Future Fleet (3) : Zephyr 76A

One problem the DDS have with combat deployments is that combat ships in the fleet are much faster than the support craft that are needed to refuel and supply them. After first looking if it was possible to speed boost the Extender 73A oiler the DDS decided it would be much easier to take an existing high-performance design and turn that into an oiler instead of the other way around.

The Velocity-N/Solaris 37C platform was chosen because of its internal volume and also because it is cheaper to build than the Type 35. The Fast Fleet Tanker as the design was originally called (now recently renamed the Zephyr 76A) has a similar performance to the Solaris hull it is based upon. Refuelling/resupply equipment will be installed externally to allow more of the internal hull to be used for supplies. Although it can only supply a small detachment this does fit in with how the Zephyr will be employed. It is a specialist type but will prove invaluable for the DDS in operational flexibility and speed of deployment.

The Zephyr is expected in service in 2113.