The B'rel-class was a type of Klingon bird-of-prey scout starship in Imperial Defense Force service in the 23rd century. By the 24th century, these vessels were considered surplus, and were often sold or traded to other powers. (TNG episode: "Rascals"; Decipher RPG module: Starships; CCG set: Rules of Acquisition)
History and specifications
They were classified as a class 1 vessel. (DS9 video game: Dominion Wars)
The B’rel class, first developed in 2270, is the second known Bird-of-Prey operated by the Klingon Empire, it builds directly on the successful design on the earlier birds-of-prey but includes ideas and technology taken from Romulan designs obtained in the short lived Klingon-Romulan alliance of the 23rd century, most notably a cloaking device (ST reference: Starship Spotter)
The B'rel class not only remained in service well into the 24th century but also inspired a larger variation, the K'vort-class.
Features
The B'rel class bird-of-prey features adjustable wings, which can take on different positions to optimize the class for battle, warp speed, atmospheric flight and even landing. (TOS movie & novelizations: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
In 2293 one B'rel class ship, the IKS Dakronh, was modified to fire its weaponry while cloaked. Despite its advantages, this vessel was destroyed after only a few months of operation by the Federation Starfleet starships USS Enterprise-A and USS Excelsior. (TOS movie & novelization: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
Another feature present in recent versions of these craft, which may not be standard, was the introduction of gravity mines that would latch on to and slow down enemy ships. (TNG video games: Armada, Armada II)
Known vessels
| Klingon bird-of-prey vessels | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D12 class | Cha'Joh | Z'gavva-class (D32) | () • • () • () | 
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E4 class | () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () • () | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E6 class | () • () • () • () | Z'gavasta-class (L42) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| G2 class | • • • • • • () • () • () • () • () • () • () | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B'rel-class (K22B) | • • • • • • • • B'rel/Qel'Poh (aka Bounty) • • • • • Dakronh ~ Kla'DIyuS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • () • • • • • • • • • • Grerr • • • Hegh'ta • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Kahless Ro • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ning'tao ~ Ning'tau • • • Okrona ~ Chontay • • • • • • Qovin • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Trayor • • • • • • • • • • •
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| K'vort-class | • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Gro'kan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Tagak • • • • •
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Various bird-of-prey series | • • • • G'gtah • • • • • ("Naprem") • • • • • Quundar • • • • • • • • unnamed Klingon birds-of-prey
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (translated names in parentheses) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appendices
Connections
| Bird-of-prey classes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Romulan birds-of-prey | 2150s • late-2150s bird-of-prey • 22nd century • 23rd century (Kelvin timeline) • Ferrax • T'varo • T'Liss • Vas Hatham • Temar Vastaram • D'vas | 
|
| Reman birds-of-prey | T'varo |
|
| Klingon birds-of-prey | 22nd century • 2260s • 23rd century (Kelvin timeline) • M'Chla • B'rel • Chuq'Beh • D12 • D'Gavama • E4 • E6 • G2 • Khitomer • K'vort • QuD • Z'gavasta • Z'gavva • QulDun • Norgh • Ki'tang • Hegh'ta | 
|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 DS9 reference: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual
- ↑ TOS movie, novelization & comic adaptation: The Search for Spock
- ↑ STO - Klingon Sector mission: "First City".
External link
- B'rel class article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.