Class III neutronic fuel carrier
A Class III neutronic fuel carrier or 3rd class neutronic fuel carrier was the designation used to classify a type of 23rd century fuel carrier capable of hauling several metric tons of neutronic fuel as well as several hundred passengers.

In the , the Kobayashi Maru was a 3rd class neutronic fuel carrier. (; ) Likewise, in the alternate reality, the  was also a ship of this class. ()

Appendices

Appearances

Background information 
The sidebar data was extracted from the display graphic appearing in the scenario describing the Kobayashi Maru, which appeared in both The Wrath of Khan and "Kobayashi". 

In dialogue, it was referred to as a "3rd class" carrier, whereas on the display it was referred to as a "Class III" carrier.

Studio model 

John Eaves and Alex Jaeger designed the Kobayashi Maru for Star Trek. They based the design on Roger Sorensen's blueprints from  of the prime universe Class III neutronic fuel carrier Kobayashi Maru . Although the Eaves blog also cites the cover of the novel The Kobayashi Maru,  which shows a depiction of a , originally designed by Rick Sternbach for the Spaceflight Chronology. (p. 130), the sketches and finished design bear little or no resemblance to that ship.

In the opinion of Industrial Light & Magic art director Alex Jaeger, the starship Kobayashi Maru had a similar design to the  that was planned to feature in the film Star Trek but did not make the transition to the screen (although it was essentially a dark-colored variant of the ). Jaeger specifically commented about the Kobayashi Maru, "It resembled the Excelsior, but was more of a cargo version." (Cinefex, No. 118, p. 60; Star Trek - The Art of the Film, p. 59)

The studio model was later featured as part of the Eaglemoss Collections Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection line of Star Trek starship miniatures.

External link 
 

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Federation starship classes
Federation starship classes (alternate reality)‎