Star Trek: 7 Wrecked Starships

Highlights

Star Trek's USS Enterprise D was known for its flawed design and was eventually destroyed, but was later restored in Star Trek: Picard.

The Klingon bird of prey fired a stray shot that effortlessly destroyed the USS Grissom, a scientific spacecraft. In 2259, the USS Vengeance, a covert ship of the formidable Dreadnought-class, was initially employed for combat and stealth operations but met its ultimate fate when it crash-landed on Earth.

In science-fiction narratives, starships play a crucial role in facilitating the characters' escapades and encounters. It is a common trope to construct elaborate and colossal starships, only to destroy them when the plot necessitates a shift in location.

One notable example of this trend is observed in the expansive Star Trek franchise, which boasts a plethora of starships that serve as key elements in both narrative construction and catastrophe. It is unsurprising that not every ship dispatched by the Federation into the vast cosmos returns intact, if at all. The realm of space claims numerous starships, consigning them to an eternal abyss, while others meet their dramatic demise during monumental battles.

7. USS Enterprise D

Class:

Galaxy

Captain:

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Destroyed:

Crashed in 2042 but restored

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, famously associated with the courageous crew of The Next Generation, is regarded as one of the most renowned iterations of Starfleet's flagship. However, it was also met with widespread criticism for its perceived flaws, including being top-heavy and unbalanced. Thus, its eventual demise in Star Trek: Generations was not met with shock or sorrow. Following the destruction of the warp core, the saucer portion of the ship separated in preparation for a controlled crash landing on Veridian III. Through the considerable efforts of Geordi LaForge, who dedicated a lifetime to restoring as much as possible, Enterprise D makes a reappearance in the final season of Star Trek: Picard.

6. USS Constellation

Class:

Constitution

Captain:

Captain Matthew Decker

Destroyed:

Consumed by the "planet-killer" in 2267

The USS Constellation, a sister ship of the original USS Enterprise, was part of the Consitution-class and embarked on a 5-year mission to explore the galaxy. Regrettably, it came across a formidable and enigmatic entity known as "the planet killer" in the L-374 system.

Upon the Enterprise's discovery of the Constellation, Captain Matthew Decker stood as the sole survivor, as the planet killer had incapacitated the ship and annihilated the refuge planet where over 400 Starfleet personnel had sought shelter.

Captain James Kirk initially intended to tow the Constellation back to federation space. However, he ultimately concluded that the most effective method of eliminating the planet killer was to sacrifice the Constellation by propelling it deep into the creature's core before detonating it.

5. USS Grissom

Class:

Oberth

Captain:

Captain J.T. Esteban

Destroyed:

In 2285, Klingon Commander Kruge effortlessly obliterated the USS Grissom, a scientific spaceship lacking any significant combat capabilities, with a single stray blast from a Klingon bird of prey. The movie Star Trek III: The Search for Spock commences by revisiting the Genesis project and highlighting the role of the Federation vessel in monitoring the unpredictable outcomes.

The gunner paid with his life for the accidental setback caused by the destruction of the Grissom, as Commander Kruge, the captain of the Klingon ship, was determined to gather more information about Genesis and needed prisoners for interrogation.

4. USS Protostar

Class:

Protostar

Captain:

Captain Chakotay

Destroyed:

In 2384, the USS Dauntless unveiled the lore of Star Trek: Prodigy, introducing a series of Protostar ships developed during the 24th century. The vessel in focus served as the prototype for this design. Captain Chakotay embarked on a journey back to the Delta Quadrant aboard the Protostar, specifically designed for deep-space travel, exploration, and survival. However, the ship faced unforeseen challenges when it stumbled upon a temporal anomaly, propelling it into a future where the Federation faced hostility from the dominant Vau N'Akat race.

The Protostar was held captive by the Vau N'Akat, who kept it concealed or utilized it as a vessel for research, while Chakotay remained their prisoner for numerous years. In due course, Captain Janeway steered the USS Dauntless and successfully located the ship. Consequently, they razed it to the ground.

3. USS Vengeance

Class:

Dreadnought

Captain:

Admiral Alexander Marcus

Destroyed:

Crashed on Earth in 2259, the USS Vengeance is an extraordinary Dreadnought-class vessel that solely belongs to the Kelvin universe. Developed and assembled covertly as a concealed component of Section 31's arsenal, this remarkable ship lacked any identifiable exterior insignia. Its primary purpose was the pursuit of warfare and the art of remaining undetected, rather than embarking on exploratory or scientific missions.

The USS Vengeance is featured exclusively in Star Trek: Into Darkness, showcasing extraordinary capabilities such as the ability to engage in warp speed firing. This formidable vessel played a critical role in the covert operation that involved the captivity of Khan's fellow crew members, while utilizing his unparalleled intelligence for the creation and production of advanced weaponry.

2. IKS Koraga

Class:

K'Vort

Captain:

Lieutenant Commander Worf

Destroyed:

In 2375, a Jem'Hadar patrol encountered and destroyed the IRS Koraga, a Klingon ship. Unlike other Klingon ships, the Federation has detailed knowledge about the destruction of the IRS Koraga. This information is available because Lieutenant Commander Worf was the captain of the ship when it was attacked. Although he managed to survive the assault, his escape pod was only recovered long after the incident took place.

1. USS Enterprise

The IKS Koraga fell victim to a sudden assault by the Jem'Hadar near the treacherous Badlands, catching both the ship and her crew off guard. Concurrently, the IKS Rotarran, another Klingon vessel, was present during the attack but managed a narrow escape. In a determined effort, the USS Defiant diligently scoured the crash zone for several uninterrupted days, successfully recovering six escape pods. However, due to the ominous threats posed by the Dominion, the rescue mission was ultimately curtailed, compelling the Defiant to withdraw.

Class:

Constitution

Captain:

Admiral James T. Kirk

Destroyed:

Self-destruct, 2285

The USS Enterprise, with a rich history of extraordinary exploits and iconic conflicts spanning numerous decades, was slated for decommissioning in Star Trek: The Search for Spock. However, its former crew, driven by the desire to reach the newly formed Genesis planet, brazenly absconded with the prized vessel, defying the expected course of events.

James Kirk successfully executed a daring move by relocating his crew to Commander Kurge's bird of prey. Subsequently, he enticed the Klingon crew to board the incapacitated Enterprise, triggering the self-destruct sequence. As the USS Enterprise disintegrated, leaving behind a fiery trail, it descended onto the Genesis planet. Utilizing the Klingon vessel, now christened as the USS Bounty, Kirk and his crew embarked on their journey back to Earth.