Type 15 Shuttle

Universe :	Prime Timeline
Affiliation :	Federation
Class Name :	Type 15 Shuttle
Type :	Shuttlepod
Unit Run :	Campbell - Destroyed [1] NCC 1701-D/03 Voltaire - Destroyed [2] NCC 1701-D/05 El-Baz [3] - Active NCC 1701-D/07 Onizuka [4] - Active NCC 1701-D/09 Ley [5] - Active NCC 1701-D/12 Pike - Destroyed [6] plus 2,179 others built in total. 923 have been lost in all.
Commissioned :	2364 - 2367, class remains in service
Dimensions :	Length : 3.6 m [7] Beam : 2.4 m [8] Height : 1.6 m [8] Decks : 1
Mass :	0.97 [8] metric tons
Crew :	1 [5]
Armament :	2 x Type IV phaser bank [8], total output 1 TeraWatts
Defence Systems :	Light Duranium / Tritanium Single hull. Low level Structural Integrity Field
Impulse only :	Max Impulse Speed : 0.1 x c Atmospheric Cruise (Mach) : 5 Atmospheric Max (Mach) : 12
Strength Indices : (Galaxy class = 1,000)	Beam Firepower : 0.02 Torpedo Firepower : - Weapon Range and Accuracy : 20 Shield Strength : - Hull Armour : 3.13 Speed : - Combat Manoeuvrability : 24,620
Overall Strength Index :	31
Diplomatic Capability :	1
Expected Hull Life :	20
Refit Cycle :	Minor : 1 year Standard : 1 years Major : 0 years

Notes

The Type 15 shuttlepod was introduced as a smaller and lighter counterpart to the Type 6 shuttle. Like the Type 6, it had modern materials and systems but unlike the Type 6 it also had an original hull design. Starfleet had worried about bringing in too many new ideas with the Type 6, but with the lower level of resources involved in producing the much smaller Type 15, Starfleet decided to chance a completely new design. In order to reduce the risk of failure to a minimum the requirement called for a very simple design, consisting almost wholly of flat surfaces joined by molecular welding. This gives quite poor aerodynamic qualities, but the Type 15 is capable of sustained flight within an estimated 80% of all Class M planetary atmospheres.

The Type 15 is capable of conducting almost any mission its larger siblings can, including interplanetary missions. The limiting factor in terms of range is considered to be crew comfort - with the crew confined to a single seat for the entire mission, uninterrupted mission durations above 12 hours are avoided if at all possible, while the Type 15 is not considered suitable for missions of greater than 26 hours except in emergencies.

The Type 15 is now being moved out of frontline service by the Type 18. These days it is mostly to be seen in the hangar bays of older Starships or Starbases.

Colour key

References

#	Series	Season	Source	Comment
1	TNG	5	Power Play
2	TNG	4	In Theory
3	TNG	2	Time Squared
4	TNG	3	The Ensigns of Command
5	TNG	3	The Price
6	TNG	3	The Most Toys
7			Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual	Stated on page 160.
8			Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual

Comments

The Type 15 shuttlepod was the first shuttle designed for The Next Generation. Built as cheaply as possible, it is tiny and isn't much to look at. Most of the specs are taken from the TNG Technical Manual, the rest invented. Since we haven't seen the Type 15 much since the larger and better-looking shuttle designs have arrived on TNG and its successors, I assume that this little ship has fallen out of favour with the producers. This is why I decided that the Type 15 is now in the process of being replaced by the Type 18.

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Last updated : 22 Dec 2021

Series :	TNG Season 5 (Disc 4)
Episode :	Power Play

Series :	TNG Season 4 (Disc 6)
Episode :	In Theory

Series :	TNG Season 2 (Disc 3)
Episode :	Time Squared

Series :	TNG Season 3 (Disc 1)
Episode :	The Ensigns of Command

Series :	TNG Season 3 (Disc 2)
Episode :	The Price

Book :	Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual
Comment :	Stated on page 160.