Walker class

For other uses, see Walker.

Walker class
Affiliation:	Federation, Starfleet; Terran Empire, Starfleet (mirror universe)
Type:	light exploration cruiser
Service period	2195-2265, 2400s-2410s
Dimensions
Length:	423 meters
Specifications
Crew:	150
Maximum speed:	quantum slipstream and transwarp velocities (25th century)
Cruising speed:	warp 9.9+ 25th century)
Armaments:	phaser banks, photon torpedo torpedo launchers
Defences:	deflector shields
Systems:	obfuscation screen
Auxiliary craft:	Class C shuttlecraft (2250s), Federation shuttlecraft (25th century)

The Walker class was a 23rd century Federation starship type, a light exploration cruiser in Starfleet service from the 2220s decade. (DSC episode: "Battle at the Binary Stars"; STO website: Age of Discovery: Jayce's Interstellar: Walker Class Crash Mobilization)

Technical data

The Poseidon-class USS Coto in 2159.

The Walker class was developed as part of Operation Next Step in the year 2195. Due to the size of its saucer section, the cruising speed was pegged at warp factor 5.7 but allowing for brief sprints at warp 6.9. (Star Trek Adventures module: Discovery (2256-2258) Campaign Guide)

This class entered service in the 2220s decade with the launch of the USS Walker (NCC-1202) in 2221. Advances in propulsion technology soon made it near-obsolete, and a number of these vessels had been mothballed by the 2250s. (STO website: Age of Discovery: Jayce's Interstellar: Walker Class Crash Mobilization)

The ship's structure was based on the 22nd century NX-class starships but with a length of 423 meters significantly larger. (The Official Starships Collection Issue DSC issue 1: "USS Shenzhou")

In the 2150s and 2160s, Poseidon-class had been an early variant of the NX class. Its physical arrangement anticipated future Starfleet hulls. (ST video game: Legacy, ENT - Rise of the Federation novel: Live by the Code)

Physically, a vessel of the class included a saucer section with a navigational deflector integrated in the bow, and, atypically for a Starfleet vessel, a bridge at the bottom of the saucer. A compact secondary hull was attached to the rear of the saucer, and sat between a pair of nacelle pylons with one warp nacelle each. A Walker had 15 decks. (DSC episode: "The Vulcan Hello")

By 2255, at least one Walker-class starship, the USS Shenzhou, had been in service for decades. Lagging behind in technical upgrades, it was not a match for an up-to-date Constitution-class heavy cruiser. (DSC novel: Desperate Hours)

This ship class was capable of atmospheric flight by means of thrusters scattered over its hull. It carried shuttlecraft and worker bees, as well as escape pods. It was equipped with lateral vector transporters. (DSC episodes: "The Vulcan Hello", "Battle at the Binary Stars")

The ship's armament included phase cannons, phasers, and photon torpedoes. (DSC episode: "Battle at the Binary Stars")

Service history

Hovering in the atmosphere.

By 2249, it was considered an aging design. (DSC novel: Desperate Hours)

A ship of this class, the Shenzhou, was lost in the Battle of the Binary Stars on 11 May 2256.

Six months later, a picture of a Walker adorned a mess hall wall of the USS Discovery. (DSC episode: "Context Is for Kings")

In 2256, Starfleet Command directed Federation shipyards Yards 4, 32 and 39 to pull Walker-class ships from mothballs to partake in the Federation-Klingon War. This included the USS Walker. Vice Admiral Katrina Cornwell directed Bureau of Personnel to staff these vehicles with young officers. (STO website: Age of Discovery: Jayce's Interstellar: Walker Class Crash Mobilization)

Starfleet decommissioned this class in 2265. Remaining vessels were assigned to patrols along the Klingon and Romulan Neutral Zones, and loaned to civilian institutions. The last Walker-class ships were taken out of service in 2289. (Star Trek Adventures module: Discovery (2256-2258) Campaign Guide)

Following the transfer of Starfleet and House of Mo'Kai ships and personnel from 2257 to 2409, the Walker-class returned to service again. (STO - Age of Discovery mission: "Downfall")

Known ships

• USS Shenzhou (NCC-1227)
• ISS Shenzhou (NCC-1227)
• USS Walker (NCC-1202)

Appendices

Connections

Walker-class starships
Federation Starfleet (primary universe)	standard configuration	Edison • Pooma • Shenzhou • Walker
	variant configurations	Georgiou-subclass: Georgiou • Lancelot-subclass: Leondegrance • Shenzhou-subclass: Kamran • Kennedy • Shenzhou
Terran Imperial Starfleet (mirror universe)	standard configuration	Shenzhou

External links

• Walker class article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
• Walker-class_Light_Exploration_Cruiser article at Star Trek Online Wiki.