The only ship known to be made of explodium, a rare and volatile mineral.

In Star Trek online as a joke, I set up an end-game Oberth class on a tactical captain named the U.S.S. Tempting Fate. The Captain even has the accolade title of "Torpedoe Target."

"It was cold outside and they were all alone, more or less" You tried to sneak that Red Dwarf reference past me, but I got it.

I really like the Oberth class 🤨 I always thought of it as a testbed for new tech and a true exploration ship. Not every class has to be a battleship

Wait a minute. The reason why the ship exploded in one shot is because the USS Grissom is not a warship, and Captain Esteban didn't raise shields. They took the equivalent of a cruise missile, so, yeah, BOOM!

In the early 20-teens, I was working on a fan-made audio series which would have told the backstory of the USS Equinox. The project didn't last long, don't ask - huge drama. However, one of the lines in our first episode had Captain Ransom explaining that the Nova class was intended to eventually replace the Oberth class, and he thought it was about time because Oberths always seemed to getting into trouble (see Star Trek: The Next Generation 😉).

"The bridge, of course, was located in the stupid place" THANK YOU! Having the bridge against the outer hull on deck 1 is one of my biggest pet peeves with starships. The door leading directly from the bridge to space on the Oberth was just icing on the damn cake.

When a Starfleet Admiral doesn't like a certain captain, that captain is assigned an oberth-class. Even the Ferengi think the Oberth-class is a joke.

From the moment I first saw it on the big screen in the 1980s, I thought it was a cool looking design. A very futuristic design. I still like it.

I like that idea that not bottom part is nothing but storage and pods. Could be neat to see it as a separation type.

the main mission profile of the Oberth class seems to be to go to some backwater planet as far away from any help as possible and find the most efficient way to get completely blown to hell after engaging the biggest warship you can find lol.

Always a pleasure to see another video on the War Canoe.

In an alternate reality the Oberth class are last resort weapons with the secondary hull being a massive bomb designed to wipe out an aggressor.

A ship so weak a sneeze near the warp core would make it breach.

The Oberth and Nova Class Starships are two of my all time favourites :)

It still has great sensor and communications arrays. Yes, it needs an escort, but it's not useless.

Not every car can be a Ferrari or IED resistant Humvee. Sometimes you just need something to get you from point A to point B. 😆 I like the look of the Oberth. It's just made to go out there and scan things.

I love the Oberth class ships, beautiful and unique

Fun Fact:This ship is made of Explodium alloy

I've been working on a story recently. A renegade/outlaw is recruited by starfleet to retrieve a second phase cloaking device that was left behind on the Pegasus. Eventually at the end, he and his crew reactivate it after being cornered by Romulans to unphase the ship from the asteroid and escape. He goes on to be the new captain of the Pegasus, with some much needed weapons upgrades.

I wouldnt exactly call the oberth useless. It was a death trap, but like you said, it was a workhorse. They primarily operated in federation space and could reach speeds comparable to a galaxy class. Thats far from useless. I'd argue that various short lived ships were less useful due to some starfleet designs being redundant. Oberth at least had a purpose and the surprisingly long service record indicates that it was doing something right.

Yet still better looking than the "J" and more useful :)

Well it was designed to be non threatening as not to scare new aliens

The Oberth Class was built with explodium. If Starfleet ever had a kamikaze ship, the Oberth would be it: an easily destructible ship to carry out barely legal clandestine experiments, or as a kamikaze ship to ram down their enemies' throats.

It’s a research ship, not a battleship. I don’t think it’s useless.

It was More powerful then people think. That's why enemies of starfleet specifically needed to take them out first before they got Hurt 😅

Oberths are from the early 23rd century actually, hence the low NCC number on the Grissom and the funky nacelles.

Aesthetically, I think the Oberths are wonderful. Functionally, I can see where they're going with them. The canoe-shaped hull could be entirely devoted to sensors. There was always a demand for Starfleet scout ships and the Oberth fitted the role perfectly. Only 40-80 crew, small size, what's not to love? 'your tax credits at work! The three black gaps - on the bow, port and starboard - could be probe launchers. Of course, anything that launches probes might serve as a photon torpedo launcher as well. Phaser turrets? If you see one, your glasses have a better prescription than mine. We've never seen the Oberth in action against a BOP when the former had fair-warning. Perhaps it was very elusive, hence the captain's "Stand by for evasive!" command.

Yeager class: I am a joke to you? Yes, yes you are Yeager.

I'd like it better as a civilian design. It doesn't really work as a Starfleet design for me though.

So who on the team set the challenge to slip in Red Dwarf lyrics? Because it was very well done, more or less.

According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 2, p. 97), the Oberth-class was "named for 20th century German rocket pioneer Hermann Oberth."

The oberth is my guilty pleasure she’s quirky I get why people dislike like her but I just can’t bring myself to😊

I know it's useless but for some reason I like it and think it has potential.

Makes the California class look super advanced.

I have an alternate head canon the extolls the virtues of the Oberth Class First of all…. What we see as the Oberth class is only ONE variant… In truth the OBerth class is only the upper hull with its attached Nacelles…. This self contained unit has all of the components necessary to fly the ship, plus a small reserve space for single mission staff and some equipment…. Though in many cases it only houses the controls for the equipment, with actual technology being controlled is mounted to the underside of the ship in a multitude of structures, though the most common one is the “winged boat “ More on the secondary in just a moment…. Before we move onto external hardware is should be pointed out that large sections of the upper hull can be detached and replace with purpose built sections … The outer bowl of the primary hull has 48 sections stacked in three rings of 16 , most of which can be detached and replaced with both generic and purpose built compartment … Moving on to external hardware….. While the types of underpods that can be attached is limited only by the maximum mass the vessel can haul the most common variant is the winged boat…. But even hear appearance can be deceiving. One of the biggest knock on the class is no way for shuttles to transverse the gap… Im the most extreme cases the upper hull is equipped with a special design lift pod that travels in slotted rails along one or both of the ships wings …. That being said there are a number of add on necks that can bridge the gap between hulls The actual number of crew needed to staff and fly the ship is shockingly low and crew accommodations for them CAN all fit in the internal deck space directly under the bridge dome. That being said the default crew accommodations of the Oberth are by far the most spartan of all starfleet vessel larger than a single deck runabout. In a pinch the ship can operate with only three person command staff and a three person engineering staff snd in extreme situations not be fully staffed at all time even in this reduced capacity ….

Nothing like blowing up D'deridex class warbird with an Oberth class in Star Trek online. LOL

Dude, the Oberth Class is one of my favourite ships.

This is why I'm working on a 25th century remix of the class to go with the Constitution III and Excelsior II.

I've come to like the Oberth, in recent years. I always thought it quite ugly until I received an Eaglemoss model of the Grissom by mistake, I had ordered the Enterprise-E, but this was just before Eaglemoss shut down, so I was never able to return it and get the one I ordered. Funny thing, actually seeing it properly in model form, rather than just in the background, I started to like the way it looked. I had found the separate primary and secondary hulls silly, but as I looked at the model, I began to see that it made the ship look futuristic. I had thought that the primary hull and nacelles were ugly, but I began to see them as unique. In universe, I know it isn't big, and it certainly isn't powerful, but I also appreciate that it isn't meant to be. It is meant to be a science ship, or a ship transporting aid. It is a ship of peace, in the finest StarFleet tradition, and - frankly - if StarFleet would only realise that they might stop exploding all the time. To me the Oberth feels like a latter day NX-class, build for peaceful exploration, to help out where it can, to right a few wrongs, and wrong a few rights, not to fight in endless bloody wars. And, you know what, I don't care about the mortality rate, if I - as myself, Captain Sam Lawrence, rather than any kind of futuristic alter-ego - were to command a Star Trek ship, it'd be an Oberth-class. A ship of peace, it's five year mission to scan interesting rocks, to bring help to those it can, to vaguely saunter where quite a few people have gone before. I recently watched the Nebula-class video at the end of which you asked what we'd call a Nebula under our command. You don't ask this here, but I shall answer it anyway, in accordance with the peaceful mission profile, I would call it the USS Harmony.

Disagree, it could be quite useful..... if converted to be unmanned it'd make a great warp speed missile.

If nothing else, another ship could use a holographic disguise to look and read as an Oberth and make their enemies underestimate how much to attack with. So that's... one useful thing I guess?

It's a cheap and easy to build platform. Doesn't require a massive crew. Very modular makes for easy mission customization. You could send a dozen of these to 12 different sectors at the same time for the same resources as a single Galaxy Class.

Just think, the Oberth class lasted until it's decommissioning in the 24th century.

The quick way to fix the "hard to get to the bottom hull" problem would be just adding a middle connecting column between the top hull and bottom. You'd move between the two via the middle column and the diagonal columns would be just for engineering reasons and bracing the warp engines

When I first heard the name of this class, I thought it was the "O'Birth" class.

Replace the big science pod on the bottom with a quantum torpedo launcher/magazine and deploy them in wolf packs of a dozen or so. Then send them out hunting, see what’s up

I can't wait for this video to... explode in popularity.

I laughed my head off when Dr T’Ana mentioned the Oberth class

I like how Star Trek Online for the T6 version of the ship chose the Voyager concept model and embellished on it.

I always assumed it was a mercantile hull aquired by star Fleet as a ship not intended to be anywhere near potential conflict. Kind of like the escort carriers in WWII.

"Its not a combat ship, it must be useless" .... I must shake my head at people that think like this.

Have always loved the oberth class science ship.

It's cold outside There's no kind of atmosphere I'm all alone, more or less Let me fly far away from here Fun, Fun, Fun, in the Sun, Sun, Sun I want to lie shipwrecked and comatose Drinking fresh mango juice Goldfish shoals, nibbling at my toes Fun, Fun, Fun in the Sun, Sun, Sun

The Oberth was definitely "You rolled snakeyes" for your starship assignment! It was suitable only for internal exploration missions and cargo running, it couldn't even fight off a well armed pirate, it was so poorly armed. I most certainly wouldn't send them into combat, anyone doing so is an idiot or guilty of criminal stupidity.

Oberth-class: the red shirt of the federation starhips

"'Why would you put that on the bridge?' 😆😆😆😆😆😁😅😅" (-James)

despite all its flaws, I purchased the eaglemoss XL of it because I think the design is very cool. I used to dislike it when I was a kid 25 years ago, lol.

Always loved the Grissom, lots of fun and didn’t deserve to be shot down. I don’t remember the name of her, but the Oberth sent to Wolf 359 was unfair

Supposedly, some Oberths (minus the lower section) took over the Transport Duties formerly performed by the old Ptolemy Class Tugs. The Oberths were more powerful and up to date since very few Ptolemys did not get the first refit that the Connies did. Also requiring crews of as little as 10 where the Ptolemys required a minimum of 200, since they were essentially Constitution Variants.

Ships like the Oberth and Miranda in my mind were built for one thing. Canon fodder. If you saw a Oberth class ship on TV you knew it wasn't long for this world or it was already dead.

The Oberth Class DESPERATELY needs a dorsal section!!!

As a civilian transport or freighter it seems adequate. It should never be put in a position where it faces battle.

It was cold outside... I ALMOST didn't catch that. They certainly weren't having fun in the sun.

I like the unusual design of the Oberth class. But I think it should have had a "gooseneck section" like the Constitution class U.S.S. Enterprise connecting the saucer and the secondary hull sections together. Maybe a variant design like that exists, we just haven't seen it.

They were like liberty ships.

Ugghh…Starfleet academy flashbacks “An Oberth class vessel. This will be a challenge.”

I don’t think the ship is useless, but I agree that there is no excuse for starfleet to be sending out defenseless vessels. There’s no reason why they can’t include weapons, shields, etc. to protect them.

So the lower section was for carrying cargo. You'd have to beam into that section from the saucer section to inpsect the cargo?

A short range science ship that was always used in situations it was not designed for

Caught that Red Dwarf referance. Nice.

'Dwarf reference appreciated.

Oberths are under-rated and I hate how the fandom, (and even the studios,) have dog piled on it over the years. Replace the sensor pod with a torpedo launcher and weapons array, (Jester and Orca classes,) and you have a system defense corvette, which I'd much rather have than a Danube. Also haters, if you take a Defiant, and sling a sensor pod under it,,, "Search your feelings, you know it to be true!"

Where is Lt Com Adam??? His commentary is the reason I subscribed.

I love the design of it. Along with the miranda class.

the oberth class is the granddaddy of the California class

Always wanted to kit-bash one to take the struts out between the top and bottom pieces and make a freighter out of it as those pylons were the only part I hated. Otherwise, kind like that little ship and it's 5 person crew minimum.

Ah! Designed to have its ass kicked! Simply put, the redshirt of Federation starships, just like the USS JJprise (and Kelvin Timeline, you couldn't have ended soon enough)... heeheehee! 😄

I like the berth, just open the forward shuttle bay to reveal a pair of heavy duty rail guns

Was about to say "What about Califonia class" and then the Grumpy cat correct me.

I'd take a Nova over an Oberth any day of the week.

Was the class named for Hermann Oberth (1894-1989)? 2:10)A version of one type? In another video, the saucer had a hanger on all four sides. I asked were the shuttle(s) in the secondary hull under ferry. Logical if they were hauling cargo.There was some talk about how the turbolifts could travel the pylons. I suggested that with no gravity, crew floated through.The USS Constellation (NCC 1017) Class saucers are attached with explosive bolts for separation. PURE speculation.The engines' solid attachment to the saucer and placement on top of the pylons leads me to suspect explosives bolts. A heavily damaged "canoe" could be jettisoned. The saucer becomes a smaller target.

I always had the belief that the oberth class was actually a converted civilian design. A yacht or similar designed to resemble starfleet vessels superficially. It could do scientific endeavors, little tours of known space, parties, going out on equivelent of whale watching, or just warping around federation space doing odd jobs here or there. Naturally the Federation government sees the Oberth Class the potential as a cheap inexpensive science ship and test bed, so likely either bought or nationalized the rights to construct the Orberth for fed use. So the Oberth became the little science vessel the deove around federation space doing little missions here or there but i have a feeling that if she was initially a civillian vessel and that the Oberth civillian model was running around that the original government Oberths were actually spy ships. Using a civillian model that was running around that blended with the actual civillian models until someone in the federation whistle blew and the government spun the story that they were testing a Oberth for federation use and thus started building them officially, but making sure its civillian specs were in place so that any officer that pisses off someone ended up on a Oberth assignment. Civillian crews and science crews liked it, but tactical and engineering officers. They knew being on a Oberth a potential death sentence. Still it would be cool if something like Lower Decks comfirmed the Oberth as originally a civillian design with perhaps having a actuall civillian model. Likely upgraded beyond what a fed version would be

The Oberth class was actually kept around by Starfleet for socio-political reasons. The Klingons would've likely gotten more hostile if they got the sense of how Starfleet was vastly more competent in starship operations. As a result, Starfleet continued to use the Oberth class, a starship so incredibly ass that it made Starfleet in it's entirety seem less threatening.

The fact that the Oberth class was in production for nearly a century kinda proves it was not useless.

i always had the impression that the Oberth class was intended to be crewed mainly by civilian scientists and Starfleet officers who wanted to start a family. The ship itself is supposed to do the 10th contact missions and long term scientific missions within well known federation space. Its mainly outfitted for hazardous space and defense against less developed powers. An Oberth should rarely and only in the most desperate defense attempts for example in the case of a Borg cube showing up out of nowhere deep in federation space with Starfleet being unable to assemble a sufficient fleet, be called to battle. Oberth Class should play it safe. They are no Warships and are not intended to be such. They are on purpose armed badly for many of them are commanded by civilians and nobody wants a civilian gone mad in command of an ship that could do serious damage.

It's a research & test bed platform for new tech. It was replaced by the nova class.

The Oberth is supposed to be used for a variety of SAFE missions WITH-IN the Feds boundaries. Science mainly or to transport delegates, researchers etc. It's not a fighting vessel. Since Fleet isn't technically a military only enterprise such as the Army or Air Force. This ship is akin to a private vessel, save that it's allowed some armaments.

Its a modular ship where the critical sections are separate from the mission module. Its the perfect science ship.

starfleet seemed to have a major issue with consistent bridge design every starships seems to have a different bridge layout even in the same class.

No I'm full 'Murican 🇺🇲 I have no idea what your football pitch analogy means.

even then respect to the oberth capitain ,who got the message that sector 001 was under attack , knew what he had , called red alert , probably told the scientist down stairs to turn off all there equipment to save on power and prepare for a bumpy ride !! beter die figthing then becoming a drone!!!

Behold the Oberth in it' natural state. **KABOOM!!!!**

I have no problem with the Oberth. My Science Captain uses one in STO.

When someone on a california class ship is mocking the oberth you know it's a bad ship.

I wouldn't call it useless, but calling it the Exploder Class isn't unfair because of how frequently they got destroyed. To be fair, I think this was primarily due to the sheer number produced and their length of service. To some degree they were also considered expendable for experimental tests because they were cheap and plentiful, as well. You also have to factor in reverse survivor bias. That is, you mostly only see ones that _did_ get into trouble. The Enterprise wouldn't be responding to a distress call if a ship hadn't gotten into some trouble; that wouldn't be a noteworthy log entry or worthy of an episode. There were literally hundreds of these things produced and they often operated independently in remote areas, so it makes sense that they'd get into trouble more often than other classes.

I think if they took the lower pod off and packed mod armor and weapons onnit that would have been a bad ass escort like the defiant.

The best place for the bridge of a ship is just forward of engineering, in the most heavily fortified section of the ship.

I am an absolute fan of the Nova and Oberth class ❤👌

During the domminion war I am surprused that starfleet did not refit a few oberth class ships with defiant armout and weapons on class warp core