Endurance Class Heavy Destroyer

The Endurance Class Heavy Destroyers were the earliest design by the Interstellar Navy Core to feature the Heavy Class. She was the first Heavy Destroyer to bare the name Endurance and the third ship named Endurance after the lost ship of the Shackleton Ship.

Construction and Launch of N7242C
N7242C was ordered on March 22, 2260 after the United Earth Military recognized the need for a professional military operated navy, which formed the '''Interstellar Naval Core. The highest bid went in to Azod Ship Builders who designed several crafts, they laid down her keel at Scorpion Fleet Ship Yard '''in orbit of Earth in 2261. It would take two years to complete her, while her sister ship the Resolve would be delayed for six months.

During her construction they used a mix of rivits, and welding to create a secure hull, while using a mixture of struts to give her double hull a honey comb-like design, allowing her to withstand an unusual amount of damage compared to other civilian crafts.

Her original Mark III FTL Drive was installed in November of 2263 and static fired on March 22, 2263.

The ship would get the clear for launch after rigorous inspections on April 1, 2263 where she would undergo several weeks of space-trials and a shake-down.

On May 15, 2263 she was commissioned and christened the Spirit of Endurance in honor of her name-sake, and given her first commander, and assignment: to squash the Red Faction in the Delphi System.

Early History
The First Endurance Class was launched in 2263 the Spirit of Endurance was created to combat the Red Faction during the Core Wars. Soon it was defined as the most advanced fighting ship.

Final Years
The Endurance Class began to become fazed out during the late 2300's, in which she was superseeded by the most cost effective Cherokee Class but most continued operation until 2400 in which a majority were lost during the '''Frontier Wars. '''

Refit
In 2552 the Spirit of Endurance was brought out of her unfortunate retirement and underwent a refit, in which she was more heavily automated, but continued to require a large crew to man and maintain. She would serve until 2556 in which her back would break leaving her unable to jump again.

Legacy
The Sucess of the Endurance Class would lead to two classes of ships the Cherokee Class and the Columbia Class and would eventually see the Excalibur Class a new version of the ''Endurance Class. ''

Known Ships
The Following contains known vessels of the Endrance Class under Status if followed by an [E] meaning destroyed by enemy [M] means mechanical or unkown. [H] indicates retired or reserved.

The Lionel, Voyager, and Enterprise were the first update models launched but due to cost cutting and an error in their drive bay installation the Lionel was lost in the largest military mechanical accident in history until the loss of the Excalibur in 2521. The Enterprise was upgraded to include the refit and served the longest while the Voyager was scrapped due to cost concerns involving the refit after his FTL drive was mounted. The Yuri Gagarin is the only named cancelled vessel which was cancelled at 75% its hull and many parts were used during the Endurances refit in 2551.