STSTCSOLD&A | V-8 "Bird of Prey" Class ● Cruiser ● Romulan Empire

UNLIKE THE FEDERATION CONSTITUTION CLASS, the Klingon D-7 class, or the Klingon "Bird of Prey" designs, the Romulan "Bird of Prey" was to have a limited impact on the design of future Romulan ships. Officially, the V-8 "Bird of Prey" was the only truly Romulan design ever seen in ST:TOS. It would never appear in any of the later Trek films, and by the time the Romulans returned in ST:TNG they did so in a craft utterly unlike the cruiser which graced the 1960s television screen. The D'deridex class super-cruiser is not just bigger than the V-8 by several orders of magnitude, it borrows almost nothing from its TOS-era ancestor. Indeed, if screen time is any indicator, the D'deridex has done far more to define the Romulan design aesthetic than the V-8. So in many senses the V-8 is a relic, not only in FASA game terms but in official canon as well.
In game play the V-8 is a poor match for its peers, like the Mark II Constitution and the D-7M. Which does not seem to do much justice to the bruising the V-8 gives the Constitution class USS Enterprise during one of the only ST:TOS episodes in which the "Bird of Prey" appears. Against even older and less well armed cruisers the V-8 does okay, but I've got to be honest: I don't particularly enjoy playing this class very much. Unless I am using it in numbers against one or two enemy ships, the V-8 just doesn't stack up that well against the foes that it should be able to fight nose to nose. The V-6 is actually a MUCH better match for the Constitution and D-7 ships, and I prefer that similarly-designed craft over the V-8.
So, in attempt to give the V-8 a new lease on life, I added some additional types—to make it more competitive with its peers.

— BRT

From the FASA Star Trek ROMULAN SHIP RECOGNITION MANUAL, circa 1985
V-8 (Bird of Prey) Class VI Cruiser
Known Sphere Of Operation: Triangle; Romulan interior
Data Reliability: A
Major Data Source: Combat reports; Triangle sector Intelligence
On Stardate 2/0710, a V-8 was encountered by a Star Fleet cruiser patrolling the Neutral Zone, the first such contact in over 100 years and the very first visual contact with a Romulan war vessel. The incursion into Federation space obviously was intended to test UFP defenses, and the V-8 destroyed several listening posts and bases before being heavily damaged by the Federation vessel and self-destructing to avoid capture. Because of this incident, and because these ships were encountered in increasing numbers afterward, this vessel, more than any other, has been identified with Romulan military actions. For many years, these vessels were believed to be the mainstay of the Romulan fleet, but improved intelligence reveals that this was a misconception.
        The vessel was designed to carry the RPL-2 plasma weapon; because of its size and bulk, the Type 1 ships—136 meters long—actually were built around the 110-foot-Iong weapon. The other major feature of the Type 1 was the use of new shielding technology. The Type 4, with upgraded disruptors, was introduced to overcome the inadequate firepower of earlier models.
        Of the approximately 100 ships built, about 40 are assigned to reserve fleets. Six have been modified and sold to the civil sector, including two Type 1s, one each of Type 2 and Type 3, and two Type 4s, all of which operate in and out of the Triangle.
        The class is named for the Romulan vas hatham (bird of prey), in reference to a huge, flying predator reportedly native to Romulus, but so revered that they have been transplanted to several of the conquered worlds in the empire. Living for nearly 100 years, these avians can reach nearly giant proportions, some having wingspans as wide as 50 feet and weighing as much as 400 pounds.

Construction Data: Model Numbers- Ship Class- Date Entering Service- Number Constructed	Type 1 VI 2/00 21	Type 4 VI 2/08 73	Type 6 * VII unknown unknown	Type 7 * VII unknown unknown	Type 8 * VII unknown unknown	Type 10 * VII unknown unknown
Hull Data: Superstructure Points- Damage Chart- Size Length- Width- Height- Weight- Cargo Cargo Units- Cargo Capacity- Landing Capability-	15 B 136 meters 199 meters 47 meters 67,100 tons 48 units 2,400 tons none	15 B 136 meters 199 meters 47 meters 68,000 tons 48 units 2,400 tons none	17 B 140 meters 202 meters 50 meters 83,000 tons 75 units 3,750 tons none	18 B 140 meters 202 meters 50 meters 88,200 tons 75 units 3,750 tons none	19 B 140 meters 202 meters 50 meters 94,500 tons 75 units 3,750 tons none	20 B 140 meters 202 meters 50 meters 98,800 tons 75 units 3,750 tons none
Equipment Data: Control Computer Type- Transporters- Standard 9-person- Emergency 20-person- cargo- Cloaking Device Type- Power Requirement-	R4M 1 1 1 RCC 15	R4M 1 1 1 RCC 15	R5M 1 1 1 RCC 15	R5M 1 1 1 RCC 15	R5M 1 1 1 RCC 15	R5M 1 1 1 RCC 15
Other Data: Crew- Troops- Passengers- Shuttlecraft-	150 None None None	150 None None None	185 50 None None	170 50 None None	170 50 None None	165 50 None None
Engines and Power Data: Total Power Units Available- Movement Point Ratio- Warp Core Type- Power Units Available- Stress Charts- Maximum Safe Cruising Speed- Emergency Speed- Impulse Engine Type- Power Units Available-	26 3/1 RWC-1 24 M/P Warp 4 Warp 6 RIB-1 2	28 3/1 RWC-1 24 M/P Warp 4 Warp 6 RIC-2 4	40 3/1 RWF-2A 36 G/L Warp 6 Warp 8 RIC-2 4	44 3/1 RWF-2A 36 G/L Warp 6 Warp 8 RID-1 8	44 3/1 RWF-2A 36 G/L Warp 6 Warp 8 RIE-1 10	50 3/1 RWF-2B 40 G/L Warp 7 Warp 9 RIE-1 10
Weapons and Firing Data: Beam Weapon Type- Number- Firing Arcs- Firing Chart- Maximum Power- Damage Modifiers +3 +2 +1 Plasma Weapon Type- Number- Firing Arcs- Firing Chart- Power to Arm- Damage-	RB-4 1 p/f/s J 6 (1 - 2) (3 - 6) (7 - 10) RPL-2 1 F M 15 (see chart)	RB-6 2 p/f/s T 6 (1 - 18) RPL-2 1 F M 15 (see chart)	RB-10 2 p/f/s U 8 (1 - 8) (9 - 16) (17 - 20) RPL-2 1 F M 15 (see chart)	RB-10 2 p/f/s U 8 (1 - 8) (9 - 16) (17 - 20) RPL-2 1 F M 15 (see chart)	RB-10 4 2f/p, 2f/s U 8 (1 - 8) (9 - 16) (17 - 20) RPL-2 1 F M 15 (see chart)	RB-10 4 2f/p, 2f/s U 8 (1 - 8) (9 - 16) (17 - 20) RPL-2 1 F M 15 (see chart)
Shields Data: Deflector Shield Type- Shield Point Ratio- Maximum Shield Power-	RSE 1/2 8	RSH 1/2 11	RSK 1/2 13	RSK 1/2 13	RSO 1/3 15	RSO 1/3 15
Defense Factor- Weapon Damage Factor-	57.5 21.4	63.5 32.0	unknown unknown	unknown unknown	unknown unknown	unknown unknown

* Denotes additional type stats devised by Brad R. Torgersen

CLICK HEX GAME PIECES TO VIEW AND PRINT SEPARATELY