The Sim

The Oberth-class starship is a compact, modular Federation light science vessel primarily used for short-range exploration, survey duties, and stellar cartography. It features a distinctive split-hull design with a small saucer section connected by pylons to a narrow secondary hull that houses the warp core and sensors. Though minimally armed, it was reliable, easy to build, and could operate with a very small crew, making it a workhorse for scientific research.

Key Characteristics

Mission Profile:
Designed as a dedicated science vessel for tasks like planetary surveys, charting nebulas, and observing stellar phenomena.

Design:
A unique split-hull design featuring a separate saucer section and a narrower, oblong secondary hull, connected by pylons.

Modularity:
A highly modular design allowed for rapid construction even in smaller facilities, making the ships easy to produce and maintain.

Crew & Automation:
Capable of operating with a minimum of five crew members due to extensive automation, though a standard crew was around 80 to 100.

Defenses:
Armed with minimal defensive systems, including phaser arrays and a photon torpedo launcher, intended for retreat rather than combat.

Key Features

Science Labs: Equipped with numerous science labs and advanced sensor systems for data gathering.

Bridge: Features a standard bridge layout with a viewscreen and console stations.

Warp Core: Located in the secondary hull, which also houses a shuttle bay.
Power: Capable of high warp speeds but with a focus on simplicity and reliability over pure performance.

Operational Role

Exploration: Deployed for deep-space scientific missions and survey duties where a larger starship would be inefficient.

Research: Frequently loaned to civilian scientists and used as a testbed for new Starfleet systems.

Support: Served as a transport and courier vessel in its later career.
Notable Features

Size: Around 120 meters long, significantly smaller than many other Starfleet vessels.

Name: The class is named after the physicist Hermann Oberth.

Long Service: The design served Starfleet for over a century and remained in production into the late 24th century.