USS Avenger (NCC-1860)

The USS Avenger (NCC-1860) was an Avenger-class heavy frigate, commissioned February 2252. The ship underwent refits in 2275-2277 and again in 2285, 2289, and 2294. Avenger had a crew of 360 persons. (Star Trek: Avenger)

The program that led to Avenger's original construction was proposed in 2242, and Avenger was originally constructed as a Surya-class frigate by the Vickers Shipbuilding Group, Ltd. The hull was laid down in November 2249, and launched into orbit in August 2251.

Commands

Robert Wesley

Robert Wesley was Avenger's first commanding officer, beginning two four-year missions (and part of a third) in February 2252. Avenger served as part of Task Force Constitution, under the overall command of Garth of Izar. Avenger was also present at the Axanar Peace Mission. When a renegade Klingon commander walked out of the negotiations and attacked the USS Republic, Avenger and Captain Wesley contained, but did not destroy, the commander's vessel long enough for other Klingon forces to beam aboard and subdue the renegade. (Star Trek: Avenger: Timeline, Stardate 12101.25 revision)

Melissa Sturdevant

USS Avenger assignment patch, 2260s

After Captain Wesley was promoted to Commodore and transferred to TacFleet Headquarters, Melissa Sturdevant was promoted to Captain and became the ship's second CO in April 2262. In 2264-2265, Avenger assisted in the evacuation of Yogyakarta Baru. (Star Trek: Shadowstar Station/Star Trek: Avenger: Time, See What's Become of Me; Star Trek: Avenger: "Reaching Taurus") Sturdevant's command of Avenger ended in January 2272.

Raymond Jellicho and P'Tak Thalazar

From 2272-2275, under the command of Raymond Jellicho, Avenger served as an engineering testbed vessel to prepare for Starfleet's plans to embark on a frigate refit program much like the one conducted in 2271-2273 for the Constitution-class heavy cruisers. This was followed, in 2275-2277, by the ship's refit from the Surya-class frigate to Avenger-class heavy frigate configuration. During this refit and for another seven years afterward, Avenger was commanded by P'Tak Thalazar, until his transfer in 2284.

Later commands

USS Avenger mission patch, 2290s and early 24th century

Avenger's refit in 2285 marked the conversion of the ship to the standard configuration for the class, replacement of the engine support pylons and weapons pod, and extension of the ship's standard mission duration to five years from four.

The next five commanding officers were Alex Rosenzweig (2285-2299), Carlos Maldonado, Jr. (2299-2304), Judith Waidlich (2304-2311, 2315-2316), David Lynch (2312-2314), and Yaxara Elbrun (2316-2321). (Timeline, Stardate 12101.25 revision)

In late 2299, the Avenger was severely damaged near the planet Iskedraan, and all non-essential personnel were evacuated to that planet until they could be recovered by rescue teams. The ship underwent repairs and returned to active duty several months later. (Star Trek: Avenger: Character File: Se'ele)

Embarked craft

In 2285, Avenger had at least four embarked Type-6 shuttlecraft: Aiya, Axanar, Discovery, and Merlin. (Communiqué 12) Aiya was renamed Norzan in 2286, and Merlin renamed Talisman, in 2287. Norzan was renamed Genesis ("The Probe", "Starlight Rescue"), and Axanar renamed Dominion, in 2288.

In 2289, Avenger was issued a long-range experimental shuttlecraft, the Marco Polo-class Odyssey. (Avenger News 144; Timeline, Stardate 12101.25 revision)

Talisman (NCC-1860/1) was used as a secondary command post in the survey of the 356 Sagittae system in October, 2293. ("Within the Belt") Then-Commander Maldonado commanded the general survey of the Ohkirot system aboard the Talisman while the Avenger was called away to another mission in November 2293. Talisman was crippled by a stellar flare and destroyed in a crash on Ohkirot II. ("Crash")

The shuttlecraft Phoenix was assigned to Avenger in the 2290s, replacing the Talisman. In November, 2298, it was used in the search for a Starfleet probe on Namati IV. ("What Price Knowledge?")

Dominion (NCC-1860/3) conducted surface overflights at Alhembri V in March, 2295 ("Be Not as an Island"). In November, 2298, the shuttlecraft was wrecked in a crash. ("What Price Knowledge?")

In the 2300s, the Manasu-class heavy shuttle Kismet was assigned to Avenger. It was used as a staging base for the ship's survey of UFC 18249 IV in August, 2303, as were the Odyssey and the Wohali. ("The Survey Begins")

The Galileo-class shuttle Horizon was assigned to Avenger in 2303. ("Descent Into Wonder")

In 2314, Avenger's shuttle complement consisted of the Galileo-class shuttle Horizon, the Manasu-class shuttle Kismet, the Marco Polo-class survey shuttle Odyssey, the Leprechaun-class shuttlepod Star Fury, and the Aladdin-class heavy shuttle Wohali. (Avenger News 144)

Avenger underwent a rare refit in situ, outside of a drydock, in September, 2320. (Anagénnisi)

Training cadres

2287

• Commander Gregg Trask began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Hood (NCC-1707) using the on-loan shuttle Copernicus. After many difficulties, the cadre was disbanded in August of 2290. The shuttlecraft Copernicus was returned to Starfleet. ("As Others See Us", "Sabotage Stratagems")

• Commander Jeffrey Hunt began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Intrepid II (NCC-1730) using the on-loan shuttle Artemis. Intrepid II was commissioned in 2288 and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Artemis was returned to Starfleet. ("Border Skirmish", "As Others See Us")

• Commander Ronald Blackman began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Tai Shan (NCC-2524) using the on-loan shuttle Tai Shan. Tai Shan was commissioned in 2288 and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Tai Shan was returned to Starfleet. ("As Others See Us")

• Commander Robert E. Vosseller, Jr., began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Challenger (NCC-1676) using the shuttle Discovery. Challenger was commissioned in 2288 and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Discovery remained as part of Avenger's shuttle complement.

2289

• Commander D. Elizabeth Gifford began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Sovereign (NCC-2505) using the on-loan shuttle Sovereign. A few months later, Gifford resigned as cadre commander, and was succeeded by Commander Michael Marinelli. Sovereign was commissioned in 2290 and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Sovereign was returned to Starfleet.

• Commander Frank Faas began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Albany (NCC-587) using the on-loan shuttle Albany. Albany was commissioned in 2290 and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Albany was returned to Starfleet.

2290

• Commander J. David Abrahamson began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Ascension (NCC-2520) using the on-loan shuttle Ascension. Ascension was commissioned later that year, and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Ascension was returned to Starfleet.

2291

• Commander Maureen Studley began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Blackheart (NCC-2327) using the on-loan shuttle Blackheart. A few months later, Studley resigned as cadre commander, and was succeeded by Commander Ann Francesconi. Blackheart was commissioned in 2292, and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Blackheart was returned to Starfleet. ("The Star Wars Encounter")

2292

• Commander Thomas Carroll began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Monitor (NCC-1713) using the on-loan shuttle Monitor.

• Commander Joanne Olson began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Dawn Treader (NCC-2555) using the on-loan shuttle Dawn Treader. Dawn Treader was commissioned in 2293, and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Dawn Treader was returned to Starfleet. ("The Essential Process")

• Commander Mark H. Anbinder began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of USS Accord (NCC-1842) using the on-loan shuttle Accord. Accord was commissioned in 2293, and its officers departed Avenger. The shuttlecraft Accord was returned to Starfleet.

• Commander T. Colgan began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of Gateway Station. Further Starfleet records on this were sealed under the Doublet Regal classification.

2297

• Commander S. Buonocore began leading a training cadre to prepare a team of officers to form the senior staff of the USS Bounty using the on-loan shuttle Bounty. The starship Bounty was commissioned that year, and the officers departed Avenger.

Nomenclature

The ship was named after seagoing vessels of the United States of America and United Kingdom, on Earth, as well as other spacefaring vessels dating back to before the founding of the United Federation of Planets.

Surya-class starships
Argus - Avenger - Courageous - Endurance - Hippolyta - Illustrious - Robert F. Kennedy - Surya

Avenger-class starships
USS Amiens - USS Ardana - USS Avenger - USS Dardanius - USS Halcyon - USS Illustrious - USS Odin - USS Reliant - USS Resolution - USS Robert E. Lee - USS Sarpeidon - USS Shadowstar - USS Southern Cross - USS Yonada
Starfleet International: USS Avenger - USS Illustrious - USS Odin - USS Robert E. Lee - USS Shadowstar - USS Southern Cross

Starships named Avenger
USS Avenger (NCC-1860) - USS Avenger (NCC-12060) - USS Avenger (NCC-69925) - USS Avenger (NCC-75461) - USS Avenger (NCC-82540) - USS Avenger (Aggressor class)
Mirror universe: ISS Avenger (NX-09)

Fan organizations

The USS Avenger is a chapter of Starfleet International extant since 21 June 1985 (STARFLEET Vessel Registry, May 2011), and based in the North Brunswick, New Jersey area. In 2021, the membership voted to change the fictional metaphor of the chapter from an Avenger-class heavy frigate to a Narendra-class heavy cruiser USS Avenger (NCC-12060).

External links and references

• USS Avenger (NCC-1860) article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
• General Plans: USS Avenger Class
• Federation Frontiers: Avenger-Class Heavy Frigate General Plans
• Heavy Frigate (TOS) Profile, Cutaway, and Deck Plans
• Star Trek Starship Tactical Combat Simulator: Avenger Class XI Heavy Frigate

Fan organizations

• USS Avenger: A Chapter of Starfleet International
• USS Avenger in fiction
• Timeline of Avenger History (password protected)
• USS Avenger on Facebook
• STARFLEET Communiqué 12 (November, 1985)
• STARFLEET Vessel Registry, May 2011 on Scribd