Standard Light Merchant #7, series 700, 700R, & 1400
General Specifications (700 & 700R):
Length: 20.1m
Width: 13.425m (700); or 18.6m (700R)
Height: 11.25m (700); or 10.5m (700R)
Max. Warp: Varies between 4.9 (original series 700) up to 7.1. Never
exceed speed = wf8.1
Max. Impulse: 0.5 lightspeed
Crew: 1 (accommodations for up to 20 or more persons, depending on
installed life support systems.)
General Specifications (1400):
Length: 38.4m
Width: 18.6m
Height: 10.7m
Max. Warp: Varies between 4.7 (original series 1400) up to 7.4. Never
exceed speed = wf8.6
Max. Impulse: 0.5 lightspeed
Crew: 1 (accommodations for up to 40 or more persons, depending on
installed life support systems.)
Armaments: One or two phasers (if desired)
Type: Light Commercial Vessel
Status: Several thousand in service. Several under construction at any time at most starfleet-approved shipyards.
About Ship: Perhaps the longest-lived starship design in Federation history, the Standard Light Merchant #7 (SLM-7-700) initially entered production in 2210 in response to a requirement for a light merchant vessel suitable for commercial trading.
The SLM-7-700 has a 700 cubic meter cargo deck, while the SLM-7-1400 (introduced 3 years later) has dual warp nacelles and 1,400 cubic meters of cargo space. Both vessels have straight-through cargo decks with a 4.5m overhead clearance. The forward and aft loading doors have built-in loading ramps. The cargo deck itself incorporates a variable coefficient surface, allowing quite massive objects to be manhandled into position by a minimum of crew.
The simplicity of the SLM-7 contributes to its continued popularity, designed from the outset for economy and ease of maintenance. The primary factor in aid of these objectives is the complete modularity of the interior and exterior components, and the high degree of interchangability of similar components. The hull itself is designed to be easily repaired in an emergency with nothing more than carbon fiber matting and standard two-part adhesive compound.
All interior fixtures are modular units that "plug in" to a standardized power, data and life support grid. The M/ARA is designed to be easily upgraded or replaced. All modules except the central core are made up of small assemblies, each of which may be installed by a single person with simple tools. The central core may be removed or installed through a hatch in the cargo deck ceiling with the aid of a permanently mounted winch directly above the core's intended mounting position.
In the hundred years since its introduction, the SLM-7 series has undergone countless upgrades in materials and performance, but little change in appearance. The SLM-7R-700 (introduced in 2240) is identical to the SLM-7 but with two warp nacelles, like the SLM-7-1400. This modification only marginally increases maximum warp speed, but greatly reduces power consumption, allowing a smaller M/ARA to provide the same performance. An additional advantage was the reduction of unique parts necessary to produce each series.
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Standard Light Merchant #7, series 1400m
General Specifications:
Length: 38.4m
Width: 18.6m
Height: 6m
Max. Warp: Varies between 4.2 (with 2 barges) up to 8.8 (unladen).
Never exceed speed = wf8.9
Max. Impulse: 0.5 lightspeed
Crew: 1 (accommodations for up to 20 or more persons, depending on
installed life support systems.)
Armaments: One or two phasers (if desired)
Type: Light Commercial Tug
Status: Several thousand in service. Several under construction at any time at most starfleet-approved shipyards.
About Ship: Shortly after the introduction of the SLM-7-700, enterprising designers attempted to modify it to handle standard cargo barges. The original series 700 was not powerful enough to transport standard barges at a fast enough pace to warrant the expense of the conversion.
With the introduction of the series 1400, the power problem was solved. Essentially, the 1400m is an SLM-7-1400 with the cargo deck and landing pads removed. In their place is an array of magnatomic adhesion pads, which attach the 1400m to the barge. The 1400m can transport up to two barges in this manner. When two barges are transported simultaneously, connector pads link the second barge to the first.
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