Nebula class
The Nebula-class was a type of Federation starship that was in service in Starfleet during the second half of the 24th century.

History 
Construction of the Nebula-class was spearheaded under the authority of the Yoyodyne Division, and ranged in construction dates from as early as 2363 to as late as 2367. Vessels including the , the , and the  were constructed at this time at both the 40 Eridani A Starfleet Construction Yards (the first two ships) and the San Francisco Fleet Yards. (; , dedication plaques) 

The mission profile of the Nebula-class varied from performing various scientific and exploratory roles to conducting patrol and transport duties. (;  set artwork; )

The Nebula-class was present in several major Federation engagements against the Borg, including the Battle of Wolf 359 and the Battle of Sector 001. (; ) They were also present in numerous Dominion War battles, including the Second Battle of Chin'toka and Battle of Cardassia. () A Nebula-class starship, the , was one of three ships sent to transport the crew of the  off Veridian III after the saucer section crash landed due to a battle with a Klingon vessel. ().

The Nebula-class was still in Starfleet service by 2378. ()

Technical data

Design 

The Nebula-class shared a similar design lineage with its larger  counterpart, notably its primary and secondary hulls and warp nacelles. (, etc.)

The Nebula-class was composed of two hull sections; the saucer-shaped primary hull mounted atop the secondary hull, with two warp nacelles mounted on either side of the secondary hull, directly below the primary hull. (, etc.)

Atop the primary hull was a superstructure which could support a variety of modules, such as the inclusion of a triangular platform, fitted with torpedo launchers, an oval platform, or additional warp nacelles. ()

By 2375, the Nebula-class was reconfigured slightly to include more of a Galaxy-class style secondary hull and deflector dish. ()

By 2369, the Nebula-class served among historic model designs used in the classroom aboard Deep Space 9. ()

Defensive systems 

The Nebula-class was equipped with "a huge arsenal", at least according to Cardassian Gul Macet, which included multiple phaser banks and torpedo launchers. The Nebula-class had a maximum effective weapons range slightly below 300,000 kilometers. ()

The typical offensive arsenal of the Nebula-class included a torpedo launcher located on the secondary hull above the deflector dish, and on some variants, a torpedo launcher located on the superstructure located above the primary hull. (; ) Phaser positions included the forward-most part of the primary hull, and on the secondary hull, below the deflector dish. (; )

While considered more than a match for a Cardassian supply ship, the Nebula-class was also capable of successfully withstanding a direct hit from a Cardassian warship, as a result of an unshielded attack. () They were, however, unable to single-handedly withstand an assault from a wing of Cardassian destroyers. ()

Some Nebula-class starships, including the Phoenix, used a "high-energy sensor sweep" that cycled every 5.5 minutes. Between each of those cycles, a "window" of a fiftieth of a second would open, requiring the ship's shields to be realigned. ()

Propulsion systems 
The propulsion systems for the Nebula-class were constructed under the authority of Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems. ( dedication plaque)

The engines of a Nebula-class needed to operate with a mixture above ninety percent in order to successfully leave orbit of a planet. Additionally, the starboard power coupling was located adjacent to decks ten through twelve. In 2368, the maximum warp for the class was warp 9.3. () By 2370, the theoretical maximum speed for the warp drive of Nebula-class starships, including the , was warp 9.5. When fine-tuned, the warp drive could be pushed to warp 9.6. () By 2374, the  was able to pursue and catch the  , that was traveling at warp 9.9. () 

In an alternate timeline, the Nebula-class was described as being "a lot faster" than a  runabout. ()

Auxiliary craft 
Nebula-class starships were equipped with a variety of auxiliary craft, including the Type 6 and Type 7 shuttlecraft, as well as the smaller Type 15 shuttlepod, and other large shuttlecraft. (; )

Interior design

Bridge

Other interiors

Ships commissioned 
Named
  (NCC-62048)
  (NCC-70915)
  (NCC-60597)
  (NCC-60205)
  (NCC-70352)
  (NCC-30405)
  (NCC-61827)
  (NCC-61826)
  (NCC-65420)
  (NCC-71201)
  (NCC-72015)
 

Unnamed
 Unnamed Nebula-class starships

Uncertain
  (NCC-71805)

Appendices

Appearances 

In addition to the episode-specific appearances below, the Nebula-class, in the form of the , began appearing in every title sequence of  from  to .

It also made several appearances as a desktop model in ,  and .
 
 
 
 
 :

 
 
 
 
 
 
  (display graphic)

Background information 
The Nebula-class was referred to by name for the first time in the chart seen on the  main bridge in . (This chart was seen again, with modifications, in  and in several episodes afterwards, in the observation lounge of the Enterprise-D.) Nebula-class was referred to on the dedication plaques for the Phoenix ("The Wounded"), the Sutherland ("Redemption II"), and the Prometheus ("Second Sight"). Nebula-class was referred to by name in "The Wounded" and "Non Sequitur". It was additionally referred to by name in the script notes for "Redemption II".

Studio models 
See main article: Nebula-class model

Technical Manual 
The following specifications and defenses come from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual (p. 152):

 Production Base: ASDB Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Mars
 Type: Explorer
 Accommodation: 750 officers and crew; 130 visiting personnel; 9,800 personal evacuation limit
 Power Plant: One 1,500 plus Cochrane warp core feeding two nacelles; one impulse system
 Dimensions: Length, 442.23 meters; beam, 318.11 meters; height: 130.43 meters
 Mass: 3,309,000 metric tons
 Performance: Warp 9.6 for 12 hours (STD); warp 9.9 for 12 hours (UPRTD)
 Armament: Eight type-10 phaser emitters; two photon torpedo launchers

Apocrypha 

A cross section and overview of the ship is given in issue 154 of , particularly focusing on the . The cross section shows that the ship is capable of saucer separation, has eight type-X phaser arrays and three photon torpedo launchers, and a mass of 3,309,000 metric tons. One inconsistency among the graphics has the registry number "NCC-60000" on the nacelle pylon. All artwork used was provided by Tim Earls.

In the video games Star Trek: Armada and Star Trek: Armada II, the Nebula-class is depicted as a "science ship"; that is, it has four special weapons where other ship classes have just one. The special weapons allow the Nebula-class to disrupt enemy shields, destroy incoming torpedoes, temporarily duplicate an allied ship, or send an engineering team to an allied ship or station to repair its systems.

In the video game Star Trek: Bridge Commander, there are four Nebula-class vessels. Three of these, the , , and , appear to be made specifically for the game and do not appear anywhere in Star Trek canon. The fourth Nebula-class vessel featured in the game is actually a canon ship, the USS Prometheus (NCC-71201), though it is the only one that doesn't play an important role in the game.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation - Birth of the Federation the Nebula-class is the strike cruiser of the Federation, a short range combat vessel mostly intended for planetary bombardment.

In Star Trek Online, the Nebula-class is an "advanced research science vessel" available to players ranked Commander or higher, that can create tachyon detection fields and grids which boost stealth detection and sensor abilities.

External links 
 
 
 

cs:Třída Nebula
de:Nebula-Klasse
es:Clase Nebula
ja:ネビュラ級
nl:Nebula klasse
Federation starship classes