New Orleans class

The New Orleans-class frigate was a Federation starship class that was in service during the mid-24th century. 

The vessel shares several design elements with the. At least one ship of this class, the USS Kyushu, was present at the Battle of Wolf 359 in 2367. 

Ships of the class

 * Named:
 * USS Kyushu (NCC-65491)
 * USS Thomas Paine (NCC-65530)


 * Uncertain:
 * USS Rutledge (NCC-57295)
 * USS Renegade (NCC-63102)

Background information
The name of this class was never spoken on screen, but was derived from the Starship mission status Okudagram that first appeared early in TNG Season 4. It is from the information on this status chart that USS Thomas Paine, previously been identified in as a "frigate," is clarified as being a member of this class. This information would later be presented in the Star Trek Encyclopedia, which would add the starships Renegade and Rutledge as members of this class. However, because the relationship of those two ships with this class has not (yet) been confirmed on screen, it is therefore classified here as "uncertain."

Studio model
The New Orleans studio model was built by Ed Miarecki and appeared as wreckage in the graveyard scene in.

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia, "the studio model of the Kyushu was never built as a full photographic miniature, but was used in the "graveyard" scene of the aftermath of the battle of Wolf 359." The model was kit bashed from parts of AMT/Ertl USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) model kit No. 6618, embellished with several custom additions (such as two text markers as nacelles on top of the saucer) to create the appearance of a ship much smaller than the Galaxy.

As Michael Okuda elaborated, "New Orleans-class U.S.S. Kyushu. Again, a scaled-down Galaxy saucer (meaning it was made from an Enterprise kit, but with a larger bridge and larger windows, intended to imply a smaller ship). Two nacelles on pylons above the center axis of the ship. I think this was my favorite of the Miarecki study models. At Dan Curry's suggestion, I added two or three "outboard pods" to the ship in an effort to make it look a little less Enterprise-like. The photos in the Encyclopedia are all photos of the study model, retouched to add lights in the windows. I took the photos just before starting the battle damage work."