the lost space going to a larger warp core and extra shields and weapons. The type 4 phasers were replaced with type 5 models and the number of photon torpedoes was increased from six to twelve, while the shields were boosted by some 30%. The gamma-type performed widely during the middle and latter part of the war, both in the patrol role and in strikes at targets just across the front lines. This brought the peregrine into contact with the Hideki class patrol craft, and a bitter rivalry quickly developed between the UFED crews and their Cardassian counterparts. While lacking the glamour of the big ship engagements, the Peregrine-Hideki clash was if anything more furious and intense. The Hideki is considerably larger and somewhat more heavily armed than the gamma Peregrine, which is in turn more maneuverable and has better sensors. Of ninety seven engagements between the two, fifty eight Hidekis were lost for forty six Peregrines - a true testament to the determination of the UFED crews. Since the end of the Cardassian war many gammas have continued to serve on the Cardassian border; others serve as patrol craft in low-threat areas of the Federation, while the remainder have been assigned to form part of the defensive systems of Earth, Vulcan and Betazed.

With a craft as widely available as the Peregrine it is inevitable that some will be used for dubious purposes. None of the civilian models have been manufactured in any armed variant, but the modifications are simple enough and many raiders and bandits have fitted their Peregrines with weapons. The Peregrine became the craft of choice for the Maquis during their struggle with the Cardassians; the large number of Peregrines in use for legitimate business made an ideal cover for the terrorists operations. Almost all of these craft were destroyed by the Jem'Hadar after the Dominion absorbed Cardassia.