Klingon D-8/"jaK'toH" (Federation codename: Grizzly) intelligence report (Earliest known type shown).
All specifications are estimates unless otherwise indicated.
Star Fleet Intelligence (SFI) has given this report a 98% reliability rating.

General Specifications:

Length: 300m (Confirmed)
Width: 217m (Confirmed)
Height: 81m (Confirmed)
Max Warp: 8 (Claimed, 7.5 confirmed in 2293)
Cruise: 6.5 (Claimed, 4.9 confirmed in 2293)
Max. Impulse: 0.45 lightspeed (Observed)
Crew: 50 personnel

Armaments: Two lasers, later disruptors (fwd); one missile launcher (fwd, coaxial with main deflector array -- later upgraded to a torpedo launcher).

Type: Heavy transport/Fleet support vessel

About Ship: The D-8/jaK'toH (named after a large land-dwelling omnivore analagous to the North American continent's grizzly bear, hence the code name: "Grizzly") is a large transport and support vessel used by the Klingons starting in 2255. The jaK'toH was originally constructed for use as a heavy merchant. As tensions with the Federation increased during the mid-23d century, the Empire ordered a specialized version to support their vessels near the Federation border. The new ship would bring fresh crew and supplies, allowing the border patrol vessels to remain on station for longer periods than before.

The jaK'toH was based rather loosely on the D-7 battlecruiser, but by the time the design phase had been completed, there were very few shared elements, other than the general layout and certain elements of the command section. When Starfleet first identified the type, they originally thought it was a new type of battleship, and gave it the designation "D-8". The Klingons became aware of this, and perpetuated the ruse by occasionally referring to the jaK'toH as a battleship in communications when they believed there was a chance of interception. For example, when all Klingon Defense Force (KDF) ships were upgraded from lasers and missiles to disruptors and torpedoes in 2264, the jaK'toH recieved uprated armaments, as well. The KDF news service touted this "uprated battleship" as the pride of the fleet, and even "leaked" insider reports regarding its capabilities.

The jaK'toH' has a very large removable cargo module. There were three distinct types of module normally used. The first was a bulk cargo hold, designed to carry loose cargo such as minerals or grain. The second type was a configurable cargo/passenger module. The interior of this module could be divided into compartments for cargo and staterooms for passengers, with associated life support. The third module was the military module, with cargo, passenger, and fabrication facilities, allowing the jaK'toH to replenish consumables, rotate crew, and fabricate replacement parts for a ship on patrol.

A fourth module entered testing in 2268. This module was partly an effort to further cloud the Federation's perception of the jaK'toH, by actually providing it with heavy weaponry as if it were a battleship. This project was quite successful in fooling the Federation, but less so as a warship. While the "battle module" was equipped with six torpedo launchers (2 fwd, 1 port, 1 stbd, 2 aft) and eight disruptors (2 fwd, 2 port, 2 stbd, 2 aft), providing an overwhelming amount of firepower, the power required to effectively shield such an ungainly vessel was too high to allow maximum shields and maximum firepower simultaneously. The project was discontinued, but not until the "Super Grizzly" had been identified as a new battleship by Federation intelligence sources.

It was not widely known as a transport until after the Klingon moon Praxis exploded in 2293, when dozens of jaK'toH arrived to aid in the evacuation or to bring emergency response personnel and equipment. It quickly became apparent to Federation observers that these ships were carrying far more cargo and passengers than would be possible if they really were battleships.

The jaK'toH is still in production, with an improved warp core and propulsion system, and an upgraded structural integrity field. It is no faster than before, but is capable of carrying (or towing) more massive loads than before with less impact on performance and longer intervals between required servicing.

Starfleet gratefully acknowledges the cooperation and assistance of its counterparts in the Klingon Imperial Defense forces for providing much of the historical data regarding this vessel.