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Description

Ported to OBJ from the stock model created by Taldren Studios for the Starfleet Command (SFC) series of video games. Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. NO MODEL DOWNLOAD.

The TMP era King Snake class frigate is frequently confused with its bigger brother in the Gorn fleet, the TMP era Cobra class destroyer (as I first confused them - ed.), yet they are separate and distinct Gorn starship classes. The fact that the share the same basic hull-over-single-warp-engine design helps to confuse the issue, although there are distinct visual differences between the two (the pair of aft-mounted "bulbs" on King Snake, to name the most prominent). There's also different ways they appear in the TMP era in the various threads of the Trek multiverse -- with Cobra only existing in some, King Snake only existing in others, both existing in still more, and a few where neither one exists and is replaced by something else entirely. Confused yet? (grin) I was at first, until I think I finally got it sorted out (leastways for me). Here goes.

As stated before, King Snake is the frigate class little brother to the Cobra class destroyer. Both were part of the first wave of so-called "Gorn new type" starship classes (as some call them) that began to enter Gorn Hegemony fleet service a few years before the start of the TMP era, although they're generally treated as part of the TMP era for comparison purposes. The basic design was on the whole a lot like the bigger Cobra, save that it was built around the already available "small" plasma torpedo system (the F-type in SFB lore) instead of the brand new type developed by the Gorn (the G-type in SFB lore) around which the larger Cobra was built and that first came into service with the Gorn new type generation of starships. That's why King Snake was physically somewhat smaller than Cobra. King Snake's smaller size also meant that her beam weapon battery was somewhat reduced in comparison to Cobra's, although the hull distribution and firing arc coverage per bank was almost identical. These got used a lot for patrol duties on the Hegemony's peaceful borders and as both fleet and convoy escorts on those where they waged war, such as with the Romulans. All told they were very good for their size and again like the bigger Cobra surprisingly nimble for Gorn ships, which took their captains as much getting used to as did their foes (chuckle), given that traditional Gorn "brute force" tactics didn't allow for such things like a starship's agility in combat. These remained in production through the whole of the TMP era and for some time beyond, and King Snake would remain in Gorn fleet service well into the post-TMP era, right alongside its bigger brother Cobra, before it was finally retired.

This is semi-canon, as it comes from a Franchise licensed video game. The interpretation is my own and is therefore fanon, but there's plenty of other fanon interpretations out there as well. Pick the one you like and go with it or come up with your own. After all, Trek is officially a multiverse. XD

"We destroy invaders, as I shall destroy you!"

ASIDE - It's probably best to treat the TMP era Gorn King Snake and Cobra classes (as I interpret them) in the same way that most folks treat the early TOS era Klingon E-4 Sek'eth and F-5 Kuve. They're different branches of the same design tree geared toward lighter and heavier fleet duties respectively. You sometimes see that in aquatic naval history, and there's all kinds of examples out there throughout Terran naval history for you to look up and consider.

Description

Ported to OBJ from the stock model created by Taldren Studios for the Starfleet Command (SFC) series of video games. Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. NO MODEL DOWNLOAD.

The TMP era King Snake class frigate is frequently confused with its bigger brother in the Gorn fleet, the TMP era Cobra class destroyer (as I first confused them - ed.), yet they are separate and distinct Gorn starship classes. The fact that the share the same basic hull-over-single-warp-engine design helps to confuse the issue, although there are distinct visual differences between the two (the pair of aft-mounted "bulbs" on King Snake, to name the most prominent). There's also different ways they appear in the TMP era in the various threads of the Trek multiverse -- with Cobra only existing in some, King Snake only existing in others, both existing in still more, and a few where neither one exists and is replaced by something else entirely. Confused yet? (grin) I was at first, until I think I finally got it sorted out (leastways for me). Here goes.

As stated before, King Snake is the frigate class little brother to the Cobra class destroyer. Both were part of the first wave of so-called "Gorn new type" starship classes (as some call them) that began to enter Gorn Hegemony fleet service a few years before the start of the TMP era, although they're generally treated as part of the TMP era for comparison purposes. The basic design was on the whole a lot like the bigger Cobra, save that it was built around the already available "small" plasma torpedo system (the F-type in SFB lore) instead of the brand new type developed by the Gorn (the G-type in SFB lore) around which the larger Cobra was built and that first came into service with the Gorn new type generation of starships. That's why King Snake was physically somewhat smaller than Cobra. King Snake's smaller size also meant that her beam weapon battery was somewhat reduced in comparison to Cobra's, although the hull distribution and firing arc coverage per bank was almost identical. These got used a lot for patrol duties on the Hegemony's peaceful borders and as both fleet and convoy escorts on those where they waged war, such as with the Romulans. All told they were very good for their size and again like the bigger Cobra surprisingly nimble for Gorn ships, which took their captains as much getting used to as did their foes (chuckle), given that traditional Gorn "brute force" tactics didn't allow for such things like a starship's agility in combat. These remained in production through the whole of the TMP era and for some time beyond, and King Snake would remain in Gorn fleet service well into the post-TMP era, right alongside its bigger brother Cobra, before it was finally retired.

This is semi-canon, as it comes from a Franchise licensed video game. The interpretation is my own and is therefore fanon, but there's plenty of other fanon interpretations out there as well. Pick the one you like and go with it or come up with your own. After all, Trek is officially a multiverse. XD

"We destroy invaders, as I shall destroy you!"

ASIDE - It's probably best to treat the TMP era Gorn King Snake and Cobra classes (as I interpret them) in the same way that most folks treat the early TOS era Klingon E-4 Sek'eth and F-5 Kuve. They're different branches of the same design tree geared toward lighter and heavier fleet duties respectively. You sometimes see that in aquatic naval history, and there's all kinds of examples out there throughout Terran naval history for you to look up and consider.