CLASS:
When the Constitution class began to go through a major refit cycle in the 2270s, the Miranda's were similarly upgraded in order to extend their life span. They continued to act as Explorer class units for the next century, forming the backbone of Starfleet throughout this period. In time however, their relatively low cruising speed combined with the gradually increasing distances they had to cover - caused by the expansion of the Federation - began to wear on the ships. Their relative lack of recreational facilities and the cramped quarters began to lead to a marked drop-off in crew performance, and Starfleet considered retiring the class. Instead, it was decided to use the Miranda design as the basis for a general purpose vessel for use within the body of the Federation. The science labs were removed and replaced with expanded cargo bays and an upgraded weapons fit. The Miranda class was used extensively to patrol the Klingon and Romulan borders, as cargo carriers and particularly as colony transport craft. In fleet actions they acted in support of the larger ships, acting as outer pickets to the fleet. Some vessels were refitted as ammunition ships, using their extra cargo space to carry photon torpedo reloads and phaser components. Others were converted to tankers, carrying supplies of Deuterium and Antimatter. A group of six ships was fitted with modern extra sensor pods and used in the electronic intelligence role. Their ability to look after themselves during a battle made them an excellent choice for these roles.
