The USS Montana (NCC 76702), named for the American state, is the first ship to bare the name. On two previous ocassions in Earth's history, naval ships to be named Montana have been started but neither have seen completion or been comissioned. The USS Montana has had a total of three commanders, all from the same family. Her first Captain, Jean-Pierre Actuallier, died while commanding a fleet in the Gamma Quadrant at the end of the Dominion War. Her second Captain, Louise Actuallier, died when the ship was drawn into the Deltan Wormhole. Her current commander is Captain Zar Hranok, promoted from Executive Officer in 2380.

The Steamrunner class, like so many ships built and designed since Wolf 359, was created to supplement the Fleet's much larger Galaxy and Sovereign Class vessel. Smaller, more maneuverable and less costly to build and maintain than the larger ships, the Steamrunner is fast becoming one of the main-stays of Starfleet.

The Montana arrived in the Delta Quadrant in 2376 as the result of an experiment to re-open the Delta Wormhole. Several ships were destroyed in the attempt and the Montana herself sustained significant damage. She remained in drydock at ODSDelta II for several months before being declared spaceworthy. Since then, she has become a key member of the fleet.

SPECIFICATIONS

Name: U.S.S. Montana
Registry No: NCC-76702
Class: Steamrunner Class Escort
Commissioned: September 24, 2363
Construction Site: Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, Orbiting Mars
Design Life: 48 years

Dimensions:
Length : 244 m
Beam : 160 m
Height : 40 m
Decks : 9
Mass 375,000 tons

Crew:
185

Armament:
6 x Type VIII Phaser banks
2 x Pulse fire photon torpedo tubes
2 x Standard photon torpedo tubes

Warp Speeds:
Normal Cruise : Warp Factor 6
Maximum Cruise : Warp Factor 8.8
Maximum Rated : Warp Factor 9.5

Refit Cycle:
Minor : 2 years
Standard : 8 years
Major : 24 years

A smaller cross section makes the Montana more difficult to target in battle. In addition, the Montana is also equipped with a 'Ghosting Array' which uses the deflector dish to create spatial ripples, which fool enemy sensors, making a weapons lock near impossible. The array uses vast amounts of energy however, and a great deal of tachyon radiation is a by product of the process.