USS Van Deer



USS Van Deer
 * Union Battleship - Pounder I class -
 * Length: 2812 m
 * Berth : 1000 m
 * height: 850 m
 * Compliment: 4500 Crew, 354 Officers, 2500 Marines
 * Keel laid in: 4001 OTT

This predecessor to the Pounder II class was the first major fleet contract for Poundern Ship Yards –Mars.

The USS Van Deer was named by an Union School Class ( contest winners) They named it after their teacher. (See Van Deer, teacher )

After her completion and space trials, the ship was delivered to the United Stars Spatial Navy in 4001. At Arsenal IV, she was christened by the wife of the school teacher. She was to be the first command of Captain Lorgixn, a Vantax. (One of the very few Vantax ever to join the Armed Services).

She was assigned to the 53rd Fleet (Spinward ) and tasked with conducting Deep Space Patrols.

On March 12th 4007 the ship was cut in half in deep space, by a wormehole like anomaly that has not been encountered or reported by any other known space travelling species. Most but not all hands of the Van Deer were lost

She was part of a Three ship patrol and the other two ships conducted rescue operations.

Of the 7354 aboard 1323 could be rescued alive. 6031 are reported as KIA including Captain Lorgixn.

This accident led to the establishment of the Van Deer Rift station and the rift was entered as the Van Deer rift in the official catalogs.

A Klack scientist successfully developed a rift scanner in 5002 that has become standard equipment in all Union ships (military or civilian)