Changes: D'deridex class

Revision as of 20:00, 8 December 2014

The warbird design referred to as D'deridex-class, B-type warbird, or Warbird class was one of the largest and most powerful mainstays of the Romulan Star Empire. It served as the backbone of the Romulan fleet during the latter half of the 24th century.

History

File:D'deridex class faces Galaxy class, The Neutral Zone.jpg

Facing off with a Galaxy-class starship

The uncloaking of a warbird of this type in 2364, during an encounter with the USS Enterprise-D on the edge of the Neutral Zone, signaled the end to fifty-three years of Romulan isolation. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone") Over the next ten years, these warbirds, under the command of both the Romulan military and the Tal Shiar, participated in numerous encounters with Starfleet and the Dominion.

By 2374, they were prominently featured in the Dominion War, where they were instrumental in forcing the Dominion fleets back, time and again. The design saw action during the First and Second Battles of Chin'toka, as well as the final showdown of the conflict, the Battle of Cardassia. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets", "The Changing Face of Evil")

At least four warbirds were used in the Battle of the Omarion Nebula, joined with at least twelve Cardassian Keldon-class cruisers in a combined fleet of twenty ships. The entire fleet was ambushed and destroyed by a fleet of 150 Dominion ships. (DS9: "The Die is Cast") At least seven warbirds were present in the Federation Alliance fleet at the Battle of Cardassia. One is known to have been destroyed and at least five survived. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

Technical data

The D'deridex-class warbird was classified as a battle cruiser by Starfleet. Using a forced quantum singularity as a power source and the latest in Romulan cloaking technology, the D'deridex was not only one of the most advanced vessels in the Romulan Star Empire, but also in the Alpha Quadrant. These warbirds were roughly twice as long as a Federation Galaxy-class starship with a lower overall maximum speed. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone", "Tin Man")

Physical arrangement

The outboard plan of the warbird's design incorporated a unique, horizontally split "shell" hull design, with a prominent forward section. The bulk of the ship's overall size was incorporated in the open-shell, which resembled two separate "wings" that met at either side at the warp nacelles, at the "tail" and off the "neck", which was connected to the "head" or primary forward hull section. The "head" featured the bridge, main engineering, and a majority of the primary weapon systems of the vessel. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone", etc.)

Andrew Probert, who designed the D'deridex-class warbird, intended for it to have a length of 4,440 feet (1,353 meters). [1] He writes, "The wings were to have had a LOT more substance to them (as seen in my drawing) but was reduced [on] the model. They are separated to allow the engines to 'see' each other and generate a warp field. As previously noted on the board, I did not design the subsequent ships that ignore my attempt at requirements-for-warp-drive continuity." [2]

Tactical systems

The primary directed energy weapons array of a warbird was located in its "head", and consisted of a disruptor array, capable of firing both beams and pulses, which also appears to have been shared with a torpedo launcher. (DS9: "The Die is Cast"; TNG: "The Defector", "Face of the Enemy", "Timescape"; VOY: "Message in a Bottle") Some warbirds were also known to have been equipped with phasers. (TNG: "Contagion")

Three additional weapon arrays were located, one each, along the top of the upper "neck" support, along the bottom of the lower "neck" support, and at the tip of the "nose". (TNG: "Contagion", "Unification II"; DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

Although not mentioned on screen, the original Andrew Probert design of the warbird was to have a single torpedo launcher positioned at the upper "nape" of the ship, at the top foremost position of the upper "shell". In addition, the warbird was to have a total of ten disruptor emitters, positioned in various locations on the model. These positions included: one pair on the "head" (one on either "cheek"), one pair on the vertical structure at the aft end of the ship (one on either side), two pairs on the aft edges of the port and starboard dorsal and ventral wings (one emitter at each location, for a total of four), and one pair at the dorsal apex of the ship. However, two other emitters are seen on at least one warbird, namely in the "nose" (pictured) and top part of the upper "back" (shown in TNG: "Contagion"). [3]

Cloaking device

Like earlier Romulan ships, D'deridex-class warbirds were equipped with cloaking devices, which protected them from detection in most evasive situations. Like all cloaking devices, the D'deridex-class could utilize them when in defensive or combat situations. However, cloaked warbirds radiated a slight subspace variance at warp speeds; therefore, ships traveling at speeds above warp 6 ran a much greater risk of being detected through their cloak. (DS9: "The Search, Part I", "The Die is Cast") There were other unconventional means to penetrate the warbird's cloak. While traveling under cloak, all electromagnetic emissions, including communications, aboard a warbird were carefully monitored. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

Propulsion systems

The fact that a typical D'deridex-class warbird used a forced quantum singularity as its power source gave the ship some vulnerabilities. If that system was not functioning perfectly or was damaged even slightly, it might have shown through the cloak as a magnetic disturbance of some kind. The destruction of the engine core of a D'deridex-class warbird usually led to the complete destruction of the entire ship.

In order for a warbird to remain undetected while under cloak, the radiative emissions from the warp engines had to be precisely balanced. A slight misalignment in any of the warbird's nullifier cores would create a small magnetic disturbance in space whenever the ship was in motion. This could make the ship detectable while cloaked. The effect of this disturbance, when it occurred, appeared intermittently as a polarized magnetic distortion. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

The use of the confined singularity limited the warbird's overall maximum speed. For a warbird to match the maximum speed of a Galaxy-class starship, it needed to exceed its engine output by thirty percent. Doing this would typically cause the warbird's warp drive to sustain irreparable damage. (TNG: "Tin Man")

The confined singularity could occasionally cause time shifts into the future. This occurred to Starfleet Chief Engineer Miles O'Brien for a brief period. As a result of this effect, he was able to prevent an attack on Deep Space 9 by a Romulan warbird. Also, if the singularity signature was carefully scanned, it could be monitored through the cloak. (DS9: "Visionary")

Regarding the impulse engine, Andrew Probert writes, "[It was] omitted by a tight schedule [...] but it would have been recessed into a vertical slot starting just below that landing bay and ending symmetrically below. The reason there are few (if any) side windows at the back area of the ship is because that's where that engine & power plant would have been." [4]

Additional systems

D'deridex class tractor beam — Tractoring a shuttlepod

The warbird was equipped with at least one tractor beam, located in the forward section of the warbird, specifically in the lower "neck". (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")

Although several features of the warbird were never addressed on screen, Andrew Probert has noted the locations of several unmentioned components, including the locations of the aforementioned weapon systems.

The navigational deflector is supposed to be a "V"-shaped faceplate located on the "face" of the ship. However, the center of this faceplate was instead featured as the primary disruptor array/torpedo launcher by the visual effects editors. [5]

Since Probert has identified at least one of their placements on the physical model, it is now possible to count at least twenty-six escape pod hatches on the warbird, thirteen on either side of the ship's dorsal spine. [6]

Interior design

File:Warbird-corridor.jpg

A typical corridor

The primary color scheme aboard warbirds was distinctively beige and green-gray or teal.

Due to the extreme size of warbirds, these vessels were littered with numerous long corridors. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye"; DS9: "Improbable Cause")

Main bridge

Khazara-viewscreen — Viewscreen of the *Khazara*

The design of the main bridge of a warbird shared numerous similarities to both its Klingon and Federation starship counterparts.

Located in the front of the bridge, against the forward bulkhead, was the ship's main viewscreen. Directly behind this, and to the left, was the location of the pilot's console, which contained helm (and possibly navigator) functions. In some ships, the pilot stood at his console; in others, the pilot was allowed a chair.

To the right of the pilot's position was a station sometimes held by the executive officer. This console had access to the ship's weapons systems.

The command chair was located near the rear of the bridge, on a raised platform. Around the perimeter of the command chair were various stations. (TNG: "Contagion", "Face of the Enemy"; DS9: "The Die is Cast")

Major variations in bridge design included a side-by-side seating arrangement for the commander and subcommander. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")

At least four different types of D'deridex-class bridges have appeared in Star Trek, each significantly different than the next. Although rather consistent in terms of layout, these variations – including positions and design of auxiliary consoles/stations, style of command chair and design of viewscreen – appear to vary as much between warbirds as they vary between different Klingon Birds-of-Prey. The bridge that appears in "The Die is Cast" is, by far, the most elaborate, followed next by the bridge in "Face of the Enemy".
According to the script for "Face of the Enemy", the original bridge layout placed the command chair to the far back of the bridge so that 'no officer went unsupervised'. This, however, was not how the final layout for the bridge was designed, as there were consoles positioned just outside the commander's peripheral vision, or even directly behind the commander's chair. The bridge that later appeared in "The Die is Cast" placed several auxiliary consoles well behind the commander's field of vision.

Ready room

Adjacent to the bridge was the commander's ready room or command center. Although appearing to vary by ship, one style included (but was not limited to) a large desk and couch, with removable table and a window that provided a view of outside the ship, such as showing a perspective of space when the vessel was in its normal environment. (DS9: "Improbable Cause", "The Die is Cast")

In some cases, ready rooms functioned as command centers, and included monitors and display consoles. This allowed the commander to monitor the control of ship or fleet activities without actually being on the bridge. (TNG: "Redemption II")

Wardroom

The wardroom was the conference or officers' room connected to the main bridge by a set of doors. Its function was similar to that of an observation lounge, but also served as the dining area for the ship's senior officers. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

This would seem to indicate that a meal preparation room was located near the ward room, in order to best facilitate the serving of the officers' prepared meals.

Engine room

Dderidex class engineering — Engine room

The engine room section was located at the ventral base of the forward "head" of the warbird. Its layout was similar to that of a Galaxy-class starship, with primary situation station in the center of the room and associated consoles along the walls surrounding the room.

One outstanding difference between the main engineering of a warbird and other Romulan starships, likewise distinguishing it from those of the Federation and Klingon Empire, was the absence of a large matter-antimatter reactor core. In place of this bulky component, the Romulans had a wall compartment, which contained the quantum singularity engine core. (TNG: "Timescape")

According to Andrew Probert, the engine room is "in the dorsal 'hump' just aft of the twin disrupter mount and you can see an indication of the energy conduit shielding running down to the warp engine in my [Ships of the Line 2010] calendar painting." [7]

Procedure room

The procedure room aboard a warbird was a starkly-lit chamber, with a chair at one end of the room, and with various movable pieces of equipment positioned around it. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")

Shuttlebay

A shuttlebay was located two decks down from the ship's "C" Deck, in Section 25. This area was large enough to contain at least one Starfleet Danube-class runabout. (DS9: "The Die is Cast")

According to Andrew Probert: "Look on the plastic model and see the indented area on the top of the aft end... that is the landing bay door." [8]

Cargo bay

The cargo bays served as storage areas for the ship's cargo, and possessed shelving space along the walls opposite of the main cargo bay doors. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

According to Andrew Probert, the original design of the warbird was to have two large cargo bays centered on each side of the foremost position of the lower "shell". [9]

Crew quarters

The crew quarters aboard a warbird were located on the ship's "C" Deck. They were sparsely furnished, with a table and chairs in the center of the floor, and a set of bunk beds incorporated into the walls. Crew quarters could also have force fields integrated in and around their bulkheads. (DS9: "The Die is Cast")

The crew quarters that appear in "The Die is Cast" were a redress of a set normally used for all crew quarters aboard the USS Defiant.

Variations are known to have included a bed fully detached from the wall, and a sink with mirror along the far left wall from the entryway. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

Ships commissioned

Named

Unnamed

Unnamed D'deridex-class starships

Uncertain

Appendices

Appearances

TNG:
- "The Neutral Zone"
- "Where Silence Has Lease" (illusory)
- "The Schizoid Man"
- "Contagion"
- "Peak Performance" (illusory)
- "The Enemy"
- "The Defector"
- "Tin Man"
- "Future Imperfect" (illusory)
- "Data's Day"
- "The Mind's Eye"
- "Redemption II"
- "Unification II"
- "Face of the Enemy"
- "Birthright, Part II"
- "Timescape"
- "The Pegasus"
DS9:
- "Visionary"
- "Improbable Cause"
- "The Die is Cast"
- "By Inferno's Light"
- "Tears of the Prophets"
- "Image in the Sand"
- "Shadows and Symbols"
- "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
- "The Changing Face of Evil"
- "What You Leave Behind"
VOY:
- "Learning Curve" (holographic)
- "Message in a Bottle"
- "Drone" (database image)
ENT: "Future Tense" (database image)

Background information

Designation

USS Enterprise-D and Romulan warbird contend for a Romulan scout ship — B-type warbird facing off with the USS *Enterprise*-D in "The Defector"

In the script for "Tin Man", the Romulan warbirds are identified as D'daridex class cruisers". [10] This spelling is changed to "D'deridex-class" after this episode aired. The designation as "B-type" is mentioned in "The Defector", which could be seen as an aptly conceived designation since it coincided with the introduction of the slightly differing second studio model (see below). The ship is also referred to as a "warbird class starship" by Picard in "The Defector".

The warbird that appears in "Contagion" is referred to as a "battle cruiser", which seems to be an inaccurate classification for a vessel of this size. However, according to the script for that episode, the Romulan vessel was also referred to as a Bird-of-Prey. [11] This indicates that the warbird model may not have been intended to be used in this case, and that the battle cruiser reference was never changed to reflect the model used. It is also possible that the Romulan battle cruiser mentioned in "Angel One" may too have been the yet-unseen D'deridex.

Studio models

See: D'deridex-class model.

Technical Manual

The following information of specifications and defenses comes exclusively from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual:

Production Base: Unknown; Romulan Star Empire
Type: Heavy Cruiser
Accommodation: 1,500 plus officers, crew, and troops
Power Plant: One artificial singularity-drive warp core feeding two nacelles; two impulse system
Dimensions: Length, 1,041.65 meters; beam, 772.43 meters; height, 285.47 meters
Mass: 4,320,000 metric tonnes (est.)
Performance: Warp 9.6 (observed)
Armament: Six ship-mounted disruptors; two photon torpedo launchers

Some of this information contradicts data from the original specifications of warbird designer Andrew Probert and also some observations of the D'deridex-class in canon episodes.

Additional reading

Star Trek: Starship Spotter. Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz & Robert Bonchune. New York: Pocket Books, 2001. ISBN 074343725X

External link

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This is a featured article. At the time it was last featured (August 2013), it was considered one of the best examples of the Memory Alpha community's work. This article was last featured more than five years ago though, and its status should be reviewed. You can use the links below to see how the article has changed since it was last featured.

Original featured revision (156519) • Diff to current • Last featured revision (1555909) • Diff to current • Blurb

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 == History ==
+[[File:D'deridex class faces Galaxy class, The Neutral Zone.jpg|thumb|left|Facing off with a ''Galaxy''-class starship]]
 The uncloaking of a warbird of this type in [[2364]], during an encounter with the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} on the edge of the [[Romulan Neutral Zone|Neutral Zone]], signaled the end to fifty-three years of [[Romulan]] isolation. ({{TNG|The Neutral Zone}}) Over the next ten years, these warbirds, under the command of both the Romulan military and the [[Tal Shiar]], participated in numerous encounters with [[Starfleet]] and the [[Dominion]].
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 == Technical data ==
-[[File:D'deridex class faces Galaxy class, The Neutral Zone.jpg|thumb|Facing off with a {{class|Galaxy}}]]
 The ''D'deridex''-class warbird was classified as a [[battle cruiser]] by Starfleet. Using a [[forced quantum singularity]] as a power source and the latest in Romulan cloaking technology, the ''D'deridex'' was not only one of the most advanced vessels in the [[Romulan Star Empire]], but also in the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. These warbirds were roughly twice as long as a [[Federation]] {{class|Galaxy}} [[starship]] with a lower overall [[maximum warp|maximum speed]]. ({{TNG|The Neutral Zone|Tin Man}})
-{{clear}}
 === Physical arrangement ===
@@ Line 56: / Line 55: @@
 === Propulsion systems ===
-[[File:Dderidex-engine core.jpg|thumb|[[warp core|Engine core]]]]
+[[File:Dderidex-engine core.jpg|thumb|Engine core]]
-The fact that a typical ''D'deridex''-class warbird used a [[forced quantum singularity]] as its power source gave the ship type some vulnerabilities. If that system was not functioning perfectly or was damaged even slightly, it might have shown through the cloak as a magnetic disturbance of some kind. The destruction of the engine core of a ''D'deridex''-class warbird usually led to the complete destruction of the entire ship.
+The fact that a typical ''D'deridex''-class warbird used a [[forced quantum singularity]] as its power source gave the ship some vulnerabilities. If that system was not functioning perfectly or was damaged even slightly, it might have shown through the cloak as a magnetic disturbance of some kind. The destruction of the engine core of a ''D'deridex''-class warbird usually led to the complete destruction of the entire ship.
 In order for a warbird to remain undetected while under cloak, the radiative emissions from the warp engines had to be precisely balanced. A slight misalignment in any of the warbird's [[nullifier core]]s would create a small magnetic disturbance in [[space]] whenever the ship was in motion. This could make the ship detectable while cloaked. The effect of this disturbance, when it occurred, appeared intermittently as a polarized magnetic distortion. ({{TNG|Face of the Enemy}})
@@ Line 63: / Line 62: @@
 The use of the confined singularity limited the warbird's overall maximum speed. For a warbird to match the maximum speed of a ''Galaxy''-class starship, it needed to exceed its engine output by thirty percent. Doing this would typically cause the warbird's [[warp drive]] to sustain irreparable damage. ({{TNG|Tin Man}})
-The confined singularity could occasionally cause [[time travel|time shifts]] into the future. This occurred to [[Miles O'Brien]] for a brief period. As a result of this effect, he was able to prevent an attack on [[Deep Space 9]] by a Romulan warbird. Also, if the singularity signature was carefully scanned, it could be monitored through the cloak. ({{DS9|Visionary}})
+The confined singularity could occasionally cause [[time travel|time shifts]] into the future. This occurred to Starfleet Chief Engineer [[Miles O'Brien]] for a brief period. As a result of this effect, he was able to prevent an attack on [[Deep Space 9]] by a Romulan warbird. Also, if the singularity signature was carefully scanned, it could be monitored through the cloak. ({{DS9|Visionary}})
 {{bginfo|Regarding the [[impulse engine]], Andrew Probert writes, "''[It was] omitted by a tight schedule [...] but it would have been recessed into a vertical slot starting just below that landing bay and ending symmetrically below. The reason there are few (if any) side windows at the back area of the ship is because that's where that engine & power plant would have been.''" ''[http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p{{=}}3312206&postcount{{=}}44]}}
 === Additional systems ===
-[[File:D'deridex class tractor beam.jpg|thumb|[[Tractor beam|Tractoring]] a [[shuttlepod]]]]
+[[File:D'deridex class tractor beam.jpg|thumb|Tractoring a shuttlepod]]
 The warbird was equipped with at least one [[tractor beam]], located in the forward section of the warbird, specifically in the lower "neck". ({{TNG|The Mind's Eye}})
@@ Line 74: / Line 73: @@
 == Interior design ==
-[[File:Warbird-corridor.jpg|thumb|A typical [[corridor]]]]
+[[File:Warbird-corridor.jpg|thumb|A typical corridor]]
 The primary color scheme aboard warbirds was distinctively beige and green-gray or teal.
@@ Line 81: / Line 80: @@
 === Main bridge ===
-[[File:Khazara-viewscreen.jpg|thumb|[[Viewscreen]] of the ''[[IRW Khazara|Khazara]]'']]
+[[File:Khazara-viewscreen.jpg|thumb|Viewscreen of the ''Khazara'']]
 The design of the [[main bridge]] of a warbird shared numerous similarities to both its [[Klingon]] and Federation starship counterparts.
@@ Line 102: / Line 101: @@
 === Ready room ===
-[[File:Dderidex-ready room.jpg|thumb|[[Ready room]]]]
+[[File:Dderidex-ready room.jpg|thumb|Ready room]]
 Adjacent to the bridge was the commander's [[ready room]] or command center. Although appearing to vary by ship, one style included (but was not limited to) a large desk and couch, with removable table and a window that provided a view of outside the ship, such as showing a perspective of [[space]] when the vessel was in its normal environment. ({{DS9|Improbable Cause|The Die is Cast}})
@@ Line 115: / Line 114: @@
 === Engine room ===
-[[File:Dderidex class engineering.jpg|thumb|[[Engine room]]]]
+[[File:Dderidex class engineering.jpg|thumb|Engine room]]
 The [[engine room]] section was located at the ventral base of the forward "head" of the warbird. Its layout was similar to that of a ''Galaxy''-class starship, with [[master systems display|primary situation station]] in the center of the room and associated consoles along the walls surrounding the room.
@@ Line 124: / Line 123: @@
 === Procedure room ===
-[[File:Dderidex-procedure room.jpg|thumb|[[science laboratory|Procedure room]]]]
+[[File:Dderidex-procedure room.jpg|thumb|Procedure room]]
 The [[science lab|procedure room]] aboard a warbird was a starkly-lit chamber, with a chair at one end of the room, and with various movable pieces of equipment positioned around it. ({{TNG|The Mind's Eye}})
 {{clear}}
@@ Line 134: / Line 133: @@
 === Cargo bay ===
-[[File:Khazara cargo bay.jpg|thumb|[[Cargo bay]] of the ''Khazara'']]
+[[File:Khazara cargo bay.jpg|thumb|Cargo bay of the ''Khazara'']]
 The [[cargo bay]]s served as storage areas for the ship's cargo, and possessed shelving space along the walls opposite of the main cargo bay doors. ({{TNG|Face of the Enemy}})
@@ Line 141: / Line 140: @@
 === Crew quarters ===
-[[File:Dderidex-quarters.jpg|thumb|[[Crew quarters]]]]
+[[File:Dderidex-quarters.jpg|thumb|Crew quarters]]
 The [[crew quarters]] aboard a warbird were located on the ship's "C" Deck. They were sparsely furnished, with a table and chairs in the center of the floor, and a set of bunk beds incorporated into the walls. Crew quarters could also have [[force field]]s integrated in and around their bulkheads. ({{DS9|The Die is Cast}})
@@ Line 212: / Line 211: @@
 </div>
-=== Background ===
+=== Background information ===
 ==== Designation ====
-[[File:USS Enterprise-D and Romulan warbird contend for a Romulan scout ship.jpg|thumb|B-type warbird facing off the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}} in {{e|The Defector}}]]
+[[File:USS Enterprise-D and Romulan warbird contend for a Romulan scout ship.jpg|thumb|B-type warbird facing off with the USS ''Enterprise''-D in "The Defector"]]
-The designation of "''D'deridex''-class" was first mentioned in {{e|Tin Man}}, the designation as "B-type" is mentioned in {{e|The Defector}}, which could be seen as an aptly conceived designation since it coincided with the introduction of the slightly differing second studio model (see below). The ship is also referred to as a "warbird class starship" by Picard in "The Defector".
+In the script for {{e|Tin Man}}, the Romulan warbirds are identified as  ''D'daridex'' class cruisers". {{st-minutiae|academy/literature329/168.txt}} This spelling is changed to "''D'deridex''-class" after this episode aired. The designation as "B-type" is mentioned in {{e|The Defector}}, which could be seen as an aptly conceived designation since it coincided with the introduction of the slightly differing second studio model (see below). The ship is also referred to as a "warbird class starship" by Picard in "The Defector".
-The warbird that appears in {{e|Contagion}} is referred to as a "battle cruiser", which seems to be an inaccurate classification for a vessel of this size. However, according to the script for that episode, the Romulan vessel was also referred to as a [[Romulan Bird-of-Prey (23rd century)|Bird-of-Prey]]. [http://www.st-minutiae.com/academy/literature329/137.txt] This indicates that the warbird model ''may not'' have been intended to be used in this case, and that the battle cruiser reference was never changed to reflect the model used. It is also possible that the [[Romulan battle cruiser]] mentioned in {{TNG|Angel One}} may too have been the yet-unseen ''D'deridex''.
-==== Studio model ====
-On the occasion of the episode {{TNG|The Neutral Zone}}, the producers were mindful that the re-introduction of the Romulans in the franchise needed to be memorable, with a likewise memorable ship, in the script simply referred to as "Romulan cruiser", to go with it.
-=====Design=====
-[[File:D'deridex initial design sketches.jpg|thumb|Trying to find a direction for the new Romulan warbird]]
-The ''D'deridex''-class warbird was the last new ship designed by [[Andrew Probert]] for the show, his design sketch of {{d|21|March|1988}} receiving the approval of the producers. (''[[The Art of Star Trek]]'', p. 83) On his design, Probert later remarked:
-<blockquote>"The Romulan Warbird from the original series had, of course, a bird design on it. And I wanted to stay with that in someway. So, I started with bird and bird wing shapes. And eventually came to a design similar to what is on the screen. But my concept was to have one engine above and one below, because I felt that having a vertical design alien ship in front of the ''Enterprise'', which has a very horizontal configuration, would be a nice contrast of ships.
-"Now, Gene dictated that there are no three-engine starships and no single-engine starships [....] And then I started thinking that, back in World War II, all the nations that had fighter aircraft and airplanes did the same thing: they took off, they flew, they landed, they maneuvered. They usually had one engine, two wings, two tailwings &ndash; so they all had the same components, but they all looked different. There was a national design bias to each aircraft, but technically they all did the same thing.
-"So my thinking was in ''Star Trek'' &ndash; since the ''Enterprise'' used to have two engines &ndash; I came up with the idea that the engines had to reach out to each other in order to work co-dependently. In other words, there would be no obstructions between the engines to disrupt the energy fields or connecting forces between them. And, well, all the alien ships could look different but still operate in the same principle. So that's why [...] [for] the Romulan Warbird, the engines would see each other through the ship. The ship is built above and below the energy field of those engines.
-"But my original concept would be that there was a lot more ship, a lot more structure, packed inside those wings. So it was, looking like two big wing sections, obviously big enough to contain people and cargo. But my original concept had them bigger." {{brokenlink|url=http://oberon.spaceports.com/~tb/international/interviews/interview4.htm}}</blockquote>
-[[File:D'deridex design sketches.jpg|thumb|right|Probert's finalized sketches for the warbird]]
-Experimenting with the vertical design concept, Probert further elaborated on his design process, "''I didn't have any information except that the Romulans were coming back and that we had never seen their ship before ''[In ''TNG'']''. Since the ''Enterprise'' is ''so'' horizontal, I wanted to contrast it with a vertical ship. At this point we didn't see Gene Roddenberry anymore. Gene had always been open to suggestions. I was in awe of how he had created the show, and my respect for him was enhanced by the fact that he would sit and listen to your ideas. He may not have always used them, but he would always listen. I felt that if I had shown him the vertical warbird and explained my reasoning, he would have considered it. But that didn't happen.''" However, Probert was was told by another producer, "Let's make it horizontal instead". "''So I created new preliminary drawings, and being that it was a war ''bird'', I continued the birdlike motif from my earlier sketches.''" Conceding to the request, Probert also proceeded to add a bottom wing to his now horizontal design. Continuing, he further clarified, "''I hadn't thought about putting a bottom wing on there, but I looked sideways at one of my earlier vertical drawings and thought I'd add a loop to see how that worked. I drew that final image as a scale reference to the ''Enterprise'', just to show the difference in size. I love even numbers, so the warbird is 4,440 feet long. The thing is, I provided this image to the producers purposely to suggest that the scene be filmed with the ''Enterprise'' in front, obviously closer to us, yet the warbird is still larger. Unfortunately the visual effects people reversed the shot and you really had no idea how much larger the Romulan ship was.''" (''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation 365]]'', p. 132)
-In {{y|2010}}, Probert revisited his vertical orientation design when he produced a more detailed painting for the March spread of the ''[[Star Trek: Ships of the Line (2011)]]'' calendar. {{DrexFiles|2010/04/25/let-the-countdown-begin-2011-sotl-sneak-peek-01-andrew-probert/}}
-=====Physical studio models=====
-[[File:D'deridex class template and molds for the studio model.jpg|thumb|left|The foam master and first molds (inset) taken from it]]
-[[File:D'deridex original studio model.jpg|thumb|The original studio model]]
-The original [[studio model]] was made of cast resin and acrylic plastic. Built by [[Greg Jein]] in the month following its design approval, it measured 36&times;25&times;10 inches, debuted in {{TNG|The Neutral Zone}}, and was last seen as stock footage in {{DS9|By Inferno's Light}}. Jein noted on the build, "''I enjoyed working on the Romulan ship, because it was such an unusual shape. We did that pretty fast. Again, we, because it was such an unusual shape, we had to carve that out of flores foam and we vacuformed on top of that and we take the foam out, so we had a hard shell, so we could put the armatures and lights in.''" ([[TNG Season 4 DVD]]-special feature, "Select Historical Data") Years later, in 2012, he added in little more detail,
-<blockquote>"And then in the final episode of the season, we got to see the Romulans come back, and Andy had this really strange design. And, again, we had like only three weeks to do it. So we had to carve out some shapes out of foam, vacuform a template to give us a hard skin that we could detail, throw it into a mold, pull the pieces out, and drill thousands of little fiber optic holes to get the lightings self contained." ([[TNG Season 1 Blu-ray]]-special feature, "Stardate Revisited, Part 3: The Continuing Mission")</blockquote>
-[[File:Greg Jein with D'deridex studio model.jpg|thumb|Jein working on the second studio model]]
-[[File:D'deridex class original studio model publicity still.jpg|thumb|left|Original studio model in blue-gray livery]]
-The appearance of the ''D'deridex''-class model has caused some confusion in regards to the color scheme. Well-known early publicity stills, especially in the 1980s ''[[Starlog Press]]'' publications, showed the model both in a green-gray color scheme and a metallic blue-gray color scheme (mostly to represent ships of the Tal Shiar, notably in {{DS9|The Die is Cast}}). This was partly due, in the case of the first one, to "tweaking" the colors in post-production editing.
-However, the other explanation for this was that the studio had two models made, the green one and best known being the original, first one, and that they used them both. [http://www.jetcafe.org/bruce/portfolio/TV_Shows2/images/ST-Next_Generation-08.jpg] Co-built, again at Jein's modelshop, by model maker [[Bruce MacRae]], and almost identical to the original studio model, the second, blue-gray model differed from the green one in that, apart from the color, it had an additional feature added on the outer sides of the warp engines and it debuted in {{TNG|The Defector}}. It is not clear why the second model was commissioned, though [[Daren Dochterman]] has given a possible explanation; "''On other occasions, it's done to give an in-house model crew something to do to justify billing the production company for it... and to maintain its existence.''" [http://johneaves.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/blue-sky-model-reference/#comment-1039]
-[[File:D'deridex 2nd studio model.jpg|thumb|Second model at auction]]
-It was the second, blue-gray model, that was included, as {{stala|1778-0702 Lot 702}}, in the ''[[40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection]]'' [[Star Trek auctions|auction]], estimated at US$8,000&ndash;$12,000, where it was sold at auction on {{d|7|October|2006}} for a winning bid of US$30,000 ($36,000 including buyer's premium). It was sold to British collector Adrian Hancock, who had also managed to acquire the {{USS|Voyager}} and {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-C|-C}} studio models in the action. [http://www.myprops.co.uk/various-photos/warbird.jpg] In a run up to the auction, making its only public appearance, the model was on tour at the ''Creation Convention'' in Las Vegas from [[17 August]] to {{d|20|August|2006}}. [http://www.mutara.net/Christies/Warbird.html]
-As of {{y|2012}}, the whereabouts of the first, original, green-gray, model are unknown, presumably still in the possession of [[Paramount Pictures]], though no sightings have been reported since.
-=====Other physical models=====
-[[File:D'deridex class model on board of the Decius.jpg|thumb|The ''Decius'' display model]]
-In the episode {{TNG|Future Imperfect}}, a [[model|display model]] can be seen aboard the Romulan Warbird {{IRW|Decius}}. The model was an otherwise unmodified piece from the [[AMT|AMT/Ertl]] [[Star Trek model kits|modelkit]] No. 6858. This constituted the only time an alternative model was used to physically represent the class in any of the live action productions.
-A limited production run of twelve, built from the same molds as the original studio model, but without internal lighting, was later sold in 1997, accompanied with a certificate of authenticity signed by Greg Jein at the {{w|Viacom Entertainment Store}} in Chicago, sporting yet another slightly differing color scheme, gun metal blue-gray, and without the extra detail on the warp engine assembly. {{brokenlink|url=http://members.aol.com/WMccullars/JeinRomulan.html}}
-=====CGI models=====
-[[File:Romulan warbird damaged and disabled.jpg|thumb|Modified CGI model]]
-[[File:D'dereidex class vessel engaged by USS Prometheus.jpg|thumb|left|Original CGI model]]
-For the later seasons of ''Deep Space 9'' and ''Voyager'', a [[CGI model]] was constructed at [[Foundation Imaging]]. The model was built on the occasion of ''Voyager''{{'}}s [[VOY Season 4|fourth season]] episode {{e|Message in a Bottle}}, as visual effects supervisor for that episode, [[Mitch Suskin]], clarified, "''We built the Romulan ship as a digital model for that show. That was done at Foundation. It was the first time the Romulan ship was built as a digital model.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 30, #9/10, p. 80). The first, green-gray model was used as reference, so the variant with the additional detail on the warp engine assembly was initially no longer seen from then on. That was until {{DS9|The Changing Face of Evil}}, when a close-up of a severely damaged warbird was needed. Foundation's model was modified at [[Digital Muse]] to showcase the damage and the modeler at Muse made use of the opportunity to add the extra nacelle detail and color-correct the model to resemble the second physical studio model.
+The warbird that appears in {{e|Contagion}} is referred to as a "battle cruiser", which seems to be an inaccurate classification for a vessel of this size. However, according to the script for that episode, the Romulan vessel was also referred to as a [[Romulan Bird-of-Prey (23rd century)|Bird-of-Prey]]. {{st-minutiae|academy/literature329/137.txt}} This indicates that the warbird model ''may not'' have been intended to be used in this case, and that the battle cruiser reference was never changed to reflect the model used. It is also possible that the [[Romulan battle cruiser]] mentioned in {{e|Angel One}} may too have been the yet-unseen ''D'deridex''.
-[[File:Mazarite warships.jpg|thumb|The similar upper warbird components used in the design of Mazarite warships]]
-The studio model of the [[Mazarite warship]], from {{ENT|Fallen Hero}}, was [[kitbash]]ed from a ''D'deridex''-class [[AMT/Ertl]] [[Star Trek model kits|model kit]], No. 6858, by [[Dan Curry]], using the upper wing structure to be "sold" to the producers. The producers "bought" the design, and the prototype model was subsequently recreated in [[CGI]] at [[Foundation Imaging]] by [[Koji Kuramura]] and mapped and animated by [[Robert Bonchune]]. {{DrexFiles|2009/10/04/mazarite-attack-ship/#more-17606}} This CGI model was later reused as the [[Illyrian starship]] seen in {{ENT|Damage}}. This was one of the very few times that a design feature of a signature "hero" ship was recycled to represent an alien design.
+==== Studio models ====
-Foundation Imaging's version of the CGI model made a few appearances in licensed print publications, most notably the ''[[Star Trek: Ships of the Line]]'' [[calendars]] and their [[Ships of the Line|book derivative]], whereas Digital Muse's version was, in a to green reverted version, represented in the, by Bonchune co-authored, book ''[[Star Trek: Starship Spotter]]''.
+:''See: [[D'deridex class model|''D{{'}}deridex''-class model]]''.
 ==== ''Technical Manual'' ====
@@ Line 287: / Line 237: @@
 * ''[[Star Trek: Starship Spotter]]''. [[Adam Lebowitz|Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] & [[Robert Bonchune]]. New York: Pocket Books, 2001. ISBN 074343725X
+=== External link ===
+* {{NCwiki}}
 {{featured|date=August 2005|id=156519|re-date=August 2013|re-id=1555909}}