Klingon Defense Force

Klingon Defense Force
Allegiance:	Klingon Empire
Service type:	space force
Dates active:	from circa the 9th century
Headquarters:	Ty'Gokor
Primary missions:	imperial expansion, imperial defense
Flagship(s):	IKS Sword of Kahless (2376-2380s) IKS Bortasqu' (2409-???)

The Klingon Defense Force (KDF), sometimes referred to as the Klingon Imperial Fleet or the Klingon Imperial Navy, is the military arm of the Klingon Empire. The command branch of the Defense Force is the Klingon High Command. (TNG episodes: "Heart of Glory", "Sins of the Father", DS9 episodes: "Sons of Mogh", "Soldiers of the Empire", "Sons and Daughters", "Favor the Bold", "Once More Unto the Breach")

Background

Klingon Warrior boarding party

The Defense Force was known to consist of two elements, the first of which is the Deep Space Fleet (DSF) which consists of the regular naval forces. The second military group is the Internal Security Force (ISF) which operated smaller ships whose duties include policing rules, border patrols, anti-piracy duties, safety & rescue and customs along with tariff regulations. Their duty also extends to watching over client or conquered worlds to ensure they do not rise up against the Empire. However, despite its duties, the ISF is inferior to the DSF in political, military and even social standing. (ST video game: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War)

Though there exists the Klingon General Bureau that handles external intelligence operations; the two branches within the Defense Force operate their own intelligence branches which tends to cause duplication of work as well as political infighting.

The Galactic Research Unit serves as the external intelligence agency for the Deep Space Fleet while the Maximum Veracity Directorate serves a similar role for the Internal Security Force. (ST video game: Starfleet Command)

History

In 2153, the position of fleet admiral was held by Krell. (ENT episodes: "Affliction", "Divergence")

In 2165, the Klingon Empire dispatched its ship against the Ware and its robot ships, destroying and conquering the Partnership of Civilisations. (ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: Live by the Code)

Krell was critical of Humans in the year leading up to the Earth-Romulan War. In 2155, the Romulan Star Empire used arrenhe'hwiua telecapture technology to seize several Klingon battlecruisers and use them against a Human freighter. (ENT novel: Kobayashi Maru)

During the Federation-Klingon War of 2256-2257, the forces of the Great Houses battled the Federation indidivually rather than as a cohesive army. (DSC episode: "The War Without, The War Within")

In the 2260s decade, the KDF uniform consisted of a metallic sleeveless shirt over a black turtleneck, worn with black pants and boots. (TOS episode: "Errand of Mercy", TAS episode: "The Time Trap")

A new uniform, consisting of black clothes and grey metal armor, had been introduced by 2273. (TOS movie & novelization: The Motion Picture)

K'vort-class bird-of-prey (24th century).

Starfleet officers serving on KDF ships as part of the Officer Exchange Program continued to wear their regular uniform. (TNG episode: "A Matter of Honor")

This included Worf, son of Mogh, a Klingon Starfleet officer. (DS9 episode: "Sons and Daughters")

By nature, the KDF was staffed by Klingons. Due to the influence of the alliance with the Federation, operating with non-Klingon personnel became an option. A Pheben - a jeghpu'wI' species, or conquered people - served on the former KDF flagship IKS Bortas in 2385. (PRM novel: Fire with Fire)

As a result of the war between the Klingon Empire and the Gorn Hegemony in the 2390s, Gorn, Nausicaans and Orions began serving in the KDF. (STO novel: The Needs of the Many)

By 2409, other common officer species included the Letheans, who pursued membership in the Klingon Empire, aliens and Ferasans. A few commanding officers stemmed from joined Trill. With the return of the Borg Collective, some Klingon commanders were liberated Borg. (STO - Klingon Sector mission: "Test Your Mettle")

With the establishment of the Delta Alliance in the Delta Quadrant, Talaxians were invited to serve in the KDF. (STO - Delta Rising mission: "Reunion")

Due to the alliance between the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Republic, officers of the Romulan Republican Force had access to KDF personnel, ships and technology. (STO - Legacy of Romulus mission: "Turning Point")

Following the accession of the Cardassian Union to the Alpha Quadrant Alliance in 2410, Cardassians were invited to command KDF ships. (STO - Victory Is Life mission: "Home")

Hegh'ta-class bird-of-prey (25th century).

During the Hur'q Invasion of the Dominion in 2410, the Jem'Hadar Vanguard serving Odo became affiliated with Starfleet and the KDF. Life the RRF before, allegiance to either Starfleet or the KDF provided access to that service's respective resources. (STO - Victory Is Life mission: "Home")

In the 26th century, ships of the KDF participated in the pivotal Battle of Procyon V on behalf of the alliance, which led to a Federation victory against the Sphere Builders and the Temporal Liberation Front. (STO - Future Proof mission: "The Battle of Procyon V", ENT episode: "Azati Prime")

Bortas-class battlecruiser (25th century).

By 2769, the Klingon Empire had become a member of the Federation, which in turn led the Galactic Union alliance. (STO - Future Proof mission: "Time and Tide")

In the 29th century, the KDF still fielded its own ships and IKS prefix, including the Rozhenko-class timeship shuttle. (STO - Legacy of Romulus mission: "Temporal Ambassador")

By the 31st century, the Federation instead relied on Starfleet designs for conflicts in the Temporal Cold War. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "The Battle of Caleb IV")

Gallery

Gallery of KDF Personnel

Klingon victory over the Gorn.

Klingon warriors attacking Federation and Bajoran personnel on Deep Space 9.

Klingon warriors in the jungle.

A Ferasan officer in the 25th century KDF.

Gorn of the 25th century KDF.

Orion Female of the 25th century KDF.

Lethean of the 25th century KDF.

Nausicaan of the 25th century KDF.

Gorn Engineer of the 25th century KDF.

Female Orion Science Officer of the 25th century KDF.

Gallery of Klingon Fleet

Klingon squadron of Birds-of-Prey attacking vessels.

Klingon fleet attacking Deep Space 9.

Klingon squadron going into battle.

Klingon warships in combat.

Klingon warships destroying target.

Klingon fortress battle station.

Klingon warships.

Klingon Fleet of the early 25th century.

Klingon Fleet of the early 25th century.

Klingon Fleet of the early 25th century.

Fleets

• Gho'vaD Defense Fleet
• Hegh yan Strike Fleet
• Qabjech Exploratory Fleet
• Qo'noS Home Fleet

Tactics

• BIng maneuver

Ship classes

This article or section is incomplete
This article is marked as lacking essential detail, and needs attention. Information regarding expansion requirements may be found on the article's talk page. Feel free to edit this page to assist with this expansion.

Appendices

Related articles

• Klingon Defense Force Command Headquarters
• Klingon Defense Force Political Corps
• Klingon Internal Security

External links

• Klingon Defense Force article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
• Klingon_Defense_Force article at Star Trek Online Wiki.