Thread by @Wolf359Project

Ok folks, let’s do a #ShipsofWolf359 Lets throw a grenade out amongst the pedants and lets talk about the USS Kaneda NX-62498, Akira class #StarTrek 🧵Image by @_Pundus_

But wait I hear you cry, the Akira class did not enter service until 2373 and the Battle of Sector 001!, Well you are not entirely wrong. It goes back to the 2342 White paper “A New Starfleet” which signalled the beginning of the Galaxy Class development program

In addition to the Galaxy program, it envisioned new ships to replace the aging Excelsior, Miranda and Constellation classes, this would lead to several new ships including the the Nebula, Parliament, Saber and ultimately Akira class starships

With the growing tensions on the border with the Cardassians and in the wake of the Tzenkethi conflict Starfleet wanted a fast, well armed ship that could fill the void left with he mothballing of the Constellation class ships.

The Akira’s were envisioned to serve as heavy cruisers that could operate as singletons in areas with a superior number of threat forces. A massive torpedo complement and a large embarked craft capacity gives the ship a powerful alpha strike and operational flexibility

Starfleet authorised the construction of 3 test articles in 2363, the USS Akira, Kaneda and Tetsuo however shortly after construction had begun the Federation began a renewed push for peace.

There were calls led by future president Amitra who was concerned that the Akira class signalled a militarisation of Starfleet. Ultimately bowing to political pressure, Starfleet cancelled the Akira class project.

However Akira has already launched and was undergoing trials, and Kaneda was 98% complete, Starfleet decided to retain the 2 ships for research and development, the third ships Tetsuo was broken up on the slip.

Akira and Kaneda proved popular with crews, they were extremely manoeuvrable and quick for a ship of their size and modular weapon and large flight bays allowed Starfleet to trial a number of systems on the ships.

In 2366 when the Borg were detected Starfleet rushed to assemble a force to hold the Borg at Wolf 359, Akira had just gone in for. Refit, so the Kaneda was crewed up and deployed along with Admiral Hanson’s force.

Kaneda proved extremely effective against the Borg, remaining operational till late in the battle and although ultimately destroyed showed Starfleet that they had an extremely capable space frame design in hand just when they needed to start rebuilding the fleet.

Starfleet ordered the restarting of the Akira class line and re-authorised the ships that had been previously cancelled, they started entering fleetwide service in 2371 just in time for the Dominion War.

Many ships went on to prove themselves extremely capable, including Akira herself, and the ships are now a common sight all across the Federation, and a true successor to the venerable Constellation class ships

You can still see the remains of Kaneda at the Wolf 359 memorial station, and the Akira class USS Sentinel and Weshing are currently available for tours at the Fleet Museum in Athan Prime.