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Description

UPDATE 2024/01/14 - Both the preview piccy and the text below have been updated for greater accuracy.

A major hack job by me to fix the original inaccurate Freedom class model included with the Generations at War fan megamod for the Startfleet Command series of video games but with key parts replaced from the game stock Ambassador class for greater accuracy. Based on the USS Firebrand filming model as created by Greg Jein for TNG "The Best of Both Worlds" (Part 2), and as subsequently "cleaned up" and reused in later Franchise productions and other forms of media, sometimes in modified or altered form. Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. While I'm not making my port of this particular Freedom model available for public download, you'll be happy to know that there are others out there. The high-poly filming quality CG recreation by Dave "First Fleet" Metlesits is not only one of the best of these but as screen accurate as he could make it (unlike this gaming model hack). Here's a link for Dave's:

NOTICE: While this is technically a late post-TMP era starship design, I'm putting it in my Feddie TNG/DS9/VOY gallery because it's featured in Franchise productions for that later era. Read on for more info.

--------------------

Not to be confused with the smaller twin-engined 22nd class starships of the same name from an alternate timeline (Star Trek Beyond feature film), the late post-TMP era Freedom class starships were at the time the latest in a long line of Federation Starfleet single warp engined "panhandles" (so named for their shape) whose design heritage could be traced in a straight line all the way back to the Terran Cavalry class of the mid-22nd century (STSFC, FASA). First the Terrans and then the Federation had always found the "panhandle" configuration useful for various destroyer and scout starship classes, given its simplicity and ease of construction. This was also true in the back part of the post-TMP era, and when Starfleet's latest generation of starships entered into service at that time, spearheaded by the impressive Ambassador class, Starfleet made sure that it had a comparable "panhandle" as part of it for playing the traditional smaller companion class roles in that era. That was the Freedom class, successors to the Excelsior generation Loki class (see separate entry) from early in the post-TMP era. Freedom was the most powerful of the Starfleet "panhandles" up to that point in time given its Ambassador class derived components and technology, and you can go elsewhere for the class stats, specifics, operational parameters, etc.

Freedom did all the same duties in its time that the earlier Saladin and Hermes classes (SFTM, SSP, et al) had done in their day and along with their many derivatives as well (a-hem). It was very solid for what it was, just as most of the earlier Starfleet "panhandles" had been in their time. In an unusual twist the Starfleet of its time classified it as a frigate (FF) instead of a destroyer (DD), given that by this era Starfleet's older twin engine heavy destroyers of past eras had become the equivalent of standard destroyers during the post-TMP era and continuing onward, and given continuing advances in Federation starship technology. It was just an effect of the times and nothing more. As I've already said before, Freedom was just as good a performer for what it was as had been earlier Feddie "panhandles" back in their day. It did its designed job and did it well in its own time.

There were at least three different productions blocks of Freedom during its full service lifetime. No official canon numbers are ever given, although the best fanon sources I consulted seem to agree on a total of thirty (three blocks of ten each or adjust block proportions as necessary), cut down from a significantly larger initial authorization for various and sundry reasons (insert your interpretations here). All three were almost identical in appearance, so they are often lumped together in many reference works. The first was the original destroyer class version (to replace Loki), the second was a fleet scout class version (with different internal configuration to replace Michael Adams), and the third (see preview piccy lower right) was essentially a slightly beefed-up version of the first that was produced in limited numbers early in the TNG/DS9/VOY era. It had Galaxy generation warp engine instead of the older model, and it also had extra bracing installed on the aft upper part of its primary hull in order to give it a Nebula style pylon-mounted option pod and module capability. FWIW the relocated small navigational deflector mounted ventral forward on its single warp engine was common to all three Freedom production blocks. Starfleet never bothered fully refitting the first two Freedom production blocks to the newer and more robust third block configuration, deeming it cost prohibitive given everything else it had going at the time. It instead reassigned older Freedoms to lesser roles where they could still serve well as they were, such as routine patrol and escort duties. This reflects naval practice throughout history, whether the navy in question be aquatic or in space.

There were never as many official option pod/module mods for Freedom as their were for the larger and more robust Nebula (see separate entry), even though the third block Freedom's reinforced primary hull could handle anything Nebula could handle or was mounted in similar fashion on other Starfleet starship classes. Starfleet wisely chose to concentrate its option pod alternatives on the more powerful Nebula and limited those for third block Freedoms to only what it felt was needed for a specific purpose at any given time. One of the best known of these modded third block Freedoms was USS Firebrand (NCC-68723), which sported single tube, dual-ender phototorp modules on twin topside standalone pylon mounts in an arrangement similar to that of the New Orleans class with its triple banks of dual tube double-ender modules (see separate entry). Details regarding the mod done to Firebrand remain obscure, although best evidence is that it was done as Starfleet's hasty efforts to uparm existing starships prior to the Borg Incursion. Firebrand was present and was lost with all hands at the Battle of Wolf 359, and its lifeless wreck was discovered there along with many other former Starfleet vessels by the USS Enterprise-D (NCC-1701-D) once it arrived on the scene. It was later towed away and scrapped along all the other Wolf 359 battle wrecks.

There was later talk of refitting more of the third block Freedoms with Nebula style or other type option pods for various reasons anyway, especially for the scout and explorer roles and in the wake of the fallout from the Borg Incursion, but in the end it was apparently never done (in the Prime timeline, anyway) and not even reconsidered once the Dominion War broke out a few years later. There was also talk of a Freedom (II) class built almost entirely with Galaxy generation components but this too never materialized (although it DID in some fanon SFC-based threads of the Trek multiverse, wink). As already stated and in most cases, Starfleet remained content to use the Freedom class as it was for and whatever purposes its stock configuration would allow, and saved any option pod/module mods for Nebula instead.

Most Trek sources appear to imply that Freedom had already left Starfleet service before the end of the 24th century -- quietly and with no fanfare, as do almost all ship classes throughout history. It did its job in its time and its job was done, and that was that. None were saved for posterity, although numerous artifacts remain, and while there were tentative plans for yet another Feddie "panhandle" successor class (see Dave's Neo-Saladin) I don't have any confirmation that it was ever built.

I wound up having so much trouble with porting the original fan-created model, which was inaccurate anyway, that I decided to scratch-hack up a Freedom class model of my own. I actually made two of them, one with the old post-TMP era warp engine and one with the Galaxy class type warp engine to represent a TNG/DS9/VOY era refitted version per the text above.

This is canon, given its sole on-screen appearance in TNG "The Best of Both Worlds" (Part 2)

Live long and prosper.

TRIVIA - According to Trek legend Greg Jein included this along with the other Wolf 359 wrecks partly because he was tired of the way the Great Bird was treating the old TOS/TAS era Class I fleet alternate designs at the time, which he had used and unofficially endorsed for years until he found out he was going to have to pay for their use in TMP. Licensing legalities and all that; long story, best told elsewhere. Hence the old "Roddenberry Twin Nacelle Rule" which has long since and thankfully been discarded and almost immediately after the Great Bird passed on. Freedom was hand-waved away at the time by explaining that it actually had two older model warp engines hidden inside its single Galaxy class warp engine frame (long laugh). Take that tale or leave it as you will, believe it or not and all that, but it's a fact that Freedom unquestionably canonized the concept of a single-engined Feddie "panhandle" in the TNG/DS9/VOY era for everybody. We fans have been grateful to Mr. Jein ever since. XD

ASIDE - I included the bit about the third block Freedom partly based on what was done with USS Firebrand on screen and partly so you fan modders out there will have a convenient loophole designwise for your own Freedom mods that's fairly consistent with everything else (grin). Also, other fans have different takes on Freedom's backstory, and you can look them up elsewhere and enjoy them yourselves. Hey, whatever works for you. After all, Trek is a multiverse.

Description

UPDATE 2024/01/14 - Both the preview piccy and the text below have been updated for greater accuracy.

A major hack job by me to fix the original inaccurate Freedom class model included with the Generations at War fan megamod for the Startfleet Command series of video games but with key parts replaced from the game stock Ambassador class for greater accuracy. Based on the USS Firebrand filming model as created by Greg Jein for TNG "The Best of Both Worlds" (Part 2), and as subsequently "cleaned up" and reused in later Franchise productions and other forms of media, sometimes in modified or altered form. Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. While I'm not making my port of this particular Freedom model available for public download, you'll be happy to know that there are others out there. The high-poly filming quality CG recreation by Dave "First Fleet" Metlesits is not only one of the best of these but as screen accurate as he could make it (unlike this gaming model hack). Here's a link for Dave's:

NOTICE: While this is technically a late post-TMP era starship design, I'm putting it in my Feddie TNG/DS9/VOY gallery because it's featured in Franchise productions for that later era. Read on for more info.

--------------------

Not to be confused with the smaller twin-engined 22nd class starships of the same name from an alternate timeline (Star Trek Beyond feature film), the late post-TMP era Freedom class starships were at the time the latest in a long line of Federation Starfleet single warp engined "panhandles" (so named for their shape) whose design heritage could be traced in a straight line all the way back to the Terran Cavalry class of the mid-22nd century (STSFC, FASA). First the Terrans and then the Federation had always found the "panhandle" configuration useful for various destroyer and scout starship classes, given its simplicity and ease of construction. This was also true in the back part of the post-TMP era, and when Starfleet's latest generation of starships entered into service at that time, spearheaded by the impressive Ambassador class, Starfleet made sure that it had a comparable "panhandle" as part of it for playing the traditional smaller companion class roles in that era. That was the Freedom class, successors to the Excelsior generation Loki class (see separate entry) from early in the post-TMP era. Freedom was the most powerful of the Starfleet "panhandles" up to that point in time given its Ambassador class derived components and technology, and you can go elsewhere for the class stats, specifics, operational parameters, etc.

Freedom did all the same duties in its time that the earlier Saladin and Hermes classes (SFTM, SSP, et al) had done in their day and along with their many derivatives as well (a-hem). It was very solid for what it was, just as most of the earlier Starfleet "panhandles" had been in their time. In an unusual twist the Starfleet of its time classified it as a frigate (FF) instead of a destroyer (DD), given that by this era Starfleet's older twin engine heavy destroyers of past eras had become the equivalent of standard destroyers during the post-TMP era and continuing onward, and given continuing advances in Federation starship technology. It was just an effect of the times and nothing more. As I've already said before, Freedom was just as good a performer for what it was as had been earlier Feddie "panhandles" back in their day. It did its designed job and did it well in its own time.

There were at least three different productions blocks of Freedom during its full service lifetime. No official canon numbers are ever given, although the best fanon sources I consulted seem to agree on a total of thirty (three blocks of ten each or adjust block proportions as necessary), cut down from a significantly larger initial authorization for various and sundry reasons (insert your interpretations here). All three were almost identical in appearance, so they are often lumped together in many reference works. The first was the original destroyer class version (to replace Loki), the second was a fleet scout class version (with different internal configuration to replace Michael Adams), and the third (see preview piccy lower right) was essentially a slightly beefed-up version of the first that was produced in limited numbers early in the TNG/DS9/VOY era. It had Galaxy generation warp engine instead of the older model, and it also had extra bracing installed on the aft upper part of its primary hull in order to give it a Nebula style pylon-mounted option pod and module capability. FWIW the relocated small navigational deflector mounted ventral forward on its single warp engine was common to all three Freedom production blocks. Starfleet never bothered fully refitting the first two Freedom production blocks to the newer and more robust third block configuration, deeming it cost prohibitive given everything else it had going at the time. It instead reassigned older Freedoms to lesser roles where they could still serve well as they were, such as routine patrol and escort duties. This reflects naval practice throughout history, whether the navy in question be aquatic or in space.

There were never as many official option pod/module mods for Freedom as their were for the larger and more robust Nebula (see separate entry), even though the third block Freedom's reinforced primary hull could handle anything Nebula could handle or was mounted in similar fashion on other Starfleet starship classes. Starfleet wisely chose to concentrate its option pod alternatives on the more powerful Nebula and limited those for third block Freedoms to only what it felt was needed for a specific purpose at any given time. One of the best known of these modded third block Freedoms was USS Firebrand (NCC-68723), which sported single tube, dual-ender phototorp modules on twin topside standalone pylon mounts in an arrangement similar to that of the New Orleans class with its triple banks of dual tube double-ender modules (see separate entry). Details regarding the mod done to Firebrand remain obscure, although best evidence is that it was done as Starfleet's hasty efforts to uparm existing starships prior to the Borg Incursion. Firebrand was present and was lost with all hands at the Battle of Wolf 359, and its lifeless wreck was discovered there along with many other former Starfleet vessels by the USS Enterprise-D (NCC-1701-D) once it arrived on the scene. It was later towed away and scrapped along all the other Wolf 359 battle wrecks.

There was later talk of refitting more of the third block Freedoms with Nebula style or other type option pods for various reasons anyway, especially for the scout and explorer roles and in the wake of the fallout from the Borg Incursion, but in the end it was apparently never done (in the Prime timeline, anyway) and not even reconsidered once the Dominion War broke out a few years later. There was also talk of a Freedom (II) class built almost entirely with Galaxy generation components but this too never materialized (although it DID in some fanon SFC-based threads of the Trek multiverse, wink). As already stated and in most cases, Starfleet remained content to use the Freedom class as it was for and whatever purposes its stock configuration would allow, and saved any option pod/module mods for Nebula instead.

Most Trek sources appear to imply that Freedom had already left Starfleet service before the end of the 24th century -- quietly and with no fanfare, as do almost all ship classes throughout history. It did its job in its time and its job was done, and that was that. None were saved for posterity, although numerous artifacts remain, and while there were tentative plans for yet another Feddie "panhandle" successor class (see Dave's Neo-Saladin) I don't have any confirmation that it was ever built.

I wound up having so much trouble with porting the original fan-created model, which was inaccurate anyway, that I decided to scratch-hack up a Freedom class model of my own. I actually made two of them, one with the old post-TMP era warp engine and one with the Galaxy class type warp engine to represent a TNG/DS9/VOY era refitted version per the text above.

This is canon, given its sole on-screen appearance in TNG "The Best of Both Worlds" (Part 2)

Live long and prosper.

TRIVIA - According to Trek legend Greg Jein included this along with the other Wolf 359 wrecks partly because he was tired of the way the Great Bird was treating the old TOS/TAS era Class I fleet alternate designs at the time, which he had used and unofficially endorsed for years until he found out he was going to have to pay for their use in TMP. Licensing legalities and all that; long story, best told elsewhere. Hence the old "Roddenberry Twin Nacelle Rule" which has long since and thankfully been discarded and almost immediately after the Great Bird passed on. Freedom was hand-waved away at the time by explaining that it actually had two older model warp engines hidden inside its single Galaxy class warp engine frame (long laugh). Take that tale or leave it as you will, believe it or not and all that, but it's a fact that Freedom unquestionably canonized the concept of a single-engined Feddie "panhandle" in the TNG/DS9/VOY era for everybody. We fans have been grateful to Mr. Jein ever since. XD

ASIDE - I included the bit about the third block Freedom partly based on what was done with USS Firebrand on screen and partly so you fan modders out there will have a convenient loophole designwise for your own Freedom mods that's fairly consistent with everything else (grin). Also, other fans have different takes on Freedom's backstory, and you can look them up elsewhere and enjoy them yourselves. Hey, whatever works for you. After all, Trek is a multiverse.