"Apatosaur" heavy carrier intelligence report.
In 2374, Starfleet engineers were permitted to examine several Gorn vessels including a still-operational "Apatosaur", as part of a technology exchange program. This type of vessel is called "Khoss'ach siishesst", (translation: "Spear thrower"). SFI Has given this report a 95% reliability rating.

General Specifications:

Length: 294m (Confirmed)
Width: 183m (Confirmed)
Height: 79m (Confirmed)
Max Warp: 6.8 (Observed)
Cruise: 6.1 (Observed)
Max. Impulse: .41 lightspeed (Observed)
Crew: 170 plus approximately 30 flight crew and 90 flight operations support crew (Estimated)

Armaments: 6 heavy x-ray lasers (2 fwd, 2 aft, 1 port, 1 stb.); 1 squadron (15) Gavial heavy fighters.

Type: Heavy Carrier

About Ship: The Apatosaur entered operational service around 2260. It was originally intended as a technology demonstrator. Engineers and naval personnel who had been backing the concept hoped that the Apatosaur would inspire the Gorn hegemony to commission a new class of carriers. Instead, the Hegemony council decided they liked this vessel just the way it was, ordering six Megalosaurs to be converted to the new standard.

The Apatosaur is a Megalosaur heavy cruiser modified to operate as a carrier. The Megalosaur was designed to perform as both a battlecruiser and an exploration vessel. The Apatosaur was neither, yet it served for twenty years without major modification. The nacelles and pylons are repositioned to below the centerline and a large superstructure was added to the upper hull to accommodate a squadron of Gavial heavy fighters. to free up even more internal volume, all of the Megalosaur's missiles were removed, as well as two of the side-facing laser emitters and much of the laboratory space. The resulting vessel is neither as fast nor as maneuverable as it's Megalosaur sibling, however, the ability to launch up to fifteen heavy fighters in its own defense was expected to negate that particular liability.

The Apatosaur's outer hull is constructed of artificial sapphire composites, overlaid with monocrystalline metallic alloy armor plates. These plates contained circuitry similar to our multifunction phased array, providing sensor, deflector, and tractor beam capability. It's shielding was less capable than the equivalent Federation technology of the day, but this was compensated for by the armored hull and robust construction. Main weaponry, apart from the fighters, consists of six heavy X-ray laser emitters. Although disruptor technology was introduced shortly after the Apatosaur's introduction, it was never equipped with them.

Like the Megalosaur, the Apatosaur is a highly robust, design. It's warp dynamics are somewhat lacking, but it's purpose was not seen as a battleship, but as a mobile starbase from which its fighters could operate. In this capacity, it served well, and remained in service until the introduction of the Brachiosaur heavy carrier in 2280. At that time, the Apatosaurs were withdrawn from service and modified as heavy transports.