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Description
In 2251 Vice Admiral Hu was a woman with a problem. An increase in the frequency of violent incidents in the Beta-4 sector had illustrated the ineffective coverage provided by Starfleet's aging escort squadrons. That summer she transferred her command to the USS Waco to gain a firsthand perspective on the shortcomings of the ships in the field.

The results were telling and paved the way for a set and guidelines that would define the next generation of escort vessel. The first and most important requirement was the inclusion of the latest warp drive technology to allow a crew to respond to situations much faster than the previous, limited engines. This combined with extra onboard provisions would extend the period a crew could be dispatched away from a starbase.

Additionally Vice Admiral Hu outlined a formidable array of weaponry, including a magazine of mines which the admiral believed would be an effective deterrent against shipping raids or acts of piracy. Her advice proved correct when by November of 2256 the first flight of Concord-class escorts began operating in outlying sectors. Within six months these ships, supplementing the Harrier-class vessels assigned to trade passages, had seen the space under their protection virtually wiped clean of marauding actions.

Design © La Violetta
Star Trek © CBS

This is where I really started experimenting with out-there shapes. At this point we aren't talking about starships with their glamorous missions. We're into the real workhorses of the fleet, so I wanted very different shapes. Something that says utility rather than sleek and space-aged. Still, had to stay retro.

Description
In 2251 Vice Admiral Hu was a woman with a problem. An increase in the frequency of violent incidents in the Beta-4 sector had illustrated the ineffective coverage provided by Starfleet's aging escort squadrons. That summer she transferred her command to the USS Waco to gain a firsthand perspective on the shortcomings of the ships in the field.

The results were telling and paved the way for a set and guidelines that would define the next generation of escort vessel. The first and most important requirement was the inclusion of the latest warp drive technology to allow a crew to respond to situations much faster than the previous, limited engines. This combined with extra onboard provisions would extend the period a crew could be dispatched away from a starbase.

Additionally Vice Admiral Hu outlined a formidable array of weaponry, including a magazine of mines which the admiral believed would be an effective deterrent against shipping raids or acts of piracy. Her advice proved correct when by November of 2256 the first flight of Concord-class escorts began operating in outlying sectors. Within six months these ships, supplementing the Harrier-class vessels assigned to trade passages, had seen the space under their protection virtually wiped clean of marauding actions.

Design © La Violetta
Star Trek © CBS

This is where I really started experimenting with out-there shapes. At this point we aren't talking about starships with their glamorous missions. We're into the real workhorses of the fleet, so I wanted very different shapes. Something that says utility rather than sleek and space-aged. Still, had to stay retro.